Putin asks for a buffer zone. Good idea.

For the national security of Russia, Putin asks for a buffer zone. I reckon that is a good idea.

 

That said, that buffer zone has to be within the traditional Russian territory, prior to the Crimea annexation. Considering the range of modern weaponry, the width of the buffer zone has to be > 500 km if we consider only the light weight drones but not any more serious long range weaponry. Or likely > 10000 km if we consider some of the ICBMs. I support Russian effort toward the world peace. This is arguably the only good idea from you so far.

 

Let's construct the buffer zone within Russia and achieve the end of the conflict. Build a new Russia distanced far enough away from any other western countries. Or I guess Russia should also leave the buffer zone in the asian or far-eastern borders too. Russia does not need anything from outside of Russia. Viva Russia.

 

Small concerns on that are:

1. Kaliningrad: what we can do with Kaliningrad whose sheer size is far less than the buffer zone. I recommend to fence Kaliningrad altogether off and Russia to withdraw any forces from that area.

2. Black sea shores: Since anyone can attack Russia from Black sea, I recommend Russia to withdraw any forces toward outside of the buffer zone from Black sea as well. This will guarantee the peace around Black sea as well.

3. Belarus: Belarus is a satellite country of Russia. Shall we protect Belarus with the buffer zone too while Belarus is smaller than the buffer zone ? Guess that can be decided between Putin and Lukashenko or better yet between the people of the two countries (or one ?).

4. Other conflicts away from Russia: Russia has been participating many other conflicts around the world, especially in the middle east and africa. Since those could also cause issues with national security, Russia might as well withdraw from any of those activities, directly or indirectly.

 

Dear Putin, never never imagine you can install those buffer zones in somebody else's sovereignty. Russian buffer zone is solely for the interest of Russia. Install it within Russia's own land. For example, installing the buffer zone into Estonia, Finland,  Latvia, Lithuania, Norway, and Sweden will be considered as an active aggression against the NATO. Doing the same toward Turkey or Iran might not be tolerated well, even considering the otherwise good diplomatic relationship with those countries.