Kremlin demands immediate withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas
Dmitry Peskov, spokesperson for Russian leader (photo: Getty Images)
Kremlin is demanding that Kyiv make an urgent decision on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said, according to Russian RBC.
"Zelenskyy (President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, – ed.) must already today decide so that Ukrainian troops withdraw beyond the administrative borders of Donbas. This has been said repeatedly. And, in essence, Zelenskyy should have made such a decision yesterday. To take responsibility and make this difficult decision," the Kremlin spokesperson said.
This is how Peskov commented on Zelenskyy's words that Moscow had put forward a new ultimatum to Kyiv regarding the withdrawal of troops from Donbas.
According to him, the Russian side warned that otherwise it would seize the territory by military means.
What preceded
Yesterday, March 31, Zelenskyy stated that the aggressor country had put forward new conditions for ending the war — it demands that Ukraine leave Donbas within two months. The Ukrainian president noted that he is surprised that anyone can take such statements seriously after all the years of war.
The president said that Russia demands that Ukraine leave Donbas within two months, after which, according to it, the war will end.
The Donbas issue in negotiations
Earlier, Zelenskyy rejected any exchange of Donbas territory for other regions. He emphasized that Russia understands that it will be able to hold border territories, and the moment will come when the Armed Forces of Ukraine will push them out from there.
In addition, the President of Ukraine emphasized that during future negotiations, it is necessary to agree on a meeting at the level of leaders, since it is in such a format that a decision on the territorial issue can be reached.
On March 25, Zelenskyy stated that the United States had set a condition according to which Ukraine, in order to receive security guarantees, must withdraw its troops from Donbas.
According to him, Washington is ready to finally agree on these guarantees at a high level as soon as Kyiv is ready for this step. Zelenskyy warned that this would threaten the security of both Ukraine and Europe.
Later, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio called this statement by Zelenskyy a lie. According to him, Washington had not set any conditions for Ukraine regarding the withdrawal of troops.
