Putin Announces Security Zone in Ukraine, Excludes It from Peace Talks

• Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the creation of a security zone within Ukraine.
• The buffer zone spans 660 km, with Russian control over 70 percent, according to Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov.
• Putin stated that the operation responds to Ukraine's incursion into Russia's western Kursk region in 2024-25.
• The security zone is intended to ensure necessary security for Russia's borders.
• The security zone will not be part of future peace talks.