Ukrainian Presidential Adviser Proposes Postwar Demilitarization Zone With Russia

JAKARTA - Advisers to the President of Ukraine said on Monday a 100-120 km (62-75 mile) demilitarized zone should be established inside Russia, along the border with Ukraine as part of a post-war settlement.

This zone is necessary to protect Ukrainian territories from Russian attacks, presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak wrote on Twitter.

"The main theme of a post-war settlement must be the establishment of safeguards to avoid a recurrence of aggression in the future," he wrote, quoted by Reuters, May 30.

He made the remarks after the governor of Russia's Belgorod region, which borders Ukraine, called in a televised commentary for Russia to annex Ukraine's Kharkiv region to stop shelling across Ukraine's borders.

Moscow said Ukraine had stepped up drone and sabotage attacks on targets inside Russia as they prepared to carry out retaliatory strikes.

Meanwhile, Kyiv denies firing at targets inside Russia, saying it is fighting to defend its own territory.

In order to ensure the safety of the population in some of the Ukrainian frontline areas, he wrote, "it is necessary to introduce a 100-120 km demilitarized zone in the territories of the republics of Belgorod, Bryansk, Kursk and Rostov," Podolyak wrote.

The reference to the Russian region as a republic appears to be a nod to Moscow which supports separatist entities that call themselves "people's republics" in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine bordering Russia.

Podolyak said the demilitarized zone could initially have an international presence to control it.

"Perhaps, in the early stages with an international surveillance contingent," he wrote.