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Vladimir Putin Needs a “Demilitarized Zone” in Ukraine
It’s a reflection of his personal comfort zone
Vladimir Putin has recently made the vague goals of his war in Ukraine even more confusing. On January 31, during a meeting with his electoral “proxies,” he declared that pushing the current front line deeper into Ukraine was the main goal of Russian forces in the entire theater of military operations. Putin emphasized the idea of a “demilitarized” or “sanitary” zone in Ukraine, which he claimed would place Russian territory — including occupied parts of Ukraine — out of range of both frontline artillery systems and Western-provided long-range missile systems.
“This line should be such and at such a distance from our territory, which would ensure security, I mean long-range weapons of foreign manufacture, which the Ukrainian authorities use to shell peaceful cities.”
“That’s what we will do. And this is the main motive of our guys who are fighting and risking their lives — to protect their homeland, to protect our people. We will push back.”
According to the Institute for the Study of War (IWS), Putin’s stated goal of moving the front line is a vague goal that is actually unattainable as long as there is an independent, combat-ready Ukrainian state. Putin would likely annex any Ukrainian territory…