Kremlin sets condition for ceasefire: Ukraine must withdraw from Donbas

When asked whether the condition applied only to Donbas or also included Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts, Peskov declined to elaborate, saying he did not want to “publicly discuss specific provisions.”

He added that Moscow is “thinking about ending the military conflict in the context of achieving its objectives.”

On Dec. 28, Yuri Ushakov — aide to Russian dictator Vladimir Putin — said that for the fighting to end completely, Ukraine would have to make a decision “concerning Donbas.”

On Dec. 29, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the draft peace agreement currently under discussion does not include any provision to establish a demilitarized zone along the front line between Ukraine and Russia.

Instead, he said, negotiations are underway to create a free economic zone in Donetsk Oblast.

Asked who would patrol a demilitarized zone if one were created, Zelenskyy replied, “Your question already has the answer: if one were created. Right now, that’s not being discussed. For now, we’re talking about a free economic zone.”