Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated during a briefing that the so-called ‘buffer zone’ along the front line already effectively exists. He emphasized that today’s war is being fought at a completely different technological level than before, and modern heavy weaponry is positioned more than 10 kilometers apart due to the active use of drones.
This is reported by Kyiv24
Zelensky’s Remarks on the ‘Buffer Zone’
The head of state noted that proposals to create a ‘buffer zone’ 40, 50, 60, or even 100 kilometers wide do not correspond to the current realities of the conflict. According to Zelensky, if Russia seeks to increase this zone, it can retreat deeper into the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.
“Only those who do not understand the technological state of the war today propose a ‘buffer zone’ of 40, 50, 60, and I have even heard a proposal for 100 kilometers. This is a completely different story. Today, heavy weapons are already located 10+ kilometers apart because everything is targeted by drones. This buffer zone, which I call the ‘dead zone,’ already exists… If Russia wants to have a greater distance from us, they can retreat deeper into the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine,” Zelensky said.
The president also reminded that the Russian army has long withdrawn tanks and armored vehicles from the front line, as these targets are quickly destroyed by Ukrainian drones. He emphasized that the situation on the battlefield now significantly differs from events in 2014: back then, the parties agreed to withdraw troops, but Russia did not adhere to its commitments.
Frontline Situation and Latest Statements
One of the most tense areas on the front line is the Pokrovsk direction in Donetsk region. Over the past year, the highest number of combat clashes has been recorded there. According to the spokesperson for the Operational-Strategic Group of Troops ‘Khortytsia,’ the objective of Russian units in this direction has changed: they are now trying to break through between Pokrovsk and Kostiantynivka to create a threat to the Pokrovsk-Myrnohrad agglomeration from the east.
Representative of the Southern Defense Forces Vladyslav Voloshyn reported that in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia directions, Russian troops are trying to establish a so-called ‘death strip’ behind the main positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Recently, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed the possibility of a ‘territorial exchange’ with Russia, as well as the return of some territories to Ukraine. Trump stated:
“It’s very complicated, but we are going to return some territories. We are going to make some territorial exchanges. There will be a certain exchange of territories to the benefit of both sides,” he said.
At the same time, Russian leader Vladimir Putin, in a conversation with Trump’s special envoy Stephen Witkoff, stated that he would agree to a complete ceasefire only on the condition that Ukrainian troops withdraw from the entire Donetsk region.
In response, Volodymyr Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine has no intention of giving up any of its territory to Russia.