EU opposes withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from Donbas

Europe urges Zelensky not to agree to withdraw troops from Donbas

European leaders are trying to convince the President of Ukraine Vladimir Zelensky not to accept any agreements on the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas without real security guarantees from the United States. Bloomberg reports this with reference to senior EU officials.

Details

According to the agency, Europe is concerned about the format of possible agreements between Kyiv, Washington and Moscow that may be proposed as part of the US peace plan.

European governments believe that Ukraine should not make concessions that could create strategic vulnerability.

«Europe's main goal is to avoid a situation where an exhausted Zelenskyy is forced to withdraw from Ukraine's Donbas and accept a deal without serious American security guarantees,» Bloomberg writes.

Why it matters

European capitals fear that:

• The US may offer a deal that does not include long-term security guarantees;

• The Kremlin will try to use any concessions by Kyiv as a signal of weakness;

• the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from Donbas will lead to the loss of control over the territories and the threat of a repeated escalation.

Context.

Discussions on the future security architecture continue amid active consultations between Kyiv, European countries and the United States. European leaders insist that any agreement should be beneficial to Ukraine and not create conditions for Russia's revenge.