Proposal to withdraw Ukrainian troops 15 km from frontline is unfeasible - Zelenskyy
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the idea of creating a 15-km buffer zone on both sides of the front line in Ukraine could lead to the loss of control over cities
He emphasized this at a press conference following the meeting of the 'Coalition of the Willing'.
Zelenskyy mentioned that he had heard about the idea of a demilitarized zone and troop withdrawal from various sources and intelligence. However, he stressed that no official proposal had been made to Ukraine.
"It’s like with sapper work: everyone is looking for opportunities, what other experiment to carry out with us," the president said.
He noted that the idea is not very viable and depends on the monitoring format.
“The question of a demilitarized zone on both sides — why 15 km? And from which line will we count, from the border, or from the contact line?” Zelenskyy emphasized.
He added that this issue presents many complexities. The president recalled that Ukraine had been attacked by missiles from Belarusian territory, meaning that, according to the logic of the proposal, a DMZ should also be created 15 km into Belarusian territory.
"Moreover, the range of modern artillery and drones far exceeds 15 km. Even if we talk about 15 kilometers, what will we do with the city of Kherson? This would immediately mean that our troops won't be in Kherson. If our troops aren't in Kherson, we won't have Kherson," the Ukrainian leader noted.
He added that a similar situation applies to Pokrovsk and other frontline cities.
"There are no illusions that ceasefire violations won’t occur — they will. But it’s a very important step. If we then agree to a buffer zone and withdraw 15 kilometers, cities like Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy will appear to be at peace, but the war will continue for them, because artillery will still reach them. That’s why it’s too early to talk about this. The idea of troop withdrawal, for now, is not viable," the president concluded.
- On Saturday, May 10, 2025, the leaders of the Coalition of the Willing met in Kyiv. As a result, they supported an unconditional and complete ceasefire in Ukraine for 30 days, which is to begin on Monday, May 12.
- News