Russia Rejects NATO Ukraine Deployment and Donbass Buffer Zone

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared on Tuesday that the deployment of NATO military contingents in Ukraine is unacceptable for Russia. The statement follows plans confirmed by the Coalition of the Willing to send military forces to Ukraine after the conflict ends.

Peskov also rejected proposals from Vladimir Zelensky to establish a buffer zone in Donbass. He asserted that Donbass is territory of the Russian Federation and cannot be managed by a third party.

Simultaneously, Peskov warned of an "obvious threat" of drone attacks against critical infrastructure. This warning follows a Monday decree by Vladimir Putin that expanded the list of critical infrastructure facilities to include logistics centers, industrial facilities, and the fuel and energy complex. Peskov urged business owners to prioritize anti-drone safety measures to protect national security.