Putin says Russia will not negotiate over Ukraine border ‘security zone’

Vladimir Putin said on 16 October that Russian troops were creating a “security zone” on Ukrainian territory along the border, and that Moscow did not intend to make it a subject of possible peace talks with Ukraine. That is a statement of Russia’s position, not an agreement about the territory or a measure of what its forces control. [1] [2]

Speaking during a visit to a military command post, Putin said the aim was to make Russia’s border areas safe and described progress as successful, according to Interfax. He said Russian forces had been tasked with creating the zone on neighbouring territory. His reported remarks did not define its boundaries or depth. [2]

The buffer-zone aim is not new. Putin spoke of establishing one near Kharkiv in May 2024. In August 2026, Ukrainian presidential official Pavlo Palisa said Russia still had plans for buffer zones in the Kharkiv and Sumy regions and part of Chernihiv. That assessment preceded Putin’s latest remarks and does not establish what has since been carried out. [4] [5]

Kommersant reported a Russian commander’s claim that Moscow controlled 465 of 660 kilometres along the border. The resulting 70% figure refers to a length of border, not the share of the proposed zone’s area, and does not independently establish territorial control. [3]