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US Could Lead Monitoring of Ukraine Buffer Zone, $100B Defense Deal in Discussion
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If a peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine is reached, the United States could play a leading role in monitoring a proposed buffer zone inside Ukraine.
The demilitarized area would separate Russian and Ukrainian forces, with US officials likely overseeing surveillance using drones, satellites, and other intelligence capabilities, in coordination with other countries involved, NBC News reports, citing officials familiar with the discussions.
Troops from non-NATO countries, such as Saudi Arabia or Bangladesh, could help secure the zone, but no US forces would be deployed on Ukrainian soil. The plan is being carefully designed to avoid NATO involvement, which remains a sensitive issue for Russia.
NBC also reports that US officials are discussing a potential $100 billion defense agreement with Ukraine. Under the proposed deal, Ukraine could purchase American weapons, while the United States would gain access to intellectual property related to advanced Ukrainian systems. Pentagon discussions, led by Air Force Gen. Dan Caine, have also considered broader measures, including deterrence, training, and defense industrial cooperation.
The people familiar with the plan who spoke with NBC said that President Trump has not endorsed or ruled out any of the options under consideration.
The discussions follow a mid-August meeting between Trump and Russian leader Vladimir Putin in Alaska. While direct talks between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy have yet to advance, Ukraine’s allies continue to explore potential security arrangements.
Leaders of the Coalition of the Willing met this week to coordinate contributions to Ukraine’s security on land, at sea, in the air, and in cyberspace, with France and the United Kingdom expected to lead the broader effort.
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Russian leader Putin has opposed the presence of foreign troops in Ukraine, emphasizing that security agreements should be respected by both sides and that additional forces are unnecessary if a peace deal is reached.
White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt did not address the contours of the plan in a statement to NBC News.
“President Trump is the decision maker,” she wrote. “Out of respect for ongoing diplomatic negotiations, the White House is not going to get ahead of him on these important matters.”
She added: “Anyone anonymously claiming to know what he will or will not support doesn’t know what they are talking about.”
Previously, it was reported that European leaders are exploring a proposal for a 40-kilometer buffer zone between Ukraine and Russia in hopes of achieving a ceasefire or peace deal. The idea has been discussed by military and civilian officials, but it faces significant hurdles, including territorial concessions Kyiv may not accept.
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