The president of Ukraine, Volodimir Zelensky, rejected the Russian proposal to hand over the part of the Donbas still under Ukrainian control, describing the Kremlin’s demand as “madness” and making clear his government’s refusal to give up territory.
This was stated during a press conference in Munich, after participating in the Security Conference.
“We can’t just withdraw from our territory or exchange a part of our territory. It’s a little crazy,” he said.
Furthermore, the president stressed that this proposal is unacceptable, since it affects national sovereignty and the memory of those who have died defending that territory since the Russian invasion.
Donbas comprises the administrative regions of Lugansk and Donetsk, located in eastern Ukraine.Currently, Moscow controls almost all of Luhansk and more than three-quarters of Donetsk, while the rest remains in Ukrainian hands.
In parallel, details emerged about a US initiative: the creation of a free zone in Donbas, aimed at establishing a free trade corridor that functions as a buffer area between the disputed sectors.
This scheme seeks to facilitate trade and alleviate the situation of the local population, in addition to contributing to the reduction of tensions.
The free zone proposal will be one of the main issues in the next round of trilateral negotiations between Ukraine, Russia and the United States.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitri Peskov confirmed the imminence of these contacts and noted that “there is a certain understanding” about the organization of the talks, although without specifying the location of the meeting, as reproduced by Interfax.
American diplomacy hopes that the meeting will be held in the United States the following week, with an agenda focused on alternatives for the future of the eastern and southeastern regions of Ukraine and the discussion on the authorization of a special commercial zone.
In previous negotiations between the three parties, held in the United Arab Emirates, a humanitarian agreement was reached for the exchange of more than 300 prisoners of war between Moscow and kyiv, the first of its kind in almost five months.However, no substantial progress was recorded in political or territorial aspects.
The viability of the economic corridor will depend on the willingness of both Moscow and kyiv to accept the terms suggested by the powers involved.
In this context, the United Kingdom Defense Minister, John Healy, announced the transfer of a new package of USD 1.5 billion aimed at urgently strengthening Ukraine’s defense.
The announcement was made after a meeting in Brussels with his counterparts from Germany and Ukraine, and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
The meeting took place within the framework of the Contact Group for Ukraine, an alliance made up of more than 57 countries that coordinates the delivery of weapons to Kiev in the face of the Russian offensive.
(With information from Europa Press and EFE)
