Russia Proposes National Guard and Police Rollout in Disputed Ukrainian Regions Following Kyivs Military Exit

A high-ranking official in the Kremlin has suggested a post-conflict arrangement wherein Russian National Guard and police forces would take the place of military troops in disputed regions of Ukraine, contingent on Kyiv accepting a U.S.-endorsed peace plan, as reported by the Kommersant business newspaper on Friday.

Yury Ushakov, a foreign policy advisor to the Kremlin, stated that Moscow would only agree to a solution if Ukraine fully withdraws from the remaining 13% of the Donetsk and Luhansk areas that are still not under Russian control.

“Discussions about future steps can occur after that. It’s quite possible that there won’t be any military presence—neither from Russia nor Ukraine,” Ushakov remarked to Kommersant.

“However, there will be the National Guard and our police, providing all necessary services to ensure order and an organized way of life,” he emphasized.

This proposed change in approach comes amid escalating pressure from U.S. President Donald Trump for a peace resolution that would require substantial territorial concessions from Ukraine.

Negotiations led by the U.S. have faced challenges, particularly regarding the concept of a neutral “demilitarized zone” in Donetsk and Luhansk, collectively referred to as Donbas, which Ukraine insists should remain under its sovereignty.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has opposed the idea of relinquishing any portion of Donbas but has acknowledged that the matter could be decided through a public vote.

“Whether through elections or a referendum, it is essential to have the viewpoint of the Ukrainian people,” Zelensky stated to reporters on Thursday.

He noted that the U.S. peace initiative suggests that Ukrainian forces would withdraw from the Donbas “with the supposed understanding that Russian troops will not enter this territory.”

This week, Kyiv submitted a 20-point counterproposal to Washington, amending the original 28-point U.S. peace plan that largely favored Moscow. Ushakov expressed his expectation that the Kremlin would turn down these modifications, of which the complete details have not yet been made public.

“That’s why this will be a protracted process,” Ushakov told Kommersant. “We will firmly advocate for our position.”

Trump’s spokesperson, Karoline Leavitt, indicated on Thursday that the U.S. president felt “extremely frustrated” with both Russia and Ukraine.

“He is not interested in further discussions. He wants action. He wants this conflict to conclude,” she shared with reporters.

In September 2022, Russia claimed to have annexed the Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, and Zaporizhzhia regions from Ukraine, even though it does not fully control these areas.

Reports from AFP contributed to this article.