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https://nordictimes.com/world/russia-plans-large-buffer-zone-in-ukraine/

World

Russia plans large buffer zone in Ukraine

The war in Ukraine

  • Russia declares its intention to establish a deep security zone on Ukrainian territory to protect its own regions from Western weapons.
  • Meanwhile, both Russia and Ukraine report record drone and missile attacks over the weekend - with significant casualties and material destruction.
  • Here's the latest we know about developments.
Published May 27, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Russian FPV drone destroys Ukrainian Armed Forces pickup truck near Kolodiazne. Source: X/@MilitarySummary
4 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

In a statement on Telegram, Russia's former president and current Security Council member Dmitry Medvedev declared that a Russian victory would require Ukraine to effectively cede a large part of its territory. A proposed buffer zone would extend up to 60 kilometers into Ukrainian territory – with the aim of eliminating the threat from long-range missiles such as Storm Shadow and ATACMS, according to information from sources including voiceofest.

– A demilitarized zone must be created that makes it impossible to use even long-range weapons against our territory, Medvedev himself commented via Telegram.

The proposal comes as the Russian army continues its advance in the Kharkiv region – an area that, according to Moscow, is not intended to become part of Russia, but will be included in the buffer zone.

According to Business Insider, there are also reports of a much larger buffer zone, a zone that essentially encompasses the whole of Ukraine. It is unclear whether these reports represent official Russian policy or are rather propaganda and speculation.

Largest air strike since the war began

On Saturday night, Russia launched what is said to be the largest coordinated air strike against Ukraine to date. According to the Ukrainian Defense Staff, a total of 367 drones and missiles were fired in a massive attack targeting Kiev, Lviv, Zhytomyr, Khmelnytskyi, and Dnipro, among other locations.

The Ukrainian air defense claims that 266 drones and 45 cruise missiles were shot down, but the attacks still resulted in civilian deaths, including three children in Zhytomyr. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky described the attack as “terrorism” and demanded further sanctions from the West.

– Any silence after such attacks means complicity in terror, he said in a speech.

Patriot batteries destroyed and Ukrainian drone offensive

In a follow-up attack on Thursday, two American Patriot systems were reportedly destroyed in the Dnipropetrovsk region, according to the Russian Ministry of Defense. An AN/MPQ-65 radar station is also said to have been destroyed.

Images and satellite data from the site suggest that an Iskander-M missile may have hit the site, leading to speculation about weaknesses in the Ukrainian air defense network. Ukraine has not yet confirmed the loss, but several explosion clouds were observed in the area on the same day.

Ukraine responded with extensive drone attacks against Russian territory. According to the Russian Ministry of Defense, at least 96 Ukrainian drones were shot down on Monday night, several of them in Belgorod, Kursk, and even over the Moscow region.

Several of the attacks targeted infrastructure, including oil refineries in Krasnodar and oil depots in Kaluga.

A notable incident occurred during President Putin's visit to the Kursk region, where a Ukrainian drone exploded near the helicopter that was taking him to a meeting. The incident was confirmed in Russian media, but Putin is not believed to have been injured.

Possible Russian summer offensive?

The much-discussed buffer zone shows what a potential Russian security zone could look like, depending on which information is considered reliable. Regardless of the version, a security zone would in practice make large parts of present-day Ukraine uninhabitable for Ukrainian military activity.

Several military analysts believe that the intensity of this weekend's attacks – combined with the statement on the buffer zone – could signal an imminent escalation on the Russian side.

A summer offensive against the city of Zaporizhzhya, combined with an expanded bridgehead across the Dnieper, or alternatively a pincer movement on the city of Pokrovsk, are two possible scenarios.

The ability to knock out US defense systems and extend the range of drones and ballistic missiles appears to have strengthened Russian operational confidence. However, Ukrainian forces continue to hold certain front lines in Donbas and north of Avdiivka, although resources there are severely strained.

