Pentagon’s press secretary responds to Trump’s team Ukraine’s buffer zone proposal: “No speculation” on future plans

While Pentagon officials avoid speculation on Donald Trump’s proposed buffer zone in Ukraine, experts caution that such a plan could play into Russia’s hands, potentially creating a line of defense for further invasions.

Nov 13, 2024 - 16:00

Pentagon’s press secretary responds to Trump’s team Ukraine’s buffer zone proposal: “No speculation” on future plans

Pentagon Press Secretary Pat Ryder responded to information about the “peace plan” of US President-elect Donald Trump’s advisors reported by The Wall Street Journal, which includes the creation of a buffer zone in Ukraine. According to Ryder, he does not want to speculate or make assumptions about the plans of the next administration, according to the US Department of Defense.

During the US elections, Trump repeatedly claimed he could end the war “in 24 hours,” but details of his plan have been scarce. Recent reports suggest his approach may involve freezing the war along current front lines and establishing a demilitarized zone, pressuring Ukraine to make territory concessions, and delaying NATO membership for at least 20 years.

“We’re very focused on, as I highlighted earlier, on the situation at hand right now and frequent communication with our Ukrainian counterparts to ensure they have what they need to defend themselves from Russian aggression,” Ryder stressed during a briefing.

The US military spokesperson emphasized that US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin has repeatedly stated that Ukraine’s security is important not only for European countries but also for America.

He also noted “strong bipartisan support for Ukraine.” Ryder added that the US will continue to communicate closely with its partners and allies.

“We’re going to continue to be focused on the task at hand right now, which is helping Ukraine defend itself from Russian aggression. But as for what the future might portend, I’m just not going to speculate or get into hypotheticals,” said the Pentagon representative.

Earlier, Newsweek said the idea of creating the buffer zone is controversial because Russian leader Vladimir Putin is likely to use it as a frontline for the next invasion of Ukraine.

Related:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!