Ukraine Condemns Putin’s “Buffer Zone” Remarks as a Threat to Peace Talks
Ukraine’s top diplomats have strongly denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin’s latest statements on establishing a so-called “buffer security zone” along the Ukrainian border, describing them as a blatant rejection of ongoing international efforts to secure a ceasefire and lasting peace.
In his post on social media platform X, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha urged the international community to intensify pressure on Putin, stating that the Russian leader's rhetoric comes “at a time when global partners are working toward a full and enduring ceasefire.”
“Putin’s statements about a so-called ‘buffer zone’ are not just provocative – they are a clear rejection of ongoing attempts to halt the violence and secure peace,” Sybiha noted. “The world must intensify pressure on him to end this war.”
On May 22, the Russian president made the remarks during a virtual meeting with government officials, claiming that Russia had “decided” to establish a security zone along the border with Ukraine. Though vague on details, the declaration has drawn sharp criticism from Kyiv, where it is viewed as a pretext for further military escalation.
Heorhii Tykhyi, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, told reporters that while Putin has also floated similar ideas in the past, repeating them now, amid active Western efforts to broker at least a 30-day ceasefire, exposes Moscow’s true intentions.
“Putin is once again positioning himself as the primary obstacle to peace,” said Tykhyi. “His words speak louder than any diplomatic gesture. They confirm that Russia is not ready for compromise, only for confrontation.”
Tykhyi also pointedly suggested that if Russia truly seeks a buffer zone, “it could be created on Russian soil,” referring to ongoing Ukrainian military operations in the Kursk region, launched in response to cross-border threats.
The Kremlin’s announcement coincides with a broader propaganda push. Russian media widely covered Putin’s recent visit to the Kursk region, but made no mention of nearby military activity – something Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation denounced as a deliberate whitewash.
Ukrainian officials are convinced that without firm international resolve, any peace negotiation initiatives may simply serve as cover for further Russian militarization.
As The Gaze reported earlier, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni announced on Tuesday that Pope Leo XIV has expressed readiness to host a new round of peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia at the Vatican.