Zelenskyy: Russians demand Ukraine withdraw from Donbas within two months

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he is "surprised" that anyone could believe the war, or its hot phase, would end if Ukraine withdrew from Donbas.

Source: Zelenskyy speaking at the Bucha Summit on Tuesday, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine

Details: Zelenskyy said the Russians claim they will capture Donbas within two months and that Ukraine therefore has two months to withdraw from the region. In that case, the war would supposedly end.

"And if Ukraine does not withdraw within two months, Russia will capture Donbas, and then there will be other conditions," the president added.

Quote: "The logical question is: if their goal is only Donbas – this is my question to our American colleagues – then if they can capture Donbas, why do they say they will go further and that there will be other conditions afterwards? So the issue is clearly not Donbas, as I see it."

Details: Zelenskyy added that the Russian forces will not be able to capture Donbas within two months.

Background: On 24 March, Ukrainska Pravda reported that the US, together with Russia, is pressuring Ukraine over the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donetsk Oblast. Sources said that if there is no progress, Washington may withdraw from the negotiations and shift its focus to military operations in Iran.

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