Conditions for Discussing a Troop Pullback from Donbas
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has laid out specific conditions for any talks on withdrawing forces from the Donbas region. According to a report by 'Glavcom' citing Axios, a withdrawal of Russian troops would only be possible if it is symmetrical and does not involve recognizing Russia's sovereignty over these territories. U.S. mediators have reportedly proposed the creation of a demilitarized 'free economic zone' as part of the discussions.
Three-way talks involving Ukraine, the United States, and Russia were held in Geneva, where participants worked both in a joint format and in separate groups. The first day of negotiations has concluded, with the political and military negotiation blocks having already finished their work. During a second round, Russian representatives promised to consult with Moscow. Kyiv and Washington agreed that any potential deal must be put to a referendum of the Ukrainian people.
Prospects for a Peaceful Resolution to the Conflict
Zelenskyy emphasized that people would never emotionally forgive a failure to achieve peace and all the consequences of the ongoing conflict. He stressed that this is part of Ukraine, home to citizens who have a right to their land.
“If the document includes a provision to leave forces on the line of contact, then people will support this in a referendum.” – Volodymyr Zelenskyy
Negotiations are set to continue the following day, aiming to make progress on the issue.
These talks represent a critical step in the search for a peaceful resolution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine, which has persisted for several years. The outcome could significantly impact Ukraine's domestic politics, its fraught relationship with Russia, and its ties with international partners like the U.S. Submitting any potential agreements to a public referendum is intended to involve Ukrainian citizens directly in the decision-making process, which could affect the legitimacy of any future settlements.