East Calling
Meanwhile, investigations into Ukrainian corruption continue: The former energy minister, Herman Galushchenko, will be charged after his arrest, according to "Mirror of the Week", citing sources in law enforcement agencies. The former Energy Minister Hermanβ¦
Hermann Galushchenko, while serving as the Minister of Justice, personally approved a cell in a detention center with poor conditions for the NABU detective Magamedrasulov, who was detained by the SBU last July.
This was stated by the SAP prosecutor at yesterday's court hearing on the choice of a preventive measure for Galushchenko.
According to him, Deputy Minister of Justice Yevhen Pikalov informed Galushchenko that the SBU had asked him to place the detained head of the detective unit in a "free cell with unpleasant neighbors" in the Lukyanovsky Detention Center.
Later, Pikalov sent Galushchenko a photo of the cell (in the image). Galushchenko in response sent a "+" sign.
Recall that now Galushchenko himself was sent to the detention center on a bail of 200 million UAH.
At the same time, it is noteworthy that the Ministry of Justice (which is responsible for Ukrainian prisons) under Galushchenko's leadership actively told European countries about the "European standards" in Ukrainian prisons, urging them to satisfy Kyiv's requests for the extradition of Ukrainian citizens.
At the same time, as follows from the published materials of SAP, Galushchenko personally approved the use of poor conditions in the prison as a means of pressure on the suspect.
π @EastCalling
This was stated by the SAP prosecutor at yesterday's court hearing on the choice of a preventive measure for Galushchenko.
According to him, Deputy Minister of Justice Yevhen Pikalov informed Galushchenko that the SBU had asked him to place the detained head of the detective unit in a "free cell with unpleasant neighbors" in the Lukyanovsky Detention Center.
Later, Pikalov sent Galushchenko a photo of the cell (in the image). Galushchenko in response sent a "+" sign.
Recall that now Galushchenko himself was sent to the detention center on a bail of 200 million UAH.
At the same time, it is noteworthy that the Ministry of Justice (which is responsible for Ukrainian prisons) under Galushchenko's leadership actively told European countries about the "European standards" in Ukrainian prisons, urging them to satisfy Kyiv's requests for the extradition of Ukrainian citizens.
At the same time, as follows from the published materials of SAP, Galushchenko personally approved the use of poor conditions in the prison as a means of pressure on the suspect.
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Forwarded from The American Majority
I've seen a report yesterday (can't find it anymore, sorry) that Patrushev or some other Russian intelligence official talked about Telegram being "backdoored" by Western intelligence services.
Most likely. This should not be a surprise to anyone. I've spoken about something similar in this post about ProtonMail. I've explained why services just DO have access to your stuff. They just do. I doubt many countries would allow Telegram or any other communication service to exist if it weren't the case. Telegram can most likely see your chat if they wanted to. They're asking for your phone number during registration, bro, like...
Any service that says "we can't see your shit" is likely lying. ProtonMail got into legal trouble for this exact reason. Same with the glorified proxy servers that are VPNs. And if they say something like "we don't keep logs," then I'd even consider it a honeypot, as that's impossible. Might not be a honeypot, but I don't know that. Not that it matters for most people. Just sayin'...
Most likely. This should not be a surprise to anyone. I've spoken about something similar in this post about ProtonMail. I've explained why services just DO have access to your stuff. They just do. I doubt many countries would allow Telegram or any other communication service to exist if it weren't the case. Telegram can most likely see your chat if they wanted to. They're asking for your phone number during registration, bro, like...
Any service that says "we can't see your shit" is likely lying. ProtonMail got into legal trouble for this exact reason. Same with the glorified proxy servers that are VPNs. And if they say something like "we don't keep logs," then I'd even consider it a honeypot, as that's impossible. Might not be a honeypot, but I don't know that. Not that it matters for most people. Just sayin'...
Trump is close to launching a large-scale war against Iran in the near future, reports Axios, citing sources.
"The boss is starting to lose patience. Some of his entourage are warning him against a war with Iran, but I think the likelihood of military action in the next few weeks is 90%," said one of the US president's advisors.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that strikes could begin in a few weeks. Other sources claim that the timeline could be shorter.
