Picture courtesy of BBC | Zelensky/Telegram

 

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has flatly rejected a proposal for creating a buffer zone between Ukrainian and Russian troops, arguing it misinterprets modern warfare dynamics. “Only those who do not understand today’s technological warfare propose a buffer zone,” Zelensky stated emphatically on Friday.

 

The proposal emerged amidst reports suggesting European leaders were contemplating a 40km buffer zone in Ukraine to foster peace. However, Zelensky pointed out that drone technology has fundamentally reshaped warfare, creating effective “dead zones” where traditional artillery is already undermined.

 

Buffer zones have historically served as demilitarised regions between warring nations, providing a physical separation akin to the Iron Curtain during the Cold War. According to a Politico report, European diplomatic circles had mooted a no-man's land within Ukraine to segregate forces, yet Zelensky was firm that heavy weaponry already kept a significant distance due to constant drone threats.

 

The creation of a buffer could potentially mean relinquishing Ukrainian territory, a notion Zelensky outrightly opposed. He suggested Russia could instead retreat further into currently occupied Ukrainian regions if they desired greater separation. “If Russia wants more distance, they should withdraw,” he asserted, highlighting Russia’s elusive diplomatic stance, reported the BBC.

 

Attempts by US President Donald Trump to broker a resolution have seemingly stagnated as Russia's offensive persists. A recent dialogue with Zelensky and European leaders aimed at a potential summit with Russian President Vladimir Putin yielded minimal optimism, compounded by remarks from German Chancellor Friedrich Merz that underscored Putin’s apparent reluctance.

 

Tensions soared as Russia launched a massive aerial onslaught on Kyiv, killing 23 people. This attack, among the largest so far, targeted key locations, including sites near EU offices, evoking international condemnation. French President Emmanuel Macron and Chancellor Merz have since vowed to intensify pressure on Russia, signalling heightened diplomatic strain if Putin forgoes the anticipated dialogue deadline.

 

Talks continue between Zelensky's administration and key US diplomats, including Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and Vice President JD Vance. Despite appreciating US peace efforts, Andriy Yermak, Zelensky’s chief of staff, lamented Russia's stonewalling tactics undermining such initiatives.

 

EU foreign policy head Kaja Kallas denounced Russia’s ongoing civilian assaults, calling them escalatory and disruptive to peace efforts. European leaders are discussing security assurances for Ukraine that are akin to NATO guarantees, although Russia criticises Western propositions as biased and antagonistic to its security interests.

 

The situation remains tense as diplomatic wheels churn towards a resolution that respects sovereignty yet navigates geopolitical tensions. Discussions are poised to persist, with Zelensky’s government seeking durable security provisions while international leaders grapple with complexities in the ongoing conflict.

 

  Adapted by ASEAN Now from BBC 2025-08-30

 

Yes keep rejecting , let's fight till the last Ukranian.

 

Apparently just leaked that 1,7 million Ukranian military

killed , fighting the globalist NATO war.

Let Russian troops go back to Russia and create a buffer zone in Russia. 

Zielinsky does not want peace with peace comes an election an election zelensky will lose

1 hour ago, wardje said:

Let Russian troops go back to Russia and create a buffer zone in Russia. 

They don't have to go far as Donetsk, Kherson, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Crimea ARE now the Russian Federation and the Russians are just removing the rest of the AFU who are attempting to occupy the last 25% of Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia.  Zelensky's whinging and crying isn't going to make a bit of difference.  This eventually ends with the collapse of the AFU and unconditional surrender of Ukraine endorsed and accepted by the Rada.

Well there could be another outcome.  The EU backed by the US could actually decide to roll their troops into Ukraine and have a real war. Hell, that's what the EU leadership is signaling on a daily basis.  Then the world as we know it - ends, as that will quickly morph into a neo-con's wet dream of global wars with all those nations who fail to bend a knee to US/UK/EU hegemony.  The EU is a collection of failed colonial empires, the US would simply be the last in line.  This has always been a US/UK/EU (NATO) war of aggression to strategically overthrow Russia and break it's land-masses up to be divided among the NATO member states.  NATO won't stop until they are defeated on the battle-field.  And while they are at it, they'll "pivot to China" and now maybe even India, as well as pivoting to Iran and the rest of the ME/NA with the same strategic goals. Oh yeah - and Central and South America too starting with Venezuela.
And as far as "Isolating Putin." Nobody here probably follows the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit or can even point out Tianjin, China on a map. Isolation of Putin and Russia? <laughs>   Right.  
The constant threats of "bone-crushing" tariffs and sanction are causing the member states of the BRICS and the SCO as well as ASEAN, Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU), Group of 77 (G77), and Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) to coalesce into trading partnerships which will eventually reject the West's Rule By "Bone-Crushing" Sanctions approach to pretty much everything.

In my humble opinion the Western leaders are all collectively insane. I can see this train-wreak coming from miles away.  The only hope I hold is that these war-pigs are booted out of office by voters.  We'll see. It's a very small hope as the EU's vision of "democracy" is now manifest in suppressing rights of freedom of speech and assembly while attempting to ban those parties and candidates who threaten the EU's status quo.  

Putin didn't propose a buffer zone for no reason, as it pushes Ukraine's defense lines back. 

Sounds like he may be making significant capital from keeping the war going.

11 hours ago, FlorC said:

Apparently just leaked that 1,7 million Ukranian military

killed , fighting the globalist NATO war.

BS. You reading Russian propaganda again?

A post with a link to a Conspiracy-Pseudoscience site has been removed. 

 

Posts with derogatory nicknames, intentional misspellings, or personal remarks will be removed. Spell names correctly for all sides of the debate.

10 hours ago, wombat said:

Zielinsky does not want peace with peace comes an election an election zelensky will lose

 

I disagree with the thesis of your post.  Putin does not want peace; he wants the entirety of Ukraine. 

12 hours ago, TedG said:

 

I disagree with the thesis of your post.  Putin does not want peace; he wants the entirety of Ukraine. 

Up to you

On 9/1/2025 at 12:42 PM, connda said:

And as far as "Isolating Putin." Nobody here probably follows the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit or can even point out Tianjin, China on a map. Isolation of Putin and Russia? <laughs>   Right. 

 

On an aside, I was standing out front when the motorcades arrived, hoping to get a selfie with Putin, Modi and/or Xi.  (Not really because security was very tight).  The Tianjin Meijiang Exhibition Center is a few hundred yards from my apartment.  

22 hours ago, impulse said:

 

On an aside, I was standing out front when the motorcades arrived, hoping to get a selfie with Putin, Modi and/or Xi.  (Not really because security was very tight).  The Tianjin Meijiang Exhibition Center is a few hundred yards from my apartment.  

You must have some photos of the event please share

30 minutes ago, wombat said:

You must have some photos of the event please share

 

Not much to share.  As I said, the security was tight and there was no interaction with the attendees.  They were dropped off at the rear of the exhibition center which was off limits to the public.  And I specifically avoided taking any photos that may have exposed security measures or armored vehicles.  So this is about as exciting as it got:

 

 

I did snap this one of a motorcade whizzing by. (You can tell it's not a stock photo by the blur)