Americans propose to create a demilitarized zone in Ukraine. Russians have again adopted a delaying tactic.
Keith Kellogg, special representative of US President Donald Trump for Ukraine and Russia, announced information that should certainly not be overlooked. He confirmed that Ukraine has agreed to the proposal for a demilitarized zone, which would separate its army and the Russian army. However, Russia's reaction, which has been occupying Ukraine for the third year now, is still rather lukewarm.
The war in Ukraine, which has so far claimed tens of thousands of military and civilian victims, may be heading for a resolution. At least the administration of the new American president Donald Trump, who through his special envoy Keith Kellogg in an interview for the television station Fox News stated, that the attacked country is ready to establish a thirty-kilometer-wide demilitarized zone along the current front line. The idea of such a zone, which the Americans came up with, would therefore mean in practice that both warring parties would retain control over the territory they currently hold.
"If there is a thirty-day cease-fire, it will then be extended. Afterwards, it will be difficult for soldiers to re-ignite the conflict. I don't think they will do it,"
Kellog said in a television appearance.
Demilitarized Zone
The Ukrainian army would be deployed from Zaporozhye across Dnipro and northwest towards Kiev up to the Belarusian borders. At the same time, the so-called coalition of the willing, which includes the UK, France, Germany, and another 12 countries, would place their forces west of the Dnieper River. The river would thus serve as the border between the territory controlled by Russia and the territory controlled by Ukraine.
Kellogg further stated that although there would be a freeze of the front, neither the US nor Ukraine would recognize the occupied territories as Russian. He added that over time, these areas could return to Ukraine, following the example of Baltic or Germany.
"We have never de iure recognized that the Soviet Union controlled the Baltics. We said that this would change over time. And that's what we're kind of telling Ukraine. When you look at what happened to Germany, they always wanted a united Germany after World War II. They did not get it immediately, but they finally got it,"
An American diplomat explained in an interview.
He compared the entire situation to the condition that led to the division of Berlin into four occupation zones after World War II.
West Berlin
When Berlin was occupied by the Red Army at the end of World War II, the victorious powers agreed that the former capital of Germany would be divided into sectors. The entire area was supposed to become a demilitarized zone. In addition to the military garrisons of the powers, there were not supposed to be any other military forces in the city. Not even on the occasion of military parades.
But because Stalin wanted to control the entire metropolis, the Americans, British, and French decided to take a step that led to the creation of West Berlin. The inhabitants of the free part of the city were thus protected from all possible efforts of the Soviet Union to limit their rights and impose communist ideology. However, they did not have a standard civic identity card or passport, as was the case with citizens of the Federal Republic of Germany, but "only" special so-called auxiliary badges, which they had to carry with them at all times. For young inhabitants of West Berlin, there was another reality - they were not allowed to receive draft orders for the military.
Is the proposal realistic?
Back to Ukraine, however, which is resisting the Russian invasion. The aggressor is so far cautious about the demilitarized zone, arguing that the agreement with such a proposal must be confirmed by the Ukrainians themselves. However, this is more of a delaying tactic, which has been used in recent months in response to American proposals for a ceasefire. Russia, in fact, demands the complete dismantling of the Kiev regime, which would be replaced by a puppet government subordinate to Russian interests.
In case Russia did not agree to the proposal, there is, however, a suggestion on the table, as Kellog stated, that the United States would increase their support for Ukraine.
There have been many ideas on how to end the war. However, so far they have been primarily failing due to the tepid approach of the occupiers. This was recently admitted by the American Vice President J. D. Vanc on the television channel Fox News.
"We knew the Russians would ask for too much because their perception of the situation is that they are winning. We don't want Ukraine to collapse, we want Ukraine to remain a sovereign country."
Sources: Fox News, ČTK
