US proposes ‘free economic zone’ in parts of Donbas after Ukrainian pullback, Zelensky says
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said questions remain over who would manage the territory.
By Christian Edwards, CNN
(CNN) — The United States has suggested creating a “free economic zone” in parts of the eastern Donbas region from which Ukraine would withdraw under a negotiated peace with Russia, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday. He stressed that territorial issues remain unresolved after weeks of negotiations.
“The Russians want the whole of Donbas, but we, of course, do not accept this,” Zelensky told reporters. “Our position is that it is fair to stand where we stand, that is, on the contact line. Therefore, there is a discussion between these different positions, and it has not yet been decided.”
As a compromise, Zelensky said the US has discussed creating a “free economic zone” in certain parts of the Donbas, which includes the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, he added.
“I can say how, as of now, the American side sees it and what the problem is: Their vision is for Ukrainian troops to leave Donetsk region territory, and the compromise supposedly would be that Russian troops would not enter this territory of Donetsk region,” he said.
The US has not specified who would control this territory, Zelensky said, adding that the Russians refer to it as a “demilitarized zone.”
The Ukrainian leader said the US suggestion has left a lot of unanswered questions. “If someone withdraws from one side, as they want Ukrainians to do, why doesn’t the other side of the war withdraw the same distance in the other direction?” he said.
Zelensky also asked who would police the demilitarized territory.
“If some troops have to leave and other troops remain where they are, what exactly will prevent these other troops — i.e., Russian troops — from going further? Or from infiltrating the ‘free economic zone’ under the guise of ‘civilians’ and taking control of it? This is all very serious,” he said.
Zelensky cautioned that “it is not a fact that we, as Ukraine, will accept this — but when you talk to us about compromise, you have to offer a fair compromise.” He said the question of territory would ultimately be for “the people of Ukraine” to answer, either through elections or a referendum.
Russia has been fighting in the Donbas since 2014 but has been unable to capture the whole of the territory. It is now trying to secure through US-mediated peace negotiations what it has been unable to win by force of arms.
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