US Could Lead Monitoring of Demilitarized Buffer Zone in Ukraine, Media Reports
In the event of a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine, the United States may take a leading role in monitoring a large buffer zone within Ukraine that would serve as a demilitarized territory to protect the country from potential Russian threats.
The Gaze reports on it, referring to NBC News.
Four people familiar with the plan, which was discussed by military officials from Ukraine's allies, including the United States, reported on these US plans.
According to the information received, the US intends to use its technological capabilities, including drones and satellites, to monitor this zone, coordinating its actions with other countries participating in the mission.
At the same time, American troops will not be directly deployed in Ukraine. However, as The Gaze reported earlier, Trump announced that he is actively negotiating with European partners on the possibility of allowing private military firms to operate on Ukrainian territory, which may be a workaround to the impossibility of sending American troops to Ukraine.
It is assumed that the buffer zone could be protected by troops from non-NATO countries such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh. This measure is discussed to avoid direct NATO involvement, which is a red line for Moscow.
Moreover, security guarantees for Ukraine will likely be based on bilateral agreements between Ukraine and its allies, ensuring protection without invoking NATO's Article V.
At the same time, any plan will remain preliminary until Russian and Ukrainian presidents Vladimir Putin and Volodymyr Zelenskyy agree on it and identify the countries and their leaders that will participate in the security guarantees.
The document was drafted after Donald Trump's meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15, but progress in negotiations on a peace agreement has slowed since then.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's allies continue to work on potential security guarantees that could be the key to a peaceful settlement.
As The Gaze informed earlier, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on Thursday that 26 countries are prepared either to deploy contingents to Ukraine or to provide other forms of support as part of a multinational effort to guarantee the country’s security.