Politico reports.According to five European diplomats, the proposal is one of several being discussed by military and civilian officials for a post-war settlement or a ceasefire in Ukraine. There is no agreement on the possible depth of the buffer zone, and it is unclear whether Kyiv would accept such a plan, as it would likely involve territorial concessions.The United States is not actively involved in these discussions.The authors noted that the very fact officials are considering fencing off a strip of land inside Ukraine to impose a fragile peace shows NATO allies’ desperation.“They’re grasping for straws,” Jim Townsend, a former Pentagon official who oversaw Europe and NATO policy under the Obama administration said. “The Russians are not afraid of the Europeans. And if they think that a couple of British and French observers are going to deter them from marching into Ukraine, then they’re wrong.”The outlet noted that the idea of division carries a strong historical connotation. European diplomats avoid comparisons with the heavily guarded border between North and South Korea, which remain formally at war. Instead, they draw parallels with Germany’s division during the Cold War.The number of troops needed to patrol the border also remains a contentious issue. Officials are discussing figures ranging from 4,000 to about 60,000 service members. At the same time, no country has yet made commitments, and President Donald Trump has rejected the idea of a possible U.S. military presence.“NATO already is struggling to prepare a response force of 300,000 troops to defend the alliance’s eastern flank from a future Russian attack. And any peacekeeping force would play dual roles, patrolling near the demilitarized zone while also training Ukrainian troops, according to two of the diplomats. They, like others, were granted anonymity to speak about an unresolved issue,” the report says.Discussions are also ongoing about the rules of engagement, possible escalation scenarios, and the role of third countries if the Kremlin opposes the presence of NATO forces.According to two European officials, French and British troops are likely to form the core of the foreign military contingent, and these countries are urging other allies to provide military support.Poland and Germany have said they are not interested in sending their troops to Ukraine, while Estonia has agreed to contribute a small contingent.NATO countries are negotiating with U.S. officials on providing satellite intelligence and air support, though they do not expect major assistance, the outlet writes. The U.S., which has the most advanced technical capabilities in this area, could play a key role in monitoring Russia’s compliance with agreements.According to Politico, senior Pentagon officials have already told their European counterparts that the U.S. will play only a minimal role in any security guarantees for Ukraine.“Everyone is trying to move as quickly as possible on security guarantees so Trump doesn’t change his mind,” about pushing Putin to a negotiated settlement, said one of the European officials.Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan stated that Russia is no longer insisting on controlling the entire territory of the four partially occupied Ukrainian regions.