Russian Senator Dismisses Zelensky’s Withdrawal Offer as Deceptive Tactic

According to the International Desk of Webangah News Agency, Vladimir Dzhabarov, Chairman of the Federation Council’s Commission for the Protection of State Sovereignty, has dismissed reports in Western media suggesting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is prepared to withdraw forces from Donbas. Dzhabarov evaluated these statements as mere trickery and an attempt by Kyiv to stall for time.

The Russian official emphasized that statements issued by Kyiv’s officials should not be taken seriously, underscoring the perceived insignificance of such pronouncements regarding the conflict’s trajectory.

The most recent multilateral peace talks involving representatives from Russia, Ukraine, and the United States took place in Abu Dhabi, the capital of the United Arab Emirates. Despite several rounds of negotiations, the armed conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists, with territorial disputes remaining the most significant impediment to reaching an agreement between the two nations.

Both Russia and Ukraine are striving to maintain and expand the territories under their control, aiming to seize the initiative both on the battlefield and at the negotiating table. Earlier, Matthew Whitaker, the United States Permanent Representative to the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), had indicated that Washington anticipates a resolution regarding territorial disagreements in the coming days and weeks.

Whitaker also noted that participants in the ongoing process to resolve the Ukraine crisis are currently finalizing four key documents: a 20-point peace plan, a package of multilateral security guarantees, specific security assurances from the United States, and a strategy for post-conflict economic growth and prosperity.