Zelensky on the Withdrawal of Troops from Donbas: “Trump Is in Office for 2 Years, but What Will We Do After That?”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has accused US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner of showing disrespect towards Ukraine. “It is disrespectful to go to Moscow and not come to Kyiv,” he said in an interview with the state television program “Fakty”, broadcast on the evening of Monday 20 April, reports dw.com. Zelensky said he understood the difficulties of visiting a country at war, but noted that others were still coming to Kyiv. “It is not us who need this, but them,” the president added, speaking of a possible visit by the negotiators to the Ukrainian capital. At the same time, he emphasized that what mattered to him was the outcome of the negotiations, not where they took place. Zelensky once again rejected Russia’s demand to withdraw Ukrainian troops from the eastern regions – the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. “This would undoubtedly be a strategic defeat for us,” he stated. Without fortifications and an established line of defense, Ukraine would be weakened, and an order to retreat would undermine the army’s morale, he explained. In Zelensky’s view, the quickest way to end the war is to freeze the current front line. The Ukrainian president also highlighted the risks associated with the Ukrainian Armed Forces withdrawing from Donbas. “The question is how many people have already died there. I believe that such a move would be irresponsible at this stage. What security guarantees are being offered to Ukraine? Listen, if there is no partner presence on the contact line, why wouldn’t the Russians launch another offensive after a while? Why, simply? I just don’t understand why? I see no reason. What will hold them back? What? The US says: for example, President Trump. President Trump has two and a half years. And what will we do afterwards?” Zelensky asked. Ukraine has been defending itself against Russian invasion for over four years with Western support. Washington has been putting pressure on the parties to the conflict for several months, seeking a peaceful settlement, but since February negotiations have been on hold due to the US and Israel’s war with Iran. Prior to this, Witkoff and Kushner had travelled to Moscow on numerous occasions for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It was expected that after Orthodox Easter, 12 April this year, they would visit Kyiv for the first time but this has not yet happened.