Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared that the military is now working on establishing a so-called “ security buffer zone ” along the country’s border with Ukraine. He made the announcement during a video conference with top government officials, as reported by Russian state media. This proposed zone would run across the border regions of Kursk, Bryansk, and Belgorod oblasts—areas that have seen cross-border hostilities since the escalation of fighting last year. Putin ’s comments