Zelensky Did not Rule out Referendum on the "Wall" in Donbass

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that if negotiations with Russia on a settlement of the conflict in Donbass finally come to a standstill, a complete break in contacts with the territories now controlled by Russian-backed separatists is possible. The corresponding decision, however, will have to be taken by the people at an all-Ukrainian referendum. In the program "VIP with Natalia Moseichuk," Zelensky confirmed that the so-called "wall" in Donetsk and Luhansk regions, that is, complete fencing off from territories not controlled by Ukraine, could become a reality, but "the people of Ukraine should make decisions about launching this plan." The possibility, in the event of failure of negotiations in the Normandy and other formats, to "build a wall" in Donbass, was previously discussed by the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak. Zelenskiy in an interview also told about his telephone conversation with Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko last year, after detaining more than 30 Russian citizens in Belarus. Ukraine then demanded their extradition, claiming that they fought in the Donbass on the separatists' side. According to Zelensky, Lukashenko, in response to a request for extradition, told him, "I will not let you down, everything will be fine, I will figure it out." According to the President of Ukraine, he was sure that Lukashenko would hand over the Russians to Kiev, but this did not happen - they were soon released and left for Russia. According to Zelensky, this was their last conversation with Lukashenko - after August 2020, relations between Kiev and Minsk deteriorated sharply. Zelensky also actually confirmed the preparation of a special operation, as a result of which the Russians, called the Wagner fighters, were to be on the territory of Ukraine and be detained there. The Ukrainian president, however, stressed that the operation was prepared by the special services of some foreign countries, and said that he was glad that it did not take place in the end. Earlier, journalists, citing sources, wrote that an airplane with "Wagnerians" flying from Minsk to Istanbul could be landed in Kiev to arrest the Russians. The preparation of such an operation has not been officially confirmed.