Ukraine rejects Donbas free economic zone over security risks, Zelenskyy says
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy (photo: Getty Images)
Ukraine will not agree to a free economic zone in Donbas or withdrawal of its troops from the region, as this would pose big risks of a renewed Russian invasion, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said after the Munich Security Conference.
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The Ukrainian president explained that if Russian leader Vladimir Putin decides to attack Ukraine again, Russia could stage provocations to justify a new assault.
There is a high probability that any troops remaining in the Donetsk region—whether partner forces or others—could eventually go out. Russia could then provoke incidents to launch another war.
"What will happen next? There will be a big occupation of Ukraine, with heavy losses. That is why I said this is an option, but not a positive one for Ukraine, because it creates big risks for security guarantees and for the countries who gave these guarantees,” Zelenskyy concluded.
Earlier, the President stressed that Ukraine cannot agree to withdraw troops from Donbas in exchange for promises of peace. Any territorial concessions are crazy, and the presence of foreign forces would not guarantee security in areas outside Kyiv's control.
At the same time, on February 7, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine was ready to discuss a free economic zone in the Donbas. However, he emphasized that this would not mean concessions on sovereignty or recognition of Russia's control over occupied territories.
