Zelenskyy reveals US proposal for Donbas ceasefire based on current front lines
Illustrative photo: Zelenskyy reveals US proposal on Donbas (GettyImages)
A fair and realistic option for a ceasefire in Ukraine could be based on the principle of "we stay where we are." This means that both sides remain in their current positions, while all issues are resolved through diplomatic means, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
According to him, this model effectively represents a ceasefire, but Russia has a negative attitude toward it.
“When we signal ‘we stay where we are,’ the Russians respond by saying that Ukraine must withdraw from Donbas or they will occupy it anyway,” Zelenskyy said.
The president emphasized that Russia is actively spreading disinformation, particularly about the situation on the front line. As an example, he cited claims about the alleged occupation of Kupiansk and the encirclement of Ukrainian troops.
“I was recently in Kupiansk and showed who actually controls the city. There is a lot of disinformation coming from Russia. That’s why I sent signals to our colleagues in the United States not to believe everything Russia says,” the head of state noted.
According to Zelenskyy, Russia is trying to occupy eastern Ukraine not only by military means, but also through political and diplomatic pressure, in order to avoid expending resources.
“Then the US said: let’s make this compromise — the Russian army will not enter parts of our East, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces will withdraw. I do not consider this fair,” Zelenskyy said.
He believes that if Ukrainian troops are required to pull back, Russian forces should do the same.
“If Ukrainian troops withdraw 5–10 kilometers, why shouldn’t Russian troops withdraw the same distance deeper into the occupied territories? This is a question that currently has no answer. But it is extremely sensitive and very heated,” Zelenskyy stressed.
Demilitarized zone in Donbas
The French newspaper Le Monde reported that Ukraine had allegedly agreed to the creation of a demilitarized zone under conditions of mutual troop withdrawal. According to the outlet, European leaders supposedly supported this potential concession by Kyiv as one of the foundations for a possible peace settlement.
However, Ukraine’s Presidential Office denied this information.
Officials emphasized that Presidential Office adviser Mykhailo Podoliak did not say that Ukraine had agreed to such conditions when speaking with French journalists. The discussion focused on the idea that, in theory, various security models could be considered, but everything depends on specific parameters, control mechanisms, and the presence of clear legal guarantees.
Earlier, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had reviewed all proposals from the American side and, in effect, Russia’s vision regarding the territory of Donetsk region.
According to him, the proposed approaches do not meet Ukraine’s national interests, but dialogue must continue in order to find acceptable solutions.
The president also clarified that various options for troop withdrawal are under discussion, including symmetrical pullbacks of 5 or 10 kilometers on both sides, as well as the introduction of international monitoring, as practiced in other conflicts.
