Kuleba Reveals Putin's Accusation Against Zelenskyy in 2020 Call: 'You Killed Zakharchenko'

Details of the Zelenskyy-Putin Phone Call Emerge

According to Главком: Former Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has disclosed details of a summer 2020 phone call between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin. The conversation primarily focused on the situation in Donbas and the implementation of the Minsk agreements. During the call, Putin accused Ukraine of assassinating Alexander Zakharchenko, the separatist leader who was killed by a head wound from an explosion in a Donetsk restaurant on August 31, 2018.

Kuleba noted that Putin addressed Zelenskyy formally as 'Volodymyr Oleksandrovych' during their exchange. He also emphasized that Putin became disillusioned with Zelenskyy, having expected him to more easily facilitate a Russian scenario for reintegrating Donetsk and Luhansk. According to Kuleba, the Russian president had hoped Zelenskyy would acquiesce to terms effectively granting Russia a veto over key aspects of Ukraine's domestic and foreign policy development. This call occurred during a period of stalled diplomacy, prior to Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022.

Outlook for the Donbas Conflict

Kuleba stressed that the baseline scenario for Ukraine by 2026 remains a continuation of the war. He also indicated that after Vladimir Medinsky's return to the Russian delegation, it became clear Moscow is in no hurry to reach genuine agreements.

“Yes. Volodymyr Oleksandrovych, Vladimir Vladimirovich, it was all very, very strictly protocol,” added Kuleba, commenting on the tone of the leaders' conversation.

The situation in Donbas remains tense despite diplomatic efforts from both sides. As the conversation between Zelenskyy and Putin illustrates, mutual understanding remains low, complicating prospects for a peaceful settlement. The lack of progress on the Minsk agreements and the return of figures like Medinsky to negotiations suggest real breakthroughs may still be distant, leaving Ukraine's future in the context of the Donbas conflict uncertain.

The ongoing tension in Donbas and the stalled peace negotiations highlight the complexities of the conflict. For a deeper understanding of the key factors that have led to the current impasse in Ukraine-Russia diplomatic efforts, it is essential to explore the recent developments and their implications for future relations between the two nations.