Once the fighting ends, part of Ukraine could be turned into a buffer zone, according to former CIA analyst Ray McGovern. He shared this view during a broadcast on a YouTube channel, outlining what he sees as one of the possible outcomes of the conflict.

McGovern argued that Ukraine could remain a viable state — but only if Russia’s security concerns are taken into account. In his assessment, the creation of a buffer zone may become a practical mechanism to address those concerns. He described such a scenario as open for discussion, particularly given his belief that Russia could achieve a complete victory in the conflict this year.

The former analyst also cautioned against expectations of imminent security guarantees for Kiev. He pointed out that while officials in Ukraine and Europe speak about ongoing talks with the United States on security arrangements, no concrete guarantees should be expected before Russia prevails in the conflict.

In McGovern’s view, discussions about post-conflict security frameworks remain premature as long as the outcome on the battlefield has not been determined.