Kremlin Denies Zelensky’s Ultimatum Claim Over Donbass
Speaking to reporters, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov emphasized that the alleged deadline “is not about two months,” adding that Zelensky “must make the decision today for the Ukrainian armed forces to leave the borders of the Donetsk People’s Republic.”
“This has been said for a long time, and he should have done it yesterday. It could have saved the lives of thousands of people and stopped the hot phase of this war,” Peskov continued, highlighting Moscow’s view that an earlier withdrawal could have prevented further casualties.
Peskov’s statements followed Zelensky’s interview claiming that Moscow had notified Washington it expected Ukraine to pull back from Donbass within two months. Zelensky warned that if Kiev failed to comply, Russia would seize the territory regardless, and the conditions of any settlement “will be different.”
The Donbass region, which voted to join Russia in 2022, remains a central point of contention in peace negotiations. Moscow maintains that Ukraine’s complete withdrawal is a prerequisite for a durable settlement.
Zelensky’s remarks about alleged US pressure on Ukraine to cede the region have also been denied by Washington. Earlier this week, a US official dismissed the Ukrainian claims as a “lie,” clarifying that Kiev was only told that security guarantees would follow a peace agreement, not precede it.
Trilateral discussions involving Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have been paused due to the ongoing conflict in Iran. Peskov described the halt as “situational” and reiterated that Russia remains open to negotiations, though US mediation efforts are currently focused on the Middle East.
Zelensky continues to oppose territorial concessions, describing any withdrawal from Donbass as a threat to European security, while Russia insists that lasting peace requires Ukrainian neutrality, demilitarization, and recognition of the regions that voted to join Russia.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
