Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський@ZelenskyyUa
We cannot simply speak about withdrawing from Donbas as a matter of compromise. Our withdrawal from Donbas would open up opportunities for the Russian Federation to occupy our most fortified territories without losses.
Some people say it would take a year to a year and a half to build new fortifications. But everyone forgets: first and foremost, that is a year and a half. And even if it were less, fortifications in an open field are a completely different matter from those in urban areas. They can never provide equally strong protection.
A withdrawal would give the Russian Federation room for large-scale maneuver. They could advance either toward Kharkiv or toward Dnipro, destroying our cities. And two major cities would be at risk – cities that, incidentally, generate a significant share of our GDP.
So many people have died there… The morale of our army would certainly decline. There would undoubtedly be a rift in society. The army – which would surely not support such steps – on one side, and society on the other. And division within society is precisely what Putin is aiming for.
Moreover, there are currently 200,000 people living in the territories of Donbas that we are defending. Withdrawal does not mean preserving anything. You leave, and without any guarantees, you risk losing everything. And that is a major risk.
From an interview with Rai Radio 1 (2/3).
