Putin's buffer zone: Ukraine defends itself against aggressive demands!

Putin's buffer zone: Ukraine defends itself against aggressive demands!

Today, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha took a clear position on Vladimir Putin's recent statements. He had announced the creation of a buffer zone on the border with Ukraine, which Sybiha dismissed as an aggressive rejection of peace efforts. The Ukrainian minister sees Putin as the main cause of the ongoing conflict and makes it clear to the Russian president that his plan is not feasible. This denial comes amid rising tensions at the border and reports of military activity on both sides.

Putin himself said that the Russian armed forces are actively suppressing enemy fire points, without, however, revealing details about the exact location or extent of the desired security zone. He announced these measures after a visit to the Kursk region. As Ukrainian Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhiy Tychyi noted, the buffer zone would be better established on Russian territory. Meanwhile, President Volodymyr Zelensky claims that Ukrainian troops continue to hold positions in Kursk and the neighboring Belgorod region.

Current conflict situation

The situation at the border is tense. Russia reports a Ukrainian rocket attack on the small town of Lgov in the Kursk region, injuring 16 civilians, four of them in serious condition. Eight people were also injured in the Lipetsk region by falling debris from a downed Ukrainian drone. In the Russian border regions of Kursk, Belgorod and Bryansk, the governor of Belgorod has already declared a state of emergency due to the tense situation, which indicates the serious effects of Ukrainian shelling.

Zelensky, who continues to report an advance by the Ukrainian army, has highlighted that Ukrainian units in the Kursk region have actually advanced by one to two kilometers. However, this is disputed by the Russian side, which claims that the Ukrainian attacks have been stopped. The Ukrainian offensive in this region began on August 6, and there are different accounts of the terrain gained. While Zelenskyy claims control over 74 towns, the governor speaks of 28 occupied towns.

International reactions

In addition to military action, G7 finance ministers are closely monitoring developments. They plan to increase pressure on Russia if Moscow does not agree to a ceasefire. Tightening sanctions is also being considered in this context. Zelensky has repeatedly emphasized that Ukraine is not interested in prolonging the war. He appears open to taking steps toward a ceasefire, but without significant Russian readiness this remains an uncertain prospect.

Finally, Tychyj emphasized that Ukraine's offensive is not aimed at annexing Russian territory, but rather focuses on creating a buffer zone to protect its own population. President Putin, on the other hand, has ordered the development of a program for the reconstruction of the fighting-affected border regions, underscoring the current challenges and the need for stability in these areas. For detailed information and analysis, please refer to the reporting by LKZ and Berlin newspaper.