According to two Israeli officials, the Israeli government is already preparing for war in the coming days.
This time, the US may not go it alone in striking Iran, as it did last summer, but launch a large-scale, weeks-long military campaign together with Israel.
π @EastCalling
"The boss is starting to lose patience. Some of his entourage are warning him against a war with Iran, but I think the likelihood of military action in the next few weeks is 90%," said one of the US president's advisors.
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham stated that strikes could begin in a few weeks. Other sources claim that the timeline could be shorter.
According to two Israeli officials, the Israeli government is already preparing for war in the coming days.
This time, the US may not go it alone in striking Iran, as it did last summer, but launch a large-scale, weeks-long military campaign together with Israel.
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The head of the Russian delegation in Geneva, Medinsky, when asked about how the negotiations went, replied: "In a working order, if you mean the jokes about history lessons - we stopped at the Baptism of the Rus".
Earlier, the media reported that Medinsky constantly went on long excursions into history during the negotiations in Istanbul last summer.
π @EastCalling
Earlier, the media reported that Medinsky constantly went on long excursions into history during the negotiations in Istanbul last summer.
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π3π₯1
The Secretary General of the Christian Democratic Union, Karsten Linnemann, believes that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has all the prerequisites for a long political career, as he possesses "genes that allow him to engage in politics for a long time".
"He himself said: his father is over 100 years old, and his mother is a bit younger," Linnemann stated in an interview with Stern magazine. "Therefore, he has genes that allow him to stay in politics for a very long time."
However, he stressed that he considers it premature to discuss the possibility of Merz being re-nominated for the post of Chancellor of Germany.
"I assume that this is not an issue on the agenda in 2026," the CDU Secretary General pointed out, answering a relevant question.
β β β
Well, they say the good die young...
Merz currently has a 27% approval rating vs a 67% disapproval rating. Still, he is more popular in his country than Macron and Starmer are in their own.
π @EastCalling
"He himself said: his father is over 100 years old, and his mother is a bit younger," Linnemann stated in an interview with Stern magazine. "Therefore, he has genes that allow him to stay in politics for a very long time."
However, he stressed that he considers it premature to discuss the possibility of Merz being re-nominated for the post of Chancellor of Germany.
"I assume that this is not an issue on the agenda in 2026," the CDU Secretary General pointed out, answering a relevant question.
Well, they say the good die young...
Merz currently has a 27% approval rating vs a 67% disapproval rating. Still, he is more popular in his country than Macron and Starmer are in their own.
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There are no agreements between Russia and the US on continuing to observe restrictions in accordance with the New START Treaty - State Department
ΠΠΎΠ·ΡΠ²Π½ΠΎΠΉ "ΠΠ°ΡΠΌΠ°Π½" writes:
π Well, the fact that there are no such agreements has already been repeated three times by both superpowers. It's not news. What's interesting is how soon they will move from the quiet installation of combat blocks bit by bit to a more large-scale return of the retaliatory potential to the carriers of strategic nuclear forces?
A year? A year and a half?
Well, this statement also doesn't contain any sensations. About the fact that they are ready to resume testing, but only after the first superpower and/or China under the American flag do it - this has already been said. Correcting the latest strange escapades of Trumpus Rufus. Which made everyone at the Pentagon, the NNSA, and the State Department cringe. But essentially, this statement is about the three cowboys, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, continuing to nervously fumble theirBIG GUNS revolvers. And waiting to see who will blink first. Remember that crazy scene with great music? True, it's clear that one of them has a cap-gun revolver and someone took out the bullets at night, the other also has a cap-gun revolver, and only The Good has an assault revolver RSH-12 under the unitary cartridge 12.7Ρ
55mm of the Imperial special forcesπ.
