According to five European diplomats, this proposal is one of the several, which military and civilian officials are considered as part of the scenario of post -war settlement or ceasefire in Ukraine. Officials disagree on the depth of the zone. It is also unclear whether Kyiv will accept this plan, since it probably implies territorial concessions. The United States seems to not participate in discussions on the issue of the buffer zone.
The number of military personnel necessary for patrolling the border remains in question. Officials discuss from 4 thousand to 60 thousand military personnel. However, the countries have not yet taken on any obligations to place peacekeepers. According to two European officials, the basis of a foreign military presence will most likely be French and British forces.
Europeans “grab a straw”, said a former Pentagon officer who oversaw a policy against Europe and NATO under the administration of the ex-president of the United States Barack Obama, Jim Townsend. According to him, the Russians are not afraid of Europeans, and the “couple of British and French observers” will not keep them from the invasion of Ukraine.
NATO is already with difficulty preparing the forces of 300 thousand military personnel to protect the eastern flank of the Alliance from the future Russian attack, the newspaper writes. According to two diplomats, peacekeeping forces will perform a double function: patrol the demilitarized zone and at the same time train the Ukrainian military.
According to one of the European officials, everyone is trying to achieve security guarantees as soon as possible until US President Donald Trump changed their minds.
At the same time, some allies expressed concern that the creation of a buffer zone could actually expose the Ukrainian cities even more risk of attack or repeated invasion of Russia.
Context
On August 8, The Wall Street Journal, citing sources, said that Putin is allegedly ready to cease fire in exchange for the Donbass.
On August 17, the special representative of Trump Steve Vitkoff said that Putin during a meeting with the head of the White House in Alaska allegedly made concessions in his requirements for the “exchange of territories” with Ukraine.
On the same day, Financial Times, citing statements by Ukrainian officials, wrote that Zelensky’s goal at a meeting with Trump in the Oval office on August 18 is to establish a productive process of peaceful settlement without pressure on Ukraine to fulfill impossible conditions, as a requirement of the withdrawal of troops from the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. For this Zelensky is ready to go to an “acceptable compromise” on the current front line, which Ukrainians could agree to, the article says.
On August 18, the Financial Times, referring to the draft proposals prepared for a meeting in Washington, informed that Ukraine informed European and American allies that it would not accept the conditions of a peace agreement if it will provide for the territorial concessions of Russia.
On August 19, after a meeting with Trump, Zelensky said that The question of “exchange of territories” will remain between him and Putin.
