Zelensky on US Plan for Donbas: Ukraine May Withdraw Troops on Condition of Reciprocity.

According to ТСН: Ukraine may withdraw its troops from the territory of Donbas according to a peace agreement for the establishment of a demilitarized zone, but this is only possible if the Russian Federation agrees to a 'reciprocal' withdrawal.

President Volodymyr Zelensky noted that his American counterpart Donald Trump proposes to create a 'free economic zone' between Ukrainian and Russian troops in the Donetsk region.

'They see how Ukrainian troops leave the territory of the Donetsk region. Allegedly, the compromise lies in the fact that Russian troops do not enter this territory... which they are already calling a 'free economic zone',' said the President of Ukraine.

Zelensky emphasized that he does not have the authority to concede territory to Russia and will not go against the will of the people. However, he instructed his negotiators to 'work constructively' with American proposals.

The Telegraph notes that the likely last compromise will be discussed at negotiations between Ukrainian, European, and American officials in Paris. This concerns the contentious territorial concessions proposed by Trump.

'This mainly concerns the question of what territorial concessions Ukraine is willing to make,' emphasized German Chancellor Friedrich Merz.

He noted that only the President of Ukraine and the Ukrainian people can answer this question.

Merz also held negotiations with the British Prime Minister and the French President about the importance of achieving a 'fair and lasting' end to the war in Ukraine.

Territorial Pressure on Ukraine

US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff pressed Ukraine to unilaterally concede Donbas. Notably, Trump also tried to increase pressure on Zelensky, claiming that Kyiv would suffer defeat if it did not agree to the concession.

In the previous 28-point 'peace plan' developed by Witkoff, there was talk of creating a demilitarized zone that would be recognized internationally as territory belonging to the Russian Federation. Zelensky rejected this proposal as it would have ceded strategically important territory of Ukraine to Moscow.

Reciprocal Proposal on Territories

Within another proposal being considered in Kyiv, Ukraine and Russia could agree on a 'reciprocal' withdrawal of troops from the demilitarized zone, which would remain internationally recognized as Ukrainian territory. The borders of the buffer zone have not yet been defined and will be agreed upon during negotiations between Zelensky and Trump.

'Any negotiations regarding the size of the demilitarized zone are likely to be complicated, considering that 25% of the Donetsk region, which is still controlled by Ukraine, consists of strategically important cities,' reports The Telegraph.

Ukraine insists on 'parallel' negotiations regarding territory and US security guarantees to avoid possible future Russian invasions. Meanwhile, the White House has yet to define a written response regarding what Washington will do to defend Ukraine in the event of a new attack.

US and Europe's Position on Territories

The latest version of the peace proposals to be discussed in France does not contain specific formulations. However, it is expected that official Kyiv will insist on formulations of agreements that NATO Commander Alex Grinkevich will discuss.

European leaders will likely want to ensure a greater role for the continent in these negotiations against the backdrop of Trump's spat with Europe over peace efforts.

'We want a ceasefire backed by reliable legal and material guarantees. It would be a mistake to force the Ukrainian president into a peace that his population will not support,' the German chancellor noted.

According to Merz, 'there is no reason to doubt the agreements we made with the US within the framework of the NATO alliance,' trying to downplay the significance of growing rifts.

Kremlin's Position

Despite Ukraine's willingness to compromise, the Kremlin has yet to show any signs of readiness for compromise to achieve peace.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated that recent negotiations between Putin and Witkoff 'cleared up misconceptions' and misunderstandings, but noted that security guarantees 'cannot be limited to just Ukraine.'

'Europeans are only talking about forcing Americans to provide security guarantees to Ukraine, ignoring all interests of Russia's security,' Lavrov said.

Zelensky stated that US proposals do not reflect Ukraine's interests, as they actually mirror the Kremlin's position. Experts warn that withdrawing troops from Donbas according to the American scenario is dangerous. It could give the Kremlin the opportunity to take control of fortified cities in Donbas—Pokrovsk, Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Druzhkivka, and Konstantinovka—without a fight.

It is important to note that amid these negotiations, questions regarding Ukraine's security and territorial integrity continue to arise. The situation remains tense, and much depends on the position of American and European allies who are trying to ensure support for Ukraine at this crucial moment.