US proposed demilitarized zones in Donbas and Kinburn Spit during peace talks
Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States proposed creating demilitarized or buffer zones in Donbas and at the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast during peace talks with Ukraine and Russia. Zelenskyy said Kyiv was ready for an agreement freezing the front line but would never recognize occupied territories as Russian.
Key points
- The US proposed demilitarized zones in Donbas and at the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast.
- One proposal would create a buffer or demilitarized zone on both sides of the line of contact in Donbas.
- The US presented several territorial settlement options, starting with a 28-point peace plan.
- Zelenskyy said he was ready for a peace agreement that would freeze fighting along the current front line.
- Zelenskyy said Kyiv would never recognize occupied territories as Russian.
- He said Russia's demands extend far beyond Donbas.
- The talks also addressed the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and a possible territory exchange.
Why it matters
The proposed buffer and demilitarized zones could affect the parameters of a peace settlement along the front line. The proposals would cover both Donbas and the Kinburn Spit, while Zelenskyy's position combines readiness to freeze hostilities with refusal to recognize occupied territory as Russian.
What happened
During peace talks with Ukraine and Russia, the United States proposed creating demilitarized zones in Donbas and at the Kinburn Spit in Mykolaiv Oblast. Another option envisaged a buffer or demilitarized zone on both sides of the line of contact in Donbas. The US also presented various alternatives for resolving the territorial issue, beginning with a 28-point peace plan. Zelenskyy said he was ready for a peace agreement freezing fighting along the current front line, but insisted that Kyiv would never recognize occupied territories as Russian. He also said Russia's demands extend beyond Donbas. The parties discussed the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the format of a territory exchange.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian coverage focuses on the details of the US proposals, Zelenskyy's readiness to freeze fighting along the current line of contact, and Kyiv's refusal to recognize occupied territories as Russian. It also cites Zelenskyy's assessment that Russia occupies less than 20% of Ukrainian territory and notes that Russia's demands go beyond Donbas.
Background
The US proposals were presented as part of several options for resolving the territorial issue, starting with a 28-point peace plan. Negotiations also covered the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and possible formats for exchanging territories.