Russian President Vladimir Putin told a televised meeting of government officials that the government has "approved the creation of a necessary security buffer zone along our borders" and that soldiers "are actively working to accomplish this task," Russian state-run outlet TASS reported May 22. Putin did not provide further details, but his comments suggested it would focus on the Belgorod, Bryansk and Kursk regions bordering Ukraine — though some Russian lawmakers have floated the idea of extending the zone to other regions.