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The Kremlin confirmed Sunday that Russia is systematically creating a buffer zone along its border with Ukraine, while spokesman Dmitry Peskov declared that what began as a "special military operation" has gradually become a "real war."
"Given the aggressive nature of the Kyiv regime, in order to ensure the safety of our citizens, we will have to create a security zone, or buffer zone," Peskov told Russian journalist Pavel Zarubin.
"It is being created, and it is being created systematically," he noted.
Peskov said no one should doubt the zone would be created "to the extent necessary to ensure our security," citing what he called "significant results" in terms of Russian troop advances.
He linked the buffer zone drive to Russia's claimed capture of Kostiantynivka, the front-line industrial city in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking at an auxiliary command post Friday, described the claimed capture as "the first, but very important, stage in the capture of the already important Sloviansk-Kramatorsk defensive hub of the Ukrainian Armed Forces."
Putin also said during the same meeting that the creation of a security zone in border areas of Ukraine's Kharkiv, Sumy and Dnipropetrovsk regions was "proceeding as planned."
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denied Russia's claim about Kostiantynivka, accusing Putin of choosing "to lie to the world" about the front-line situation.
Peskov said the conflict is turning into a "real war" because Western countries are effectively participating in combat on Kyiv's side.
"It's war, this is a real war," Peskov said.
"It started as a special military operation. It continues as a war, because behind Kyiv stand Berlin, Paris, The Hague, Oslo and, unfortunately, Washington," he added.
Peskov said Western satellites help Ukrainian forces aim, and that Western infrastructure guides foreign weapons toward Russian targets.
He also warned of what he called a threat of "disintegration" hanging over Ukraine, saying many in Poland believed significant parts of Ukraine were historically Polish territory.
"They are absolutely convinced that a significant part of Ukraine is actually Polish land," Peskov said.
Peskov said Russia maintains communication with the United States through existing channels and remains open to peace talks.
"They are busy now. When they have more free time, they will always be welcome in Moscow," Peskov said, referring to U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, US President Donald Trump's son-in-law.
Peskov expressed hope for "continued goodwill efforts from American mediators" and said Moscow would prefer to achieve its goals through diplomatic means, saying, "We hope that the European Union will not succeed in completely thwarting these prospects."
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