Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas does not guarantee an end to the war – Zelensky
Фото: Володимир Зеленський / Телеграм
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas does not guarantee an end to the war, but will only allow Kremlin leader Vladimir Putin to retain significant forces and continue his aggression.
The head of state said this in an interview with the Italian broadcaster Rai Italia .
According to Zelensky, the world has speculated that the absence of Ukrainian troops in Donbas could lead to the end of the war, but he called this logic flawed.
“For some reason, some people around the world have started to believe Putin’s words—that if Ukraine is no longer in Donbas, the war will end. Despite all the words previously voiced by Russia, aggression has only increased, and we simply cannot trust the Russian side,” the president noted.
Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine is ready to seek agreements to end the war with the participation of strong international mediators, but such agreements must include real guarantees and not be based solely on Russia’s promises.
The President also emphasized that even if Ukrainian troops withdraw, there is no guarantee that the Kremlin will not continue the war.
“We must understand that if Ukraine is not in Donbas, it is not guaranteed that Putin will not continue the war. I would even say the opposite. It is a fact that he will continue. It is not a fact that he will continue immediately,” he emphasized.
According to Zelensky, the Russian leadership needs time to train new units and staff brigades and divisions.
The President added that if Ukrainian troops withdraw, Russia will be able to retain between 300,000 and a million of its soldiers, depending on the intensity of the fighting in Donbas.
“Why should we leave our land, which we control? He couldn’t do anything on the battlefield. Putin wants us to trust him and simply leave our well-fortified territories,” Zelensky concluded.
Earlier, Volodymyr Zelensky rejected Ukraine’s withdrawal from Donbas.
As is known, Syrsky stated that in 2026, Ukraine plans to conduct offensive operations alongside strategic defense.
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