Ukraine refuses to abandon Donbas for flawed peace deal
President declares Donbas 'Ukraine's real line of defense' (Photo: REUTERS/Alina Smutko)
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy firmly rejected withdrawing troops from Donbas to secure a peace deal with Russia, calling the region Ukraine's "real line of defense" in an interview with Japanese news agency Kyodo News, published on Feb. 20.
"We cannot leave our territory. This is our real line of defense," President emphasized.
Zelenskyy earlier warned that proposals for Ukraine to withdraw from Donetsk Oblast are dangerous, as Russia's real ambitions extend far beyond the region.
He added on Feb. 17 that the Ukrainian people will completely reject any peace agreement requiring a unilateral withdrawal of troops from Donbas and handing the region over to Russia.
Russian demands and 'Anchorage formula'
Zelenskyy has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine's position on territorial issues remains unchanged, and Kyiv will not agree to cede Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts to Russia.
However, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin is prepared to continue the war against Ukraine for another two years to gain full control of the Donbas, The New York Times reported on Feb. 18, citing military and Western intelligence sources.
The Kremlin insists on the so-called 'Anchorage formula.' This Russian ultimatum demands that the Ukrainian Defense Forces withdraw entirely from the Donbas and agree to freeze the current front lines in other eastern and southern Ukrainian oblasts.
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