US reacts to Putin's improbable proposition of a 'demilitarised zone' in Ukraine
Vladimir Putin proposed establishing "demilitarised" or "sanitary" zones in Ukraine. According to him, this zone would place Russia's territories and those it occupies in Ukraine beyond the reach of artillery systems used on the frontline and Western long-range systems.
2 Feb 2024 | updated: 7 March 2024 12:17
Putin's ludicrous proposal
The Institute of War Studies assesses that the Russian President echoes the Kremlin's vague objectives in the war. Russia is also attempting to take advantage of Western appeals to halt aid to Kyiv.
Analysts underlined the territorial ambitions Putin discussed as being extreme and intentionally vague. Moving the frontline back on such a large scale is currently unfeasible "as long as an autonomous Ukraine capable of resistance exists,"- noted ISW.
A Russian war blogger who supports the Kremlin, picking up on Putin's comments, noted that for Russia to achieve such an objective, it would have to seize control of Mykolayiv and Odessa in the south, and the Sloviansk-Kramatorsk line in the Donetsk region.
State Department on Putin's idea
The State Department of the US also reacted to Putin's comments.
"I struggle to comprehend how a demilitarised zone between Russia and Ukraine could be established. It's difficult to create a demilitarised zone when Russian forces continue to operate on the Ukrainian side of the border," said Matthew Miller, the spokesperson for the State Department, during a media briefing.
According to him, if Russia genuinely wanted to achieve this, it could begin by "demilitarising those areas of Ukraine where Russian forces are currently positioned".
