Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the idea of creating a buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian troops, saying that such a zone already exists on the frontline, the BBC quoted him as saying.
His comment comes after a Politico article, according to which European leaders are discussing a buffer zone as part of a potential peace agreement.
"I have heard this more than once from Europeans and Americans. Only those who do not understand the technological state of war today propose a buffer zone of 40-50-60 km, I have even heard a proposal for 100 km. This is a completely different story. Today, our heavy weapons are already 10+ km apart because everything is hit by drones. This buffer zone, I call it a dead zone, some call it a gray zone, it already exists," Zelensky said during a briefing on Friday.
He said that if Moscow insists on a greater distance between the armies, Russian forces could be withdrawn deeper into the temporarily occupied territories.
Zelensky's statement came amid intensified diplomatic discussions about a possible peace process, but Kiev remains firm in its position that it will not accept conditions that limit the country's defense capabilities or freeze the conflict without the withdrawal of Russian troops.