Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday that Russian forces are actively establishing a “security buffer zone” along the Russia–Ukraine border, a move that has drawn immediate criticism from Kyiv and international observers as a further escalation in the ongoing conflict.
“I have already said that a decision was made to create the necessary security buffer zone along the border. Our armed forces are currently solving this problem,” Putin said during a government meeting in Moscow. He added that Ukrainian firing positions are being actively suppressed as part of the effort.
Putin’s remarks follow earlier indications from March when he visited Russia’s Kursk region, an area that had previously seen Ukrainian advances. During that visit, Putin discussed potential restoration work and was reportedly asked by local officials to consider a buffer zone extending into Ukraine’s Sumy region.
Putin said the plan aims to restore destroyed infrastructure and allow civilians to safely return to their homes in areas near the frontlines. He is expected to host a dedicated meeting on rebuilding and stabilization efforts in border areas, according to Russian state media.
Ukrainian and International Response
The announcement was swiftly condemned by Ukraine. Foreign ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi labeled the move as “aggressive”, saying it demonstrates that “Russia is the obstacle to peace efforts now.” Kyiv has consistently rejected any unilateral attempts by Moscow to annex or alter its internationally recognized borders.
The development comes just ahead of a major prisoner exchange between Ukraine and Russia, expected on Friday, following last week’s landmark direct talks in Turkey — the first formal negotiations between the two sides in three years. The agreement includes the exchange of 1,000 prisoners from each side.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed Thursday that Russia has received Ukraine’s proposed list for the exchange. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on X that his government is verifying “the details for each individual included on the lists submitted by the Russian side.”
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A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
European Union leaders agreed on Thursday to extend sanctions against Russia over its ongoing war in Ukraine for a further 12 months, marking the first time the restrictive measures have been renewed on an annual basis rather than the previous six-month cycle.
Ukraine's military said it struck a Russian "shadow fleet" tanker in the Black Sea as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt Moscow's energy and logistics networks. The move underscores Kyiv's focus on targeting maritime assets it says are used to bypass sanctions on Russian oil exports.
Russian drone and missile attacks on Ukraine's north-eastern Kharkiv region killed a pregnant woman and two other people, Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday, as renewed diplomatic efforts to end the war continued.
Israel's defence minister said on Wednesday Israeli troops will not withdraw from southern Lebanon, highlighting a hurdle to Iran-U.S. peace talks, as the top U.S. diplomat tours the Middle East to win over allies sceptical about a proposed deal.
A Ukrainian strike has damaged a school building in a Russian-controlled area of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia region, according to local authorities cited by the TASS news agency. No injuries were reported in the incident.
U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran had agreed to nuclear inspections into "infinity, despite Tehran's denials, and that unfrozen Iranian assets would be used to buy humanitarian supplies from the United States.
Authorities in France are reporting that about 20 people have died over the weekend while swimming in unsupervised areas of rivers, lakes and coastal waters as they tried to escape the heatwave.
Ebola cases in the Democratic Republic of Congo have surpassed 1,000, with health officials warning that the outbreak is spreading rapidly through displacement camps and across borders.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has said he will “most likely” hold bilateral talks with U.S. President Donald Trump during next month’s NATO summit in Ankara, where the American leader is expected to attend.
Russia has called for clarification on whether U.S. President Donald Trump has changed his position on the war in Ukraine following remarks made at the recent G7 summit in Evian-les-Bains.
The European Union and Taliban officials held talks in Brussels on Tuesday on consular services and the situation of Afghans whose asylum applications have been rejected in Europe.
China’s anti-corruption authorities have launched an investigation into Bian Zhigang, a senior defence and space official, over suspected serious violations of discipline and law, officials said on Wednesday.
Alibaba, one of the world's largest technology and e-commerce companies, has sued the U.S. Pentagon after being added to a blacklist of firms it claims support China's military, escalating a dispute with potentially significant consequences for the company.
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