Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signalled a significant potential compromise in peace negotiations, expressing openness to creating an internationally monitored demilitarised zone in the country's contested eastern region. The proposal, which hinges on a mutual withdrawal of Ukrainian and Russian forces, marks a pivotal moment as diplomatic efforts to end the conflict intensify on day 1,401 of the war.
A Potential Path to Peace in the Donbas
President Zelenskyy stated he would be willing to order a withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the eastern industrial heartland, known as the Donbas, provided Moscow reciprocates. The area would then become a demilitarised zone policed by international forces. This move addresses a major sticking point in previous negotiations and represents a shift from earlier US-drafted proposals that Kyiv had criticised as overly favourable to the Kremlin.
The development indicates that Washington and Kyiv are edging closer to a jointly agreed framework for ending the war. Zelenskyy confirmed he expected US negotiators to engage with the Kremlin on the matter. The proposal underscores a strategic effort by Ukraine to reshape the peace agenda on its own terms.
Russian Public Expects 2026 End to Conflict
Amid the diplomatic manoeuvres, a Russian state pollster released data suggesting a shift in public expectation. The poll found that a majority of Russians now anticipate the war concluding in 2026. Of the 1,600 respondents, 70% viewed 2026 as a potentially more "successful" year for Russia than the current one.
Notably, for 55% of those surveyed, this optimism was directly linked to a possible end to what Russia officially terms its "special military operation" in Ukraine. Analysts view this as a sign the Kremlin may be testing domestic receptiveness to a future peace settlement.
Environmental and Military Developments
On the ground, the conflict's devastating environmental impact was highlighted in southern Ukraine. A sunflower oil spill, caused by Russian aerial bombardments, has contaminated the shoreline around the strategic port city of Odesa. The incident has killed local wildlife and prompted urgent warnings from conservationists.
Ukrainian officials condemned the strikes on Odesa as a deliberate attempt to cripple the nation's maritime infrastructure and vital agricultural export routes. In response, the Pivdenny port in the region was temporarily closed on Wednesday to facilitate cleanup operations.
Meanwhile, Russian air defences claimed to have intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones heading towards Moscow on Wednesday, according to the city's mayor, Sergei Sobyanin. While emergency crews examined fallen fragments, no significant damage or casualties were initially reported. The drone attack led to temporary operational limitations at two of the four major airports serving the Russian capital.
