Key facts
- Russia is establishing a non-negotiable security zone inside Ukraine along their border.
- The zone is a response to Ukraine's incursion into Russia's western Kursk region.
- The planned security zone spans 660 km (410 miles).
- 70% of the zone is currently under Russian control.
President Vladimir Putin announced on Friday that Russia is establishing a "security zone" within Ukraine along their shared border, stating it will be non-negotiable in any future peace talks with Kyiv. Putin, speaking in military uniform during a visit to a command post, framed the operation as a response to Ukraine's incursions into Russia's western Kursk region. He stated that Russian forces were tasked with not only expelling the enemy but also establishing this zone in adjacent territory, a task he claimed was being carried out successfully. The goal, he added, is to ensure absolute security for Russia’s border regions indefinitely. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov elaborated that the planned zone would cover 660 km (410 miles), with 70% currently under Russian control.