President Zelensky rejected the idea of a demilitarized zone on the front line, calling it “immature” and unviable under current conditions of the war with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly dismissed the possibility of creating a 30-kilometer demilitarized zone along the front line, describing this idea as "currently unviable" and far from being implementable. He made these statements during a press conference in Kyiv attended by delegations from France, Britain, Poland, and Germany, reports a correspondent of "European Truth." Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine first needs to achieve a ceasefire, and only then should discussions about subsequent steps take place, including the creation of buffer zones. According to the Ukrainian leader, the idea of a demilitarized zone involving the withdrawal of troops by 15 kilometers on each side is currently abstract and unpromising. He noted that many allies and intelligence agencies are discussing so-called "experiments" related to potential troop withdrawals; however, the official Kyiv authorities have not proposed this and are not calling for it themselves. "We, Ukrainians," Zelensky said, "like sappers—are seeking all possible ways to find a solution, but for now, this idea doesn’t really make much sense." The president stressed that the main issue is defining the line from which the zone should be measured—whether it is the border of the state or the contact line on the front. He cited the example of Kherson: if a 15-kilometer demilitarized zone is created, Ukrainian troops would remain outside the city, which, in his words, means that there would be no Ukrainian military presence in Kherson—in effect, the city would be lost. Zelensky recalled that since 2014, the contact line in Donbas has constantly shifted due to hostilities and ceasefire agreements. However, he pointed out that Russians and militants repeatedly used periods of truce to advance their forces and seize Ukrainian territories. Therefore, illusions that a ceasefire with Russia can be sustained for long without violations are unfounded. "It’s unlikely we’d be able to demand absolute peace without violations," Zelensky emphasized. "At the same time, the likelihood of creating a so-called buffer zone, which involves pulling back troops from cities like Kherson, Kharkiv, and Sumy, is currently very doubtful. This would mean the country is left without its defense, its city, and its sovereignty in these regions. In such a case, even formal peace would become an illusion—because Russian artillery shells would still fly overhead, and Ukrainian troops would remain outside these cities." He added that the experience of previous years, including numerous ceasefires and truces, shows that Russians and separatists do not use these periods to stabilize the situation or return to peaceful life. On the contrary, each truce became an opportunity for advancing their forces and deepening the occupation of Ukrainian territories. Zelensky underscored that despite all the risks and pessimistic forecasts, the main goal remains—to achieve a complete ceasefire. Only then can discussions about peace and security horizons take place. At present, in his view, such ideas are more of a political gesture or a desire by some members of the international community to create a favorable image for themselves, rather than a practical step toward resolving the conflict. Against this backdrop, Ukraine, together with its allies, previously received signals indicating that the international community supports the idea of initiating negotiations to end the war and possibly creating demilitarized zones. However, considering the realities of the Ukrainian-Russian conflict and the experience of years of war, the Ukrainian president clearly indicates that these ideas are presently unattainable. The true priority remains the restoration of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.