Indonesia proposes demilitarized zone, UN referendum for Ukraine peace plan

Indonesia’s defense minister has proposed a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, calling for a demilitarized zone and a United Nations referendum in what he called disputed territory, Report informs referring to Reuters.

Prabowo Subianto called on defense and military officials from around the globe gathered at the Shangri-La Dialogue defense meeting in Singapore to issue a declaration calling for a cessation in hostilities.

He proposed a multi-point plan including a ceasefire "in place at present positions of both conflicting parties" and establishing a demilitarized zone by withdrawing 15 kilometers (nearly 10 miles) from each party's forward position.

The demilitarized zone should be observed and monitored by a peacekeeping force deployed by the United Nations, he said, adding that a UN referendum should be held "to ascertain objectively the wishes of the majority of the inhabitants of the various disputed areas".

"I propose that the Shangri-La dialogue find a mode of... voluntary declaration urging both Ukraine and Russia to immediately start negotiations for peace," Prabowo said.