The Kremlin highly appreciates Vladimir Zelensky's proposal to hold a referendum in Ukraine on the status of Donbass. As Assistant to the President of the Russian Federation Yury Ushakov stated, this entire region belongs to Russia and this is enshrined in the country's Constitution. At the same time, he did not rule out the establishment of a demilitarized zone there: according to Kremlin representatives, there may not be Russian and Ukrainian troops in the area, but there will be Russian Guards and Russian police. Ushakov also said Moscow is still not familiar with the new version of the peace plan and suggested it “may not like” the amendments proposed by Kiev and its allies.
Assistant to Russian President Yury Ushakov said all of Donbass belongs to Russia. This is how a Kremlin representative commented to Life about the statement of Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky, who proposed holding a referendum on the territorial issue the day before.
“Donbass belongs to Russia. The entire part of Donbass belongs to Russia,” Ushakov said, adding that this was recorded in the Constitution of the Russian Federation.
In a conversation with Kommersant, the Kremlin representative emphasized that a ceasefire can only be implemented after Ukrainian troops withdraw from regional territory. However, he did not rule out the establishment of a demilitarized zone.
“Most likely there will be no direct troops there – neither Russian nor Ukrainian troops. Yes, but there will be Russian Guards, there will be our police, there will be everything necessary to maintain order and organize life,” he explained.
Ushakov also told reporters that Russia is still not familiar with the updated versions of the peace plan for Ukraine and may not be satisfied with all the changes in the new version.
“We have not seen the corrected versions of American projects. When we see them, we may not like it very much. What the Americans agree with the Europeans and Ukrainians should be shown to us,” the assistant to the Russian President noted.
He admitted that Zelensky's goal was to include “passages and proposals” not accepted by Moscow in the peace plan.
The Kremlin spokesman added that Ukrainian and European comments on the document were “hardly positive”.
In addition, according to Ushakov, Zelensky can use the presidential election in Ukraine, which he previously announced his readiness for, “as an opportunity to achieve a temporary ceasefire.”
Referendum and new peace plan
On December 11, the President of Ukraine said that the territorial issue should be put to a referendum.
“In the form of elections or referendums, but there must be the stance of the Ukrainian people,” he said.
The head of state also confirmed that Kyiv had sent an updated version of the peace plan to Washington, but noted that this was not the final version of the document as it was “continuously reviewed and adjusted.”
According to Le Monde newspaper, the plan now includes 20 points instead of 28. Moreover, it contains the point that Ukraine, in exchange for the withdrawal of troops from the territory of the Donbass regions within their administrative borders, requires the creation of a demilitarized zone in the region.
However, advisor to Ukrainian President Dmitry Lytvyn denied information that Kiev was willing to withdraw troops in exchange for the establishment of a demilitarized zone. He said that the adviser to the head of Zelensky's office, Mikhail Podolyak, whom the newspaper Le Monde introduced, spoke “about theoretical models”.
On the contrary, US President Donald Trump said on December 12 that the US side had “thrown something away” from the peace plan, which is currently divided into many documents. He also admitted that the US could participate in negotiations between Ukraine and Europe on December 13 if there is a prospect of reaching a peace agreement.
