Russia’s Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov announced that President Vladimir Putin has ordered the expansion of a buffer zone in northeastern Ukraine by 2026, particularly in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions near the Russian border. This initiative aims to push Ukrainian forces farther from Russian territory amid ongoing military operations. Gerasimov’s comments follow Russia’s claims of an attempted attack on Putin’s residence, which Ukraine has denied, asserting that such allegations are tactics to undermine peace talks. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has condemned Moscow’s plans as reckless, emphasizing Ukraine’s commitment to defending its territories against further incursions. This development underscores the escalating tensions in the region and the complexities surrounding the ongoing conflict.