Ukrainian President Zelenskyy disputes the suggestion of a demilitarized zone put forth by Trump's emissary Kellogg to resolve the Russo-Ukrainian conflict.
Revised Article:
Zelenskyy Lays Rest to Demilitarized Zone Idea in War with Russia
Looks like President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has buried the controversial proposal for a 30km demilitarized zone in Ukraine's war with Russia. That's right, peeps! The dude has declared this baby dead and gone, and here's why.
During a press conference with the leaders of France, the UK, Poland, and Germany, Zelenskyy spilled the beans on why this idea is a dud. He stated that the arrangement comes after, and only after, a ceasefire is actually achieved.
When pressed about the demilitarized zone, Zelenskyy said he's heard about the plan more times than he can count from various sources, but Ukraine hasn't floated anything like it officially. But just like greedy sappers, everyone's looking for opportunities to experiment with the idea.
The Ukrainian leader made it clear that the demilitarized zone idea isn't very relevant at the moment. He pointed out that if we talk about a 15km buffer zone, what exactly are we going to do with cities like Kherson? Leaving our troops out of Kherson would mean releasing control of that area to the enemy. Plus, he questioned, where would we measure this zone from - the border or the contact line?
Zelenskyy brought up memories of the past when the contact line had shifted and ceasefires were exploited by the Russians and separatists to gain more control of Ukrainian territories.
The leader also emphasized that there should be no illusions about the possibility of ceasefire violations. But he added that the very truce is a crucial step towards finding a lasting peace. If we agree to a buffer zone and withdraw troops from cities like Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy, it would seem like peace has been achieved. But the war would still be raging in those cities, as artillery would fire over them. Therefore, it's too early to discuss this idea, and Zelenskyy considers it dead.
In the past, Keith Kellogg, US President Donald Trump's special envoy on Ukraine, had proposed a demilitarized zone jointly controlled by Ukraine and Russia. And a coalition of willing countries had also agreed to demand a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire starting May 12. But as of now, Zelenskyy has shut the door on the idea of a demilitarized zone, focusing on ensuring the safety and protection of Ukraine's territorial integrity.
Enrichment Data:
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy currently views the proposal for a demilitarized zone in the war with Russia as unfeasible. He has expressed concerns about leaving significant areas like Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy exposed to Russian fire due to the creation of a 15km buffer zone[2].
Zelenskyy points to Russia's past failure to adhere to its obligations as evidence of why a demilitarized zone would be impractical[3]. He also emphasized the need to protect Ukraine's territorial integrity and ensure the safety of its citizens, which makes the current proposals for a demilitarized zone unworkable in his view[3].
Zelenskyy's stance is primarily driven by the need to maintain control over critical areas during any agreement with Russia and prevent ongoing threats from the Russian side, despite any temporary ceasefire[4]. Up until now, the Ukrainian leader is prioritizing finding a lasting peace over experimenting with unproven ideas like a demilitarized zone.
- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has declared the proposal for a 30km demilitarized zone in Ukraine's conflict with Russia as deceased, citing concerns about leaving crucial areas like Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy vulnerable to Russian fire.
- During a press conference, Zelenskyy highlighted past failures of Russia to honor its commitments as a reason for considering a demilitarized zone impractical.
- Instead of focusing on a demilitarized zone, Zelenskyy is prioritizing the safety and protection of Ukraine's territorial integrity and finding a lasting peace.
- Ignoring the calls for a demilitarized zone jointly controlled by Ukraine and Russia, as proposed by Keith Kellogg, Zelenskyy is concentrating on ensuring general news of peace and stability in war-and-conflicts and politics, rather than experimenting with unproven ideas.
