As stated in the material, the US plan to resolve the war in Ukraine, in particular in the Donbass, provides for the creation of a demilitarized zone or a special administration, which could provide Russia with a reason to deploy hidden forces in the disputed region.
Bloomberg sources note that the Kremlin could use hybrid tactics, including so-called false flag operations, to undermine US security guarantees and create a pretext for a new invasion.
Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that the United States discussed the creation of a “free economic zone” in Donbass with a special administration, while Russia proposed introducing a “demilitarized zone” there.
According to the publication's sources, Russia can take advantage of any withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Kiev-controlled territories. Therefore, Europe's main task over the coming days and weeks is to ensure that any peace agreement does not contain a Trojan horse from the Kremlin.
Former UK National Security Adviser Peter Ricketts also noted that the idea of a demilitarized zone is a major concern in Europe. According to him, as soon as the United States shifts attention to other issues, Vladimir Putin may begin to “create incidents” as a reason for intervention – in particular, under the pretext of protecting the Russian-speaking population.
Ricketts stressed that such an approach would leave the rest of Ukraine vulnerable to a new Russian offensive and that this issue is fundamental not only to the security of Ukraine, but also to the security of Europe.
Context
The Ukrainian and US delegations have already held seven rounds of negotiations on a “peace plan” for resolving the Russian-Ukrainian war. In parallel, the American side is discussing this issue with the aggressor country of the Russian Federation.
On December 10, Washington Post journalist David Ignatius reported that one of the options for a peace plan for Ukraine involves the creation of the so-called “Korean model” – a demilitarized zone along the entire ceasefire line, as well as a possible exchange of territories with Russia. Beyond this zone will be a deeper territory in which the placement of heavy weapons will be prohibited. The parties are also considering the option of some kind of “exchange of territories”; in the column this item is called “inevitable”.
Earlier, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky said that the “Korean scenario” after the war is completely unsuitable for Ukraine due to the significantly greater threat from Russia compared to the DPRK for South Korea.
