Zelensky signs law granting benefits to Donbas paramilitaries

Ukrainian President Zelensky signed into law a bill
granting paramilitaries who fought in Donbas state recognition as participants
in military actions, enabling them to receive the same state benefits as
military personnel. Those qualifying must prove they fought in Donbas for at
least 30 days. The law was approved by 329 MPs (out of 226 votes needed) on
Dec. 4.

Zenon Zawada: It would have been a big scandal if Zelensky and his parliamentary
faction didn’t support this law. Nonetheless, the Zelensky administration will
continue to use the paramilitaries as a convenient scapegoat to blame for undermining its peace efforts in Donbas (what the
paramilitaries consider to be capitulation). It will also continue its efforts to discredit these
paramilitaries so
that they’re unable to lead a mass protest (or uprising) when it comes time to
sign a peace deal in 2020.