Referendum on territorial cessions? Russia rejects proposal

Russia incorporated territories in violation of international law

A few months after the start of its war of aggression against Ukraine, Russia divided the Donbass – that is, the Donetsk and Luhansk regions – as well as the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions by constitutional amendment contrary to international law into its national territory.

Zelensky said on Thursday that only the Ukrainian people could decide on territorial issues – in a referendum, for example. Zelensky’s goal is now to be on behalf of Russia in the negotiations unacceptable suggestions to have it written into the peace plan with the USA, said Ushakov in the Turkmen capital Ashgabat on the sidelines of Putin’s trip.

Russia has not seen new peace documents

The Kremlin official explained that Russia is currently discussing the issues with leading representatives of European states Documents not seen yet have. A new variant could be worse and unacceptable for Russia. Ushakov also reiterated Russian demands that Ukraine withdraw its troops from Donbass for a ceasefire.

For the first time there are now official statements that Russia could imagine a demilitarized zone in Donbass – under Moscow administration. “It is quite possible that there will be no immediate armed forces there – neither Russian nor Ukrainian. However, there will be the National Guard, our police; there will be everything that is needed to maintain order and organize life,” Ushakov said. However, Russia’s National Guard is equipped with weapons systems and military-like powers – and is also used in war.

The day before, Kremlin chief Putin reported new successes in the advance in Donbass and declared that Russia could also achieve its war goals on the battlefield. The aim is now to push the Ukrainian armed forces out of the part of the area not yet controlled by Moscow.