The situation in Ukraine remains very serious, with escalating attacks and strategic maneuvers on both sides. A potential buffer zone and intensified offensives could definitely influence the development of the conflict during the summer of 2025.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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https://nordictimes.com/world/russia-conducts-nuclear-drills-sweden-offers-gripen-jets-to-ukraine/

World

Russia conducts nuclear drills – Sweden offers Gripen jets to Ukraine

The war in Ukraine

Published October 22, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy together with Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson during a visit to Saab in Linköping, Sweden, where a letter of intent regarding the export of around a hundred Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine was promised. Simultaneously, Russia conducted a large-scale nuclear weapons exercise, including the launch of a Yars intercontinental ballistic missile from the Plesetsk Cosmodrome in the Arkhangelsk region.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Russia carried out a large-scale nuclear missile exercise on Wednesday, while Sweden signed a letter of intent to export Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. The announcement comes one day after the United States announced that a planned summit between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin has been postponed.

The Kremlin released video footage showing Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov reporting to President Putin about the exercises. Russia launched missiles from ground-based platforms, submarines and aircraft, including intercontinental ballistic missiles capable of reaching the United States. However, the missiles did not contain live nuclear warheads.

During critical phases of the Ukraine war, Putin has repeatedly reminded the world of Russia's nuclear capabilities as a warning to Kyiv and its Western allies. NATO also conducted nuclear deterrence exercises in October.

Sweden offers fighter jets

Sweden announced that the country has signed a letter of intent to export Gripen fighter jets to Ukraine. The announcement comes as European governments intensify their efforts in the Ukraine war, which has now lasted three years and eight months.

Ukrainian pilots have been in Sweden to test the Gripen, a robust and cost-effective alternative to the American F-35.

— We have begun work to acquire Gripen and expect that the future contract will provide us with at least 100 such aircraft, said President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during a visit to Swedish defense company Saab.

Kyiv aims to receive and begin using the aircraft as early as next year.

Summit postponed

After months of stalled diplomacy, Putin and Trump spoke last week and unexpectedly announced that they would hold a summit in Hungary within a couple of weeks. But after a phone call between the countries' foreign ministers, the White House announced that Trump has no plans to meet Putin "in the foreseeable future".

Trump explained that he did not want a "wasted meeting" – something the Kremlin said Putin also wants to avoid.

— The dates have not been set yet, but thorough preparation is needed, and that takes time, said Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.

The delay came after Russia reiterated to the United States its conditions for peace, including that Ukraine should hand over control of the entire Donbas region, according to three sources to Reuters. This represented a rejection of Trump's statement that both sides should stop at the current front lines.

Shares in European defense companies rose on news of the postponed summit. Most European governments strongly support Kyiv and have pledged to increase their military spending for the war.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/trump-pressures-zelensky-to-accept-russias-peace-terms/

World

Trump pressures Zelensky to accept Russia’s peace terms

The war in Ukraine

Updated October 21, 2025, Published October 20, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Donald Trump has, according to multiple sources, urged Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to agree to Russia's demands to end the war in Ukraine. A stormy meeting at the White House on Friday was reportedly marked by raised voices, heated arguments, and Trump's repeated echoing of Putin's positions.

During the meeting, Trump allegedly warned Zelensky that Putin had threatened to "destroy Ukraine" if the country does not accept the terms, reports Financial Times.

Sources with insight say the meeting between the parties devolved several times into "shouting matches", where Donald Trump used profanities and threw frontline maps across the room.

Trump reportedly insisted that Zelensky must hand over the entire Donbass region to Moscow, and repeated arguments that Putin had made in a phone call the day before. At the same time, he later supported freezing the current frontlines, reflecting his shifting stance on the issue.

Zelensky and his delegation had hoped to convince Trump to deliver Tomahawk cruise missiles to Ukraine, but the US president refused.

If the reports are accurate, the meeting can be compared to the contentious meeting in February, where Trump and Vice President JD Vance criticized Zelensky for lack of gratitude toward the United States.

Donald Trump Volodymyr Zelenskyj
The meeting between Zelensky and Trump in February earlier this year ended in open quarreling. Facsimile: Fox4

Zelensky's position unchanged

European officials report that Trump repeatedly echoed Putin's arguments word for word on several occasions, even when they contradicted his own previous statements about Russia's weaknesses.

