Putin says Russia is building non-negotiable 'security zone' in Ukraine along border
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Friday that Moscow is establishing a military "security zone" inside Ukrainian border territory, declaring the contested buffer area entirely non-negotiable in any future peace negotiations with Kyiv.
- World
- Reuters
- Published Date: 07:37 PM 16 October 2026
Russia is establishing a "security zone" inside Ukraine along their border, which will be non-negotiable in any future talks with Kyiv, President Vladimir Putin said on Friday.
Putin, wearing military uniform and speaking during a visit to a command post, said the operation was in response to Ukraine's 2024-25 incursion into Russia's western Kursk region.
"The Russian armed forces were tasked not only with expelling the enemy from our land but also with establishing a security zone in the adjacent territory. This task is being carried out successfully," he said in televised comments.
"Our goal is to ensure the absolute security of Russia's border regions for the future, and we do not plan to make this a subject for potential peace negotiations with Ukraine."
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the planned security zone spanned 660 km (410 miles), of which 70% was currently under Russia's control.
- President Erdoğan says Türkiye sees Cambodia as important partner in Southeast Asia
- Meta employees said Lula's accounts were hindered during Brazil election - report
- China urges Israel to halt 'forced establishment' of settlement expansion in occupied West Bank
- Israeli rabbi permits occupiers to steal Palestinian olive harvest in West Bank
- Albanian PM blames 'foreign hands' for days of unrest