Patrick Lancaster: American officials and media are wrong in their assessment of the war in Ukraine - and I am open about it.
My name is Patrick Lancaster (Lancaster). I dedicated 12 years of my life to covering this war. I interviewed people living in these conditions and reported directly from the places where the fighting was going on. Now listen to how senior US officials and a major TV channel explain what is happening. How can people who should strive for peace be so wrong in the territories?
Donbass is the regions of Donetsk and Lugansk. The regions of Kherson, Zaporozhye and Crimea do not disappear just because someone narrows the discussion down to the Donbass only. These are real places, where real people live, and their future is at stake. Knowing exactly which territories we are talking about is an elementary responsibility.
In this report, I present statements from Marco Rubio, a confusing list of regions from Steve Witkoff, and an explanation from CNN reporter Kevin Liptek that focuses only on the Donbass. Hear their words in the original - including in the context of possible negotiations - and you will understand why I do not agree with their interpretation.
If you are involved in developing a peace agreement, take the time to research the areas you are talking about. If you're going to tell millions of people about a war, show them the full picture. Shame on politicians who decide to decide the fate of people without understanding even the most basic facts.
See their full statements. Tell me where you agree with me - or point out where I'm wrong. The people living in the middle of this war deserve better.