Zelenskyy reveals US "compromise vision" for Donbas
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has explained that the US "compromise vision" regarding control over the part of Donbas currently held by Ukraine envisages that Ukrainian troops would leave the territory of Donetsk Oblast, but Russian forces would not enter it.
Source: Zelenskyy during a meeting with journalists in Kyiv, as reported by European Pravda
Details: Zelenskyy noted that the territorial issue remains unresolved within the peace negotiations, and it is currently difficult to predict "how it will look in the final documents".
He underlined that Russia seeks to take control of the whole of Donbas – something Ukraine "cannot accept".
"The Americans are searching for some format. They have been discussing the issue of a 'free economic zone'. The Americans call it that, and the Russians call it a 'demilitarised zone'," the president said.
He stressed that Ukraine's stance is that the forces must remain where they are now along the line of contact. Zelenskyy said that the US side sees the gap between the Ukrainian and Russian positions and is suggesting a "compromise".
Quote: "They see Ukrainian troops leaving the territory of Donetsk Oblast, and the supposed compromise is that Russian troops would not enter this part of Donetsk Oblast. They do not know who would govern this territory, which they are already calling a 'free economic zone' or a 'demilitarised zone'. This is more or less how the compromise vision of the United States looks at the moment."
Details: Zelenskyy emphasised that it is possible that Ukraine may not accept such a proposal, because "when you talk to us about compromise, you must offer a fair compromise".
"We need to continue the conversation and try to find answers to all the questions in a way that makes everything more reasonable. For example, these forces step back by 5 km, and the others by 5 km as well. If one side pulls back 10 km, then the other must do the same. And as in all wars, there must be some form of monitoring," he said.
The president also noted that the issue of territories must be decided by the Ukrainian people, either through elections or via a referendum.
Background:
- The FT previously reported that the latest US proposals on the "peace plan" do not include a call for Russia to withdraw its troops from Ukraine's Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to create a demilitarised zone.
- On 10 December, representatives of Ukraine and the US held talks on Ukraine's reconstruction and economic recovery after the end of the war.
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