Ukraine Rejects Russian Buffer Zone Plan: 'Putin's only Reason for Continued Bloodshed'

For the first time in three years, Ukraine and Russia have held direct peace negotiations. The two sides failed to reach a ceasefire, much to the disappointment of Western powers. In response, the West is preparing to increase pressure on Moscow. Follow the latest developments in our live blog.

The CDU/CSU rejects Russian President Vladimir Putin's plan to create a buffer zone. Jürgen Hardt (CDU), the foreign policy spokesman for the Bundestag parliamentary group, told the "Rheinische Post" (Saturday): "Putin's proposal serves his false narrative of a NATO threat to Russia. It must therefore be rejected." The Ukrainian constitution is also clear in this regard, enshrining full territorial sovereignty over the entire country. "A buffer …