Ukraine, US comment on Putin's idea to create “demilitarized zone”

He said this in an interview with Ukrainian Radio.

Danilov was asked to comment on Putin's statement. On February 1, the Russian leader emphasized that the creation of a “demilitarized zone” in Ukraine would help to avoid strikes by the Ukrainian Armed Forces on Russian territory.

"This demilitarized zone will be at least as far as Moscow, as far as St. Petersburg, and we will definitely move it. The only place they will be able to say something there is no closer than the Urals. Believe me, it will definitely happen. Because the response of the civilized world to the crimes committed by those terrorists led by a modern-day Hitler named Putin will not be unpunished, they will definitely be held accountable," Danilov said.

At the same time, US State Department spokesman Matthew Miller suggested that in order to create a so-called demilitarized zone in Ukraine, Russia should clear the occupied territories of its own forces.

"I’m struggling to understand how a demilitarized zone between Russia and Ukraine would be implemented when Russian forces are currently inside Ukraine. Kind of tough to have a demilitarized zone when Russian forces continue to operate on the Ukrainian side of the border," Miller said.

According to the spokesman, Putin has repeatedly made it clear that he has not changed his goal of conquering and subjugating Ukraine.

"So I think if Russia really wanted to show interest in a demilitarized zone, the thing they could do is start by demilitarizing the parts of Ukraine where there are currently Russian forces," Miller added.

• Russia is calling for a large-scale offensive in Kharkiv region to create a "buffer zone" with Belgorod region.