Demilitarized zone and referendums: Indonesia offers Ukraine its "peace plan", Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responds

On Saturday, June 3, Reuters reported that Indonesian Defense Minister Prabowo Subianto proposed his own "peace plan" for Ukraine, which provides for an immediate ceasefire and the creation of a demilitarized zone along the current line of contact.

In his speech, the minister noted that a large delegation of high-ranking European defense ministers is taking part in this year's Asia Forum, which, in his opinion, is proof of the importance of peace and security in the Asia-Pacific region for the stability of Europe.

He went on to note that "the events in Ukraine" affect a large number of people around the world, as food and energy prices have risen sharply, and formulated his own "peace plan."

"First, to immediately cease fire and hostilities. Second, to withdraw troops from each side 15 kilometers from the current front line and create a demilitarized zone, and third, to establish a peacekeeping mission under the auspices of the United Nations to monitor compliance with the ceasefire," he said.

After that, Subianto proposes to organize and hold referendums in the "disputed territories" with the participation of the UN in order to "objectively establish the will of the majority of residents of the disputed territories" regarding their vision of their future.

He also assured that Indonesia is ready to send its representatives to such a UN peacekeeping mission.

"I don't know if my proposal is accepted, but these are concrete recommendations for the forum's decision to de-escalate and stop the bloodshed in this armed conflict as soon as possible," Subianto said.

Reaction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine

Later, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine responded to Indonesia's "peace plan" and called on the country to join the implementation of the Ukrainian peace formula. 

"We appreciate the attention that Indonesia, apparently having drawn conclusions from its own history, pays to the issue of restoring peace in Ukraine," said Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Oleh Nikolenko.

He also reminded that there are no disputed territories between Ukraine and Russia to hold referendums there.

"Russia has seized Crimea, parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, as documented in official UN papers. The Russian army is committing war crimes, crimes against humanity and genocide in the occupied territories. Russia must withdraw from Ukrainian territories, and Ukraine must restore its territorial integrity within internationally recognized borders. There can be no alternative scenarios," the Foreign Ministry spokesman emphasized.

In addition, according to him, the ceasefire, disengagement of forces to a 15-kilometer distance and the creation of a demilitarized zone will not work.

"Lasting peace in Ukraine means the liberation of Ukrainian territories from Russian occupation. This is what President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy's peace formula is aimed at. We invite Indonesia to join its active implementation," he concluded.

• Earlier, Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto called on US and Russian Presidents Joe Biden and Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table to end the war in Ukraine.

• On May 15, it became known that Hungary supports China's "peace plan" to end the war in Ukraine and is ready to cooperate in this direction in order to "strengthen the voice of the peace camp."