That is, for now, there will be no shots - everyone is waiting. Well, the promise not to explode in three environments and not to violate the 1963 Treaty has been added. No one disputed this. Although we would have liked to detonate something once, with a large-scale test on military equipment and buildings and a 4K broadcast on YouTube and Rutube et cetera. Just once. Just so that all those who claim that the Empire's thermonuclear weapons are no more dangerous than a mosquito could feel the full depth of their own stupidity and plunge into an ocean of fear.
β β β β
π @EastCalling
ΠΠΎΠ·ΡΠ²Π½ΠΎΠΉ "ΠΠ°ΡΠΌΠ°Π½" writes:
A year? A year and a half?
The US will return to nuclear testing on an "equal basis" with Russia and China, but will not conduct megaton-class atmospheric explosions
This was stated by Christopher Yao, US Assistant Secretary of State for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation.
Well, this statement also doesn't contain any sensations. About the fact that they are ready to resume testing, but only after the first superpower and/or China under the American flag do it - this has already been said. Correcting the latest strange escapades of Trumpus Rufus. Which made everyone at the Pentagon, the NNSA, and the State Department cringe. But essentially, this statement is about the three cowboys, The Good, The Bad & The Ugly, continuing to nervously fumble their
That is, for now, there will be no shots - everyone is waiting. Well, the promise not to explode in three environments and not to violate the 1963 Treaty has been added. No one disputed this. Although we would have liked to detonate something once, with a large-scale test on military equipment and buildings and a 4K broadcast on YouTube and Rutube et cetera. Just once. Just so that all those who claim that the Empire's thermonuclear weapons are no more dangerous than a mosquito could feel the full depth of their own stupidity and plunge into an ocean of fear.
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We'll be trying something new on the channel to make it easier for our subscribers to find our highlighted content. You will be able to find the following East Calling exclusives with these hashtags:
#VneshVrag
-for Mikhail Borkunov's posts (also his colleagues' works)
#EastCallingTranslations
-for Russian videos which Jelena translates herself.
#MaratBattlefieldSummaries
-for the reports from Marat Khairullin
#EastCallingInterviews
-for our exclusive interviews with our special and often recurring guests.
#MomentofZin
-if you like to laugh
We may add more later!
π @EastCalling
#VneshVrag
-for Mikhail Borkunov's posts (also his colleagues' works)
#EastCallingTranslations
-for Russian videos which Jelena translates herself.
#MaratBattlefieldSummaries
-for the reports from Marat Khairullin
#EastCallingInterviews
-for our exclusive interviews with our special and often recurring guests.
#MomentofZin
-if you like to laugh
We may add more later!
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π1
Media is too big
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Via Lost Armour:
Objective control of an airstrike on the AFU's air defense system in the Veterinarnoe settlement of the Kharkiv region.
Georeferencing: https://lostarmour.info/map?coord=50.3915960,36.1889280
π @EastCalling
Objective control of an airstrike on the AFU's air defense system in the Veterinarnoe settlement of the Kharkiv region.
Georeferencing: https://lostarmour.info/map?coord=50.3915960,36.1889280
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Brief Frontline Report β February 18th, 2026
Summary by Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Popov.
Part 1
Statement from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: "Assault groups of the 80th separate motorized rifle brigade, through decisive actions, established control over the settlement of Kharkovka in the Sumy region.
Before the main assault, at night, our fiber-optic drone units and mobile mortar crews worked intensively on the enemy's positions. The assault troops used secure communications and winter camouflage suits β they approached covertly. They took the enemy by surprise and quickly suppressed resistance."
In the Glukhov sector of the Sumy direction, the Russian Armed Forces are expanding the buffer zone along the state border. They have liberated a number of border settlements that provide access to roads forming the transport network southeast of the M-02 highway.
On February 18, the settlement of Kharkovka was liberated (51Β°42β²06β³ N 34Β°14β²36β³ E, population 56 people in 2001). The settlement is located on the right bank of the Klevan River, along which the line of the Russian state border runs. In this rural settlement, the road C-190422 begins, which runs radially through the system of defensive positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Vishenki-Kucherovka) towards the transport hub of Esman.
The enemy, with forces from the 101st separate territorial defense brigade, withdrew to the line: Kalinovka stream - Yastrebshchina - Ulanovo, having a number of blocking positions in the lower reaches of the Loknya River and the Dolgoe tract.
