Ukraine proposed on August 25, creating a “free economic zone” in Donbas, a front-line region occupied in part by Russia, as part of a ceasefire plan, but Russia immediately rejected the proposal.
According to Reuters, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, together with U.S. and European government officials, prepared a draft ceasefire proposal to present to Russia.
The key element of the ceasefire plan is the creation of a third-party-administered free economic zone in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. It has been reported that the U.S. first suggested this idea.
Russia reportedly rejected the proposal, questioning its feasibility. Russia claims that the Donbas region is officially part of Russian territory and argues that it is unlikely that a third party could administer the area. Russian officials said they were willing to listen to Ukraine’s ceasefire proposal but stressed that any agreement must reflect the realities on the ground.
Although Russia does not have full control over the entire Donbas region, Moscow claims sovereignty over four Ukrainian regions, including Donbas, and considers them part of Russian territory. Russia has maintained that Ukraine must fully cede the four regions and address what Moscow describes as the root causes of the conflict.
Meanwhile, CBS reported that U.S. intelligence chief John Ratcliffe traveled to Moscow for secret talks with Russian officials, marking his first visit to the Russian capital since taking office as director.