One official said Trump called the conflict a "special operation, not even a war" and warned Zelenskyy that Ukraine risked destruction.

Trump also expressed that Russia's economy "is doing well", which contrasts with his previous public statements that Putin's economy is near collapse.

Zelensky commented to journalists: — Trump wants a quick victory - an end to the war - and that would be a victory for all reasonable people. Putin, however, wants the total occupation of Ukraine.

After the meeting, Zelensky stated that he had made clear to Trump that Ukraine's position remains unchanged. Trump told Fox News on Sunday that he was convinced the conflict could be ended, adding that Putin "going to take something, he’s won certain property".

Ukraina - ryska drönarattacker - juni 2025
While peace negotiations between the parties are marked by disagreement and stubbornness, fighting continues with undiminished intensity (archive image June 2025). Photo: screenshot/Youtube/@CNN

Donbass in exchange for other regions

Putin has proposed in talks with Trump that Ukraine hand over all of Donbass in exchange for smaller areas in the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions. However, Zelenskyy stated that there is still no clarity about exactly what Russia is willing to give up in these regions.

Ukrainian officials warn that giving up the remaining Donbass would give Moscow territory that it only partially controls, since the war began over three years ago.

Oleksandr Merezhko, chairman of Ukraine's foreign affairs committee, says: – To give the Donbas to Russia without a fight is unacceptable for Ukrainian society, and Putin knows that. It’s not about getting more territory for Russia; it’s about how to destroy us from within.

Trump's repetition of Putin's rhetoric dampened hopes among many European allies for increased support to Kiev, despite him previously expressing frustration over Putin's unwillingness to negotiate directly with Zelensky.

Zelensky commented after returning home: – We have moved closer to a possible end to the war. That doesn’t mean it will definitely end, but President Trump has achieved a lot in the Middle East, and riding that wave he wants to end Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/british-field-marshal-ukraine-cannot-win-against-russia/

World

British field marshal: Ukraine cannot win against Russia

The war in Ukraine

Published October 19, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Even with expanded Western support, Lord David Richards assesses that Ukraine cannot win the war.
3 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

One of Britain's highest-ranking military officers assesses that Ukraine will never be able to defeat Russia on the battlefield and should instead negotiate for peace.

In an interview with The Independent's podcast World of Trouble, Field Marshal Lord David Richards argues that Ukraine simply does not have the capacity to drive Russian forces from its territory and should instead seek a negotiated solution.

Richards, who was promoted to the country's most prestigious five-star military rank earlier this year and led NATO forces during the troop surge in Afghanistan, is critical of how Ukraine's allies have managed their support.

— What we have done in the case of Ukraine is encourage Ukraine to fight, but not given them the means to win, says the former Chief of the Defence Staff.

When Richards is asked to reflect on Ukraine's chances of success against Russia, he is clear.

— My view is that they would not win.

When the interviewer asks whether Ukraine could win even with the right resources, the answer is brief.

— No.

Pressed further on whether the right resources could make a difference, he repeated his answer and added:

— No, they haven't got the manpower.

Not an existential issue for the West

Richards, who is the only British officer to have commanded large American combat forces since 1945, believes the prospects for Ukraine are bleak.

— Unless we were to go in with them – which we won't do because Ukraine is not an existential issue for us. It clearly is for the Russians, by the way.

— We've decided because it's not an existential issue, we will not go to war. We are, you can argue – and I absolutely accept it – in some sort of hybrid war. But that's not the same as a shooting war in which our soldiers are dying in large numbers, Richards continues.

He emphasizes that despite sympathy for the Ukrainians and their achievements, he still believes the war is not in the West's vital national interests.

— My instinct is that the best Ukraine can do, and you already see President Zelensky, who's an inspirational leader … the best they can do is a sort of a score draw.

Zelensky met Trump

The statement comes after Volodymyr Zelensky flew to Washington DC to meet Donald Trump and try to convince him to give Ukraine Tomahawk cruise missiles.

But Zelensky's plans to pressure Trump appear to have been undermined by Vladimir Putin, who spoke with the American president hours before the White House meeting with the Ukrainian leader.