Part 2
β β β
Read this report and many others on Marat Khairullin's Substack! That's where I post the high-definition maps, and frankly, the formatting on Substack makes the reports easier to follow. Any questions for Marat and Mikhail will be answered there.
#MaratBattlefieldSummaries
π @EastCalling
Summary by Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Popov.
Part 1
Statement from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: "Assault groups of the 80th separate motorized rifle brigade, through decisive actions, established control over the settlement of Kharkovka in the Sumy region.
Before the main assault, at night, our fiber-optic drone units and mobile mortar crews worked intensively on the enemy's positions. The assault troops used secure communications and winter camouflage suits β they approached covertly. They took the enemy by surprise and quickly suppressed resistance."
In the Glukhov sector of the Sumy direction, the Russian Armed Forces are expanding the buffer zone along the state border. They have liberated a number of border settlements that provide access to roads forming the transport network southeast of the M-02 highway.
On February 18, the settlement of Kharkovka was liberated (51Β°42β²06β³ N 34Β°14β²36β³ E, population 56 people in 2001). The settlement is located on the right bank of the Klevan River, along which the line of the Russian state border runs. In this rural settlement, the road C-190422 begins, which runs radially through the system of defensive positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces (Vishenki-Kucherovka) towards the transport hub of Esman.
The enemy, with forces from the 101st separate territorial defense brigade, withdrew to the line: Kalinovka stream - Yastrebshchina - Ulanovo, having a number of blocking positions in the lower reaches of the Loknya River and the Dolgoe tract.
Part 2
Read this report and many others on Marat Khairullin's Substack! That's where I post the high-definition maps, and frankly, the formatting on Substack makes the reports easier to follow. Any questions for Marat and Mikhail will be answered there.
#MaratBattlefieldSummaries
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Brief Frontline Report β February 18th, 2026
Summary by Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Popov.
Part 2
Statement from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: "Units of the 'East' Group continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defense and liberated the settlement of Krinichnoe in the Zaporozhye Oblast."
The Russian Armed Forces are preparing a bridgehead for reaching the second line of defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction, with a southern encirclement of the settlement of Verkhnyaya Tersa and the liquidation of this enemy transport hub. On February 18, the settlement of Krinichnoe was liberated (47Β°41β²06β³ N 36Β°07β²59β³ E, population 20 people in 2001). A bridgehead has been prepared for the liquidation of enemy positions in the area of the settlement of Gorkoe - Rezanaya Ravine - Shestipale Ravine and the formation of a southern encirclement of the Verkhnyaya Tersa hub, which also serves as the northern encirclement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defense hub of Gulyaipolskoe-Charivnoe.
In the Tsvetkovoe-Zaliznichnoe sector, the Russian Armed Forces have reached the crest of the watershed of the Gaichur River and the sources of the Verkhnyaya Tersa and Zherebets Rivers. Beyond this point begins the descent towards the T-04-08 highway, which stretches through the valley of the Verkhnyaya Tersa, Zherebets, and Konka Rivers, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces have created a line of defensive positions and engineering obstacles protecting the Orekhov sector of the Zaporozhye direction from the east.
See Part 1
β β β
Read this report and many others on Marat Khairullin's Substack! That's where I post the high-definition maps, and frankly, the formatting on Substack makes the reports easier to follow. Any questions for Marat and Mikhail will be answered there.
#MaratBattlefieldSummaries
π @EastCalling
Summary by Marat Khairullin and Mikhail Popov.
Part 2
Statement from the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation: "Units of the 'East' Group continued to advance into the depths of the enemy's defense and liberated the settlement of Krinichnoe in the Zaporozhye Oblast."
