U.S. demands Ukraine withdraw forces from Donbas, offers no concessions
Read NV on Google
A Ukrainian serviceman from the 93rd Mechanized Brigade walks along a street in embattled Druzhkivka, Donetsk Oblast (Photo: 93rd Mechanized Brigade)
Washington is pressuring Ukraine to completely withdraw its forces from Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts without offering any concessions in return, ignoring the risk that Russia will make further territorial demands, RBC-Ukraine reported on October 19, citing a source in the Ukrainian government
The source pointed to recent U.S. actions, including restricting intelligence sharing and slowing Starlink speeds, as clear evidence of “arm-twisting.”
“The Americans are saying: withdraw from Donbas, without offering anything in return,” the source said. “They do not understand that the Russians will then demand that we give up Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.”
The source added that Donald Trump plans to resolve his domestic political problems through foreign policy, at the expense of the weaker side – Ukraine.
Some media outlets expect this pressure to ease after the November 3 election, once the White House no longer faces an election deadline. However, Ukrainian officials are skeptical that Ukraine and Russia can reach a lasting ceasefire, even a partial one, before the vote or even by spring.
RBC-Ukraine’s source added that they see no realistic prospects for a ceasefire.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine will not withdraw its troops from the Donbas. It would take Russian forces at least two more years to fully seize Donetsk Oblast, a campaign that would cost them approximately 800,000 soldiers, Zelenskyy stated.
“I want to be clear: I will never abandon Donbas and the 200,000 Ukrainians who live there,” the president said. “Why should I? Because [Russian dictator Vladimir] Putin makes it a condition for peace? And will he immediately put forward new demands after that? No, I will not tolerate that.”
The military war may be swinging in our favor, but the information war continues.
Just as an army needs soldiers, so does a free society need its journalists to ensure that people have access to honest, trustworthy voices to understand the world around them.
For the past five years, The New Voice of Ukraine has been working tirelessly to push back against Russian narratives and defend democracy. But we cannot do it alone.
Please consider supporting us on Patreon for just $5 a month – your donation does directly to supporting journalists and ensuring that this front of the infowar says solid and defended.
Thank you.
Follow us on Twitter, Facebook and Google News
