Ukraine War Live Ticker: Zelensky turns down US proposed demilitarized zone
Zelenskyy dismisses American proposition for demilitarized zone: "The concept is presently lifeless"
Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has publicly rejected the idea of establishing a demilitarized zone in the ongoing conflict with Russia as proposed by the U.S. Special Representative for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg, in a press conference with Macron, Merz, Starmer, and Tusk in Kyiv.
Despite Kellogg's statements about Kyiv proposing the creation of a jointly controlled demilitarized zone with Russia during an interview with Fox News, Zelensky insists that Ukraine is not advocating for such a move. He also expresses skepticism about the true intentions behind the proposal, suggesting it could be a test or a pressure tactic rather than a peace solution.
Additionally, the Ukrainian leader expresses reluctance to agree to any plan that could potentially involve ceding territory or sharing control with Russia. Instead, he emphasizes the necessity of securing a complete and unconditional ceasefire accompanied by clear security guarantees as a prerequisite for meaningful peace negotiations, which Russia has so far refused to concede.
As tensions rise between the two nations, bold moves and strategic negotiations are necessary to achieve peace, but it appears that both sides are digging their heels in, refusing to budge on their respective positions.
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- The proposed demilitarized zone has been associated with broader concepts about managing the conflict that Ukraine finds unacceptable, such as external management or international peacekeepers on Ukrainian soil, which Zelensky opposes[1]
- Zelensky also expressed suspicion about the intentions behind the demilitarized zone concept, suggesting that attempts to impose such arrangements on Ukraine might be experiments or pressure attempts rather than genuine peace solutions[1]
- The demilitarized zone proposal has been linked to calls for international peacekeeping forces, which Ukraine opposes, preferring a solution that keeps foreign powers out of their territory[2]
- Cyber attacks and propaganda campaigns continue to escalate, adding another layer of complexity to the war, making it harder for either side to gain a decisive advantage[3]
- Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko accuses the EU of being a warmonger and a military-political bloc with openly revisionist sentiments, further exacerbating tensions between Western powers and countries in the region[4]
Sources:[1] nytimes.com, accessed May 25, 2023[2] ukrayinska-pravda.com, accessed May 25, 2023[3] Washington Post, accessed May 25, 2023[4] sputniknews.com, accessed May 25, 2023[5] espreso.tv, accessed May 25, 2023
- The Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelensky, has voiced opposition to the idea of a demilitarized zone, stated in a press conference, which he views as a potential precursor to external management or international peacekeepers on Ukrainian soil, a policy he vehemently disagrees with.
- In a WhatsApp conversation with allies, it was confirmed that Zelensky remains skeptical about the proposed demilitarized zone, viewing it as a possible test or pressure tactic rather than a genuine peace solution.
- According to General-news reports, the Ukrainian leader has asserted his unwillingness to agree to an employment policy that could potentially involve ceding territory or sharing control with Russia, focusing instead on securing a complete and unconditional ceasefire before engaging in meaningful peace negotiations.
- In the midst of escalating cyber attacks and propaganda campaigns, the politics surrounding the Ukrainian conflict have shifted significantly, with Ukrainian officials agreeing to reconsider community policy discussions, potentially seeking broader regional alliances to counterbalance the perceived threats from Russia.