At a packed press conference, Trump appeared hesitant to give away American weapons, while maintaining a friendly tone with Zelensky. The American president emphasized his own country's need to maintain stockpiles.

Zelensky said very little, except to politely suggest that Ukraine could offer its drone technology in an exchange deal. Trump seemed open to the idea.

After the summit, Zelensky said that Trump had not said no to the idea of Tomahawk missiles – but not yes either.

Iraq war built on lies

In the extensive interview about his military life, the field marshal revealed that although his career has been successful, there have been occasions when he came into conflict with the establishment and often disagreed with his military and political superiors.

As a major general and deputy chief of the army under General Sir Mike Jackson, he says it was obvious to him that British Prime Minister Tony Blair's government was lying about its claims that Saddam Hussein was developing nuclear weapons in Iraq.

Tony Blair's government lied about Iraqi weapons of mass destruction to legitimize the invasion. Photo: World Economic Forum/CC BY-NC-SA 4.0

Together with other senior officers, he questioned the legality of Britain's decision to join American forces in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

Before the British joined the invasion, Blair presented an intelligence document to parliament claiming that the Iraqi dictator was developing nuclear weapons.

"This stinks"

The document, which has since been mocked as "the dodgy dossier" for its unfounded claims, caused dismay among senior officers who had access to the actual intelligence information.

— "I and others encouraged the chief of defence staff to query whether this was legal and what was the basis of this intelligence, says Lord Richards.

— I do remember one officer – who I won't name but was on the intelligence side – saying, 'Don't worry. We'll find something to put'. Yeah, 'don't worry. We'll find something about that. We'll justify what we were doing', he recounts.

— I went back to say to Mike Jackson, 'This stinks'.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

https://nordictimes.com/world/hegseth-to-europe-buy-more-american-weapons-for-ukraine/

World

Hegseth to Europe: Buy more American weapons for Ukraine

The war in Ukraine

Published October 15, 2025 – By Editorial staff
Pete Hegseth together with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.
2 minute read
Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

Western military support to Ukraine has nearly halved over the summer. Now the US Secretary of Defense is demanding that NATO countries once again open their wallets for more American weapons deliveries – but several major European nations are hesitating.

Pete Hegseth had a clear message when he met with his NATO counterparts in Brussels on Wednesday: Europe must invest even more money in American weapons for Ukraine.

The US Secretary of Defense pointed to a report from the Kiel Institute for the World Economy showing that military support to Kiev fell dramatically during the summer months – a 43 percent decrease compared to the first half of the year.

Hegseth was explicit about his view on how peace is achieved.

— You get peace when you are strong. Not when you use strong words or wag your fingers, you get it when you have strong and real capabilities that adversaries respect, he declared to assembled journalists.

Zelensky wants more

At the center of discussions is the PURL program – Prioritized Ukraine Requirements List – which has fundamentally changed how the U.S. supports Ukraine militarily. Previously, Washington donated weapons directly, but now NATO countries must pay for the deliveries themselves.

According to Hegseth, the logic is simple: The more Europe buys, the faster the war can be concluded.

— Our expectation today is that more countries donate even more, that they purchase even more to provide for Ukraine, to bring that conflict to a peaceful conclusion, he said.

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte announced that $2 billion has been pledged so far through the PURL system, and that he expects additional contributions. But the figure falls far short of the $3.5 billion that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky had hoped to secure by October.

Three countries made new pledges on Wednesday: Sweden, Estonia, and Finland. Corresponding commitments from European heavyweights such as Spain, Italy, France, and the United Kingdom are still lacking.

USA - the big winner?

The Russian government has accused Kiev's European financiers of prolonging the conflict at the expense of Ukrainian lives, and Moscow claims that European countries are unwilling to acknowledge the failure of their strategy.

Meanwhile, European NATO members continue to bear the economic consequences of their sanctions policy against Russia. After rejecting Russian energy, many EU economies have been hit by rising production costs and widespread bankruptcies in industry.

The United States, however, has benefited from developments through increased investment flows and higher sales of liquefied natural gas to Europe.

Editorial staff
editorial@nordictimes.com

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