NBC: US could lead monitoring of proposed Ukraine “buffer zone”

If a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine is ever reached, the United States could take the lead role in monitoring a large buffer zone inside Ukraine, four people familiar with a plan discussed by military officials from Ukraine’s allies, including the US, told NBC.

The proposed buffer zone would be a large demilitarised area — with borders not yet decided — inside Ukraine, separating Russian and Ukrainian-controlled territory.

“In part because of its technological capabilities, the United States would take the lead in watching the buffer zone, using drones and satellites along with other intelligence capabilities, but it would coordinate with other countries that would also monitor,” the sources said.

Troops from one or more non-NATO countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh, could secure the zone, with no US troops deployed inside Ukraine. NBC notes that Russian President Vladimir Putin would need to approve any plan providing security guarantees for Ukraine. NATO involvement or even a suggestion of it is a major concern for Moscow, so planners are avoiding NATO forces or branding.

“Instead, some of the guarantees would be likely to rely on the troops from non-NATO countries and on a patchwork of bilateral agreements among Ukraine and its allies that would give Ukraine security assurances without involving NATO’s Article V — an attack on one means an attack on all — which amounts to a red line for Moscow,” the sources said.

Any plan remains tentative until agreed upon by Putin, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, and leaders of the countries involved in the security guarantees, including President Donald Trump. The plan has been developed following Trump’s meeting with Putin in Alaska on August 15. Progress toward a peace deal has stalled since, but Ukraine’s allies have continued work on potential security guarantees, which are seen as key to any agreement.

By Sabina Mammadli