The Russian Armed Forces are preparing a bridgehead for reaching the second line of defense of the Ukrainian Armed Forces on the eastern sector of the Zaporozhye direction, with a southern encirclement of the settlement of Verkhnyaya Tersa and the liquidation of this enemy transport hub. On February 18, the settlement of Krinichnoe was liberated (47Β°41β²06β³ N 36Β°07β²59β³ E, population 20 people in 2001). A bridgehead has been prepared for the liquidation of enemy positions in the area of the settlement of Gorkoe - Rezanaya Ravine - Shestipale Ravine and the formation of a southern encirclement of the Verkhnyaya Tersa hub, which also serves as the northern encirclement of the Ukrainian Armed Forces' defense hub of Gulyaipolskoe-Charivnoe.
In the Tsvetkovoe-Zaliznichnoe sector, the Russian Armed Forces have reached the crest of the watershed of the Gaichur River and the sources of the Verkhnyaya Tersa and Zherebets Rivers. Beyond this point begins the descent towards the T-04-08 highway, which stretches through the valley of the Verkhnyaya Tersa, Zherebets, and Konka Rivers, where the Ukrainian Armed Forces have created a line of defensive positions and engineering obstacles protecting the Orekhov sector of the Zaporozhye direction from the east.
See Part 1
Read this report and many others on Marat Khairullin's Substack! That's where I post the high-definition maps, and frankly, the formatting on Substack makes the reports easier to follow. Any questions for Marat and Mikhail will be answered there.
#MaratBattlefieldSummaries
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Chay Bowes on X:
Russia is testing "Hyperdrones" for use at the front.
The bottom video feed shows the insane speeds being achieved.
π @EastCalling
Russia is testing "Hyperdrones" for use at the front.
The bottom video feed shows the insane speeds being achieved.
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π―5
Meanwhile in the free Ukraine:
In Krivoy Rog, a teenager was sent to an orphanage after his father was mobilized, reports the local publication "Svoi".
According to family acquaintances, the 43-year-old man came to update his data at the military registration and enlistment office. After that, he no longer contacted his son. The father's phone was taken away and he was kept in a basement room.
The 14-year-old teenager himself contacted the police when his father did not return home - he is the only relative in the city, as the mother abandoned the family and left the country, but was not deprived of parental rights.
The hearing on recognizing the man as a single father did not take place today - representatives of the guardianship authorities did not attend.
π @EastCalling
In Krivoy Rog, a teenager was sent to an orphanage after his father was mobilized, reports the local publication "Svoi".
According to family acquaintances, the 43-year-old man came to update his data at the military registration and enlistment office. After that, he no longer contacted his son. The father's phone was taken away and he was kept in a basement room.
The 14-year-old teenager himself contacted the police when his father did not return home - he is the only relative in the city, as the mother abandoned the family and left the country, but was not deprived of parental rights.
The hearing on recognizing the man as a single father did not take place today - representatives of the guardianship authorities did not attend.
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Russia and Iran will conduct joint naval exercises in the Persian Gulf amid reports of Trump's readiness to start a war there, according to Iranian news agencies Mehr and Fararu, citing Iranian and Russian Navy Admiral Hassan Magsudlu.
"These events reflect the serious attention of the two countries to the current situation in the region," Magsudlu said.
It is reported that the joint exercises "Maritime Security Belt-2026" will begin on February 19. They will take place in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil export route connecting Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The ships will depart for the Persian Gulf, including from the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. There, the Russian corvette "Stoyky" refuelled today, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The Iranian Navy has begun blocking the strait, although during previous exercises, passage through it remained free, Russian media note.
π @EastCalling
"These events reflect the serious attention of the two countries to the current situation in the region," Magsudlu said.
It is reported that the joint exercises "Maritime Security Belt-2026" will begin on February 19. They will take place in the Strait of Hormuz, a crucial oil export route connecting Saudi Arabia, Iran, Iraq, and the UAE with the Gulf of Oman and the Arabian Sea.
The ships will depart for the Persian Gulf, including from the port of Bandar Abbas in southern Iran. There, the Russian corvette "Stoyky" refuelled today, the Russian Defense Ministry reported.
The Iranian Navy has begun blocking the strait, although during previous exercises, passage through it remained free, Russian media note.
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π₯3
Brent Crude prices are above $70 per barrel on fears of a war in the Middle East.
