"Proposed Demilitarized Zone Could Bring Peace to Ukraine-Russia Border"

An adviser to Ukraine’s presidential office has proposed the establishment of a demilitarized zone between 100-120km wide in Russian border territory with Ukraine as part of any post-war settlement. The zone would cover the Russian regions of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk, and Rostov to protect adjacent territories in Ukraine. The zone would require a mandatory international control contingent at the first stage and would be a key topic of the post-war settlement to prevent the recurrence of aggression in the future. Ukraine has no interest in any ceasefire that locks in Russian territorial gains and has pushed back against international peace initiatives from China, Brazil, the Vatican, and South Africa. Russia has said it is open to peace talks with Kyiv, but Moscow insists that any talks be based on “new realities”, meaning recognition of the annexation of five Ukrainian provinces it fully or partly controls – a condition Kyiv will not accept.