Donbass fate: the toughest issue in negotiations

The most important and painful issue in the negotiations to stop the war in Ukraine remains the territorial matter. This was reported by Zamin.uz.

According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the demand to withdraw from Donbass is being put forward in the negotiations. This demand is echoed as a form of bilateral pressure: the idea of "if you want to stop the war, leave Donbass" is heard from both sides.

The territorial issue has long been the main obstacle in the negotiations. Now, this matter has become even more acute, turning into the "test point" of the talks.

While Russia claims the entire Donbass region, Ukraine proposes to "freeze" the front line and cease fire. Currently, Ukrainian forces control part of Donetsk region, while Russia has occupied almost all of Luhansk region.

These two areas together are called Donbass. Zelensky, supporting the idea of a "frozen front" in the negotiations, suggests placing European troops closer to the line of contact.

This is seen as an important part of strengthening security guarantees and achieving peace. However, Zelensky emphasizes that the recent deployment of European troops near the front would be a real security guarantee.

France and the United Kingdom are actively promoting the initiative to form a multinational contingent. Germany, on the other hand, is approaching cautiously and is considering the deployment of forces on the territory of NATO's neighboring states.

In the current situation, stopping the fire alone is not enough to achieve peace. The most important questions remain open: how will territorial issues be resolved, who and how will control the ceasefire, and where and how will security guarantees be provided?

Until solutions to these issues are found, it seems difficult for the negotiations to conclude quickly. On the contrary, this process may take a long time.