The highest level of alert has been declared in Israel's security system, and rescue services have received instructions: "Be ready for war," reports the local N12 channel.
If the US really attacks Iran, Israel will join them. Officials believe an American strike is imminent, notes the Ynet portal.
It is likely that the joint military operation of the two countries will last for weeks and will be much larger in scale than "pinpoint strikes."
Earlier, Western media reported that Trump is close to starting a war against Iran.
π @EastCalling
The highest level of alert has been declared in Israel's security system, and rescue services have received instructions: "Be ready for war," reports the local N12 channel.
If the US really attacks Iran, Israel will join them. Officials believe an American strike is imminent, notes the Ynet portal.
It is likely that the joint military operation of the two countries will last for weeks and will be much larger in scale than "pinpoint strikes."
Earlier, Western media reported that Trump is close to starting a war against Iran.
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The adviser to the Ukrainian Minister of Defense, Sergei "Flash" Beskrestnov, proposed requiring a passport when buying mobile phone SIM cards.
According to him, Russians operate their FPV drones through Ukrainian SIM cards, and restricting their sales will complicate the situation for them.
However, the People's Deputy Alexander Fedienko stated that he considers such an initiative unfeasible, as mobile operators, who will lose a significant part of their income, will oppose it.
However, personally, Fedienko, according to his words, supports "Flash", but believes that such a decision requires "iron political will."
β β β
The other issue is that there are practical limitations in getting retailers to change the way that they do business, and dedicated Russians will find a way to acquire them anyway. A black market in SIM cards could quickly develop. The result will simply be a more difficult life for regular Ukrainians.
π @EastCalling
According to him, Russians operate their FPV drones through Ukrainian SIM cards, and restricting their sales will complicate the situation for them.
However, the People's Deputy Alexander Fedienko stated that he considers such an initiative unfeasible, as mobile operators, who will lose a significant part of their income, will oppose it.
However, personally, Fedienko, according to his words, supports "Flash", but believes that such a decision requires "iron political will."
The other issue is that there are practical limitations in getting retailers to change the way that they do business, and dedicated Russians will find a way to acquire them anyway. A black market in SIM cards could quickly develop. The result will simply be a more difficult life for regular Ukrainians.
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At the peace talks, the idea of a demilitarized zone in Donbass, in which neither army would be present, is being discussed, according to The New York Times.
According to the publication's sources, during consultations in recent weeks, officials discussed the idea of creating a demilitarized zone not controlled by either army.
"This revives a proposal that was included in previous peace plans, including the 28-point plan put forward by the Trump administration in November," writes NYT.
The publication adds that in order to make it easier for both sides to accept this idea, negotiators also discussed the creation of a free trade zone in any possible demilitarized zone. However, it notes the practical difficulty of establishing a free trade zone in a territory squeezed between two armies.
Recall that a demilitarized zone in Donbass was indeed part of Trump's original 28-point plan, but administrative control over this territory was granted to the civilian authorities of Russia. Ukraine previously opposed this idea, while the Kremlin supported it.
β β β
In this scenario, Russia demanded that the Russian national guard would have jurisdiction, according to reports that were not verified. It's unlikely Russia would agree to this demilitarized zone in any case.
π @EastCalling
According to the publication's sources, during consultations in recent weeks, officials discussed the idea of creating a demilitarized zone not controlled by either army.
"This revives a proposal that was included in previous peace plans, including the 28-point plan put forward by the Trump administration in November," writes NYT.
The publication adds that in order to make it easier for both sides to accept this idea, negotiators also discussed the creation of a free trade zone in any possible demilitarized zone. However, it notes the practical difficulty of establishing a free trade zone in a territory squeezed between two armies.
Recall that a demilitarized zone in Donbass was indeed part of Trump's original 28-point plan, but administrative control over this territory was granted to the civilian authorities of Russia. Ukraine previously opposed this idea, while the Kremlin supported it.
In this scenario, Russia demanded that the Russian national guard would have jurisdiction, according to reports that were not verified. It's unlikely Russia would agree to this demilitarized zone in any case.
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