The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s statements regarding the establishment of so-called “buffer zones” near Ukrainian borders, noting that these words may indicate only one thing – Moscow continues to hinder a peaceful resolution to the conflict
The official comment was made by the MFA spokesperson, George Tykhy, who emphasized that such statements from the Kremlin leader only confirm that Russia remains the main obstacle on the path to peace. Regarding the nature of these "buffer zones," Tykhy pointed out that, given the situation, they could potentially appear not only on Ukrainian territory but also on the Russian side of the border. For this reason, Ukraine has long been actively conducting operations in areas that could potentially serve as “buffer zones” within the Russian Federation. Based on this stance, the diplomat explained that Putin’s words about creating a "security" zone are not so much a warning as they are a demonstration that Moscow is trying to maximize its positions and create preconditions for further aggressive actions. The MFA spokesperson also drew attention to the fact that similar statements by the Russian president are not the first time they have appeared in public speeches. According to Tykhy, they serve merely as a means of justifying Kremlin's aggressive steps and of trying to silence the international community and Ukraine or to force them to accept a new reality. At the same time, he emphasized that calls for a ceasefire are gaining increasing support and efforts from the international community, while Russia and its leadership, the diplomat notes, are the only ones continuing to sabotage these processes, aiming to create conditions most favorable to themselves. “Such words definitively prove that the responsibility for the outbreak of the war lies precisely with the Kremlin and personally Putin. He is the main obstacle to achieving stable peace; his policies and actions have caused destruction, suffering, and a humanitarian crisis in our country. It is high time to intensify diplomatic and sanctions pressure on Moscow and Putin to force them back to peace negotiations and to stop the war. Regarding the idea of “buffer zones,” it should be noted that it can realistically become feasible only in the broadest sense when Russia ceases its aggression, and Ukrainian defenders hold the line at the borders.” The main message of the MFA is that Russia is actually using such statements to create the illusion of control over the situation and to justify its further aggressive actions. Meanwhile, Ukrainian military and diplomats have long been working to prevent potential conflict escalation and ensure national security, including through operations on Russian territory, which, according to Tykhy, could potentially serve as sites for “buffer zones,” thus providing pretexts for new incidents and escalation. It is worth recalling that recently, Putin informed government officials of his decision to establish a "security buffer zone" along the Ukraine border. This has become one of the key components of his new strategy for preparing further escalation. Russian officials explain this as necessary for protecting their own borders, but Ukrainian officials are convinced that the Kremlin's true goal is to intensify pressure and impose new terms on Ukraine during negotiations. Thus, Ukraine insists that any attempts by Russia to justify its actions through the creation of "buffer zones" are merely propaganda tools and cover-ups for ongoing aggression. Meanwhile, Ukrainians and the international community continue to advocate for de-escalation, return to diplomatic dialogue, and a firm stance on protecting Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.