In the Thick of It: Putin Among the Troops in Kursk - Ukrainians Bracing for Eviction
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Russians Advance at Kursk: Ukrainian Troops Facing Possible Retreat - Russians Take Lead in Kursk Region; Ukrainians Retreat Almost Entirely
The Ukrainian offensive into the Russian-held territory of Kursk is on its final leg after a grueling seven-month stretch. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin paid a visit to a command post in the region, donning a camouflage uniform and mandating a swift removal of the remaining Ukrainian troops from the border region. Putin remained silent on the recent proposal by the U.S. and Ukraine for a 30-day ceasefire during this meeting with his military leadership.
When can we expect the U.S. diplomats in Moscow?
In response to pressure from the U.S., Ukraine agreed to the ceasefire proposal on Tuesday under the condition that Russia follows suit. Initial reaction from Russia has been evasive in regard to the outcomes of American-Ukrainian talks held in Saudi Arabia.
It's unclear how swiftly U.S. diplomats can expedite this initiative in Russia. According to U.S. President Donald Trump, a delegation is already en route. At a reception for Irish Prime Minister Micheál Martin, he said, "We know that people are traveling to Russia right now." Further reports indicated that special envoy Steve Witkoff would make his way to Russia in the near future.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists that the allies of his country must maintain the pressure on Moscow in this critical situation. "The key factor here is our partners' ability to ensure that Russia is ready not to deceive, but to truly end the conflict," he stated in a video message. Ukraine has been grappling with a Russian invasion for over three years.
Ukraine denies complete withdrawal from Russian territory
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi denied that Ukrainian troops would be completely withdrawing, despite setbacks in the Kursk region. "Despite the increased pressure by the combined Russian-North Korean forces, we will maintain our defense in the Kursk region so long as it is appropriate and necessary," he wrote on Facebook.
Any withdrawals are for the sole purpose of preserving the lives of soldiers. In such cases, units would "maneuver into more attractive positions," Syrskyi clarified. According to maps from Ukrainian military observers, only a few square kilometers remain under Ukrainian control.
At the beginning of August 2024, Ukraine gained into Russian territory for the first time, taking the battle onto enemy soil. In the early days of the offensive, nearly 1,300 square kilometers were captured. The Kremlin and the Russian army initially reacted slowly to this advance. Putin several times ordered the recapture of lost territories, without finding success.
Over time, the Ukrainian "bridgehead" has shrunk. Since February, the Russians have intensified their attacks. The sudden, swift capture of Sudzha was reportedly orchestrated by Russian soldiers crawling through a dormant gas pipeline to penetrate the Ukrainian rear. Military observers suspect that the Ukrainian withdrawal from Sudzha could already be part of the arrangements for a ceasefire.
Encircled: Russian General Staff Report
The last Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region have been encircled, according to Russian General Staff Chief Valeri Gerasimov. He went on to say that the Kyiv leadership had occupied the region as a bargaining chip for potential negotiations with Russia, attempting to tie down Russian forces. "However, these intentions of the enemy have been completely thwarted."
Putin expressed a desire to establish a security zone along the border between Kursk and the Ukrainian region of Sumy, potentially signaling further Russian advances into Ukrainian territory.
Gerasimov announced that 430 Ukrainian soldiers were captured during the fighting. Putin emphasized that these prisoners should be treated humanely. However, the Geneva Conventions would not apply to foreign soldiers. He also suggested that Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk could be classified as terrorists under Russian law.
Five European NATO countries discuss Ukraine strategy
A group of five key European NATO countries gathered in Paris to discuss military security guarantees for Ukraine. These discussions included the possibility of deploying troops to secure a peace deal with Russia. Despite their meeting, the defense ministers from France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and the UK refrained from sharing specifics on the potential force's size.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu explained that the first priority would be to strengthen the Ukrainian military. It would not be about establishing a ceasefire line with European troops. Meanwhile, Moscow-based political expert Vladimir Frolov speculated that Putin may view the non-deployment of European troops in Ukraine as a precondition for a ceasefire.
Thursday's meeting in Canada has significant implications
The situation in Ukraine will be an essential topic for the foreign ministers of the G7 countries, who are meeting in Canada for the first time since Trump's election. With Ukraine's agreement to a ceasefire, there's hope for progress and a unified stance from the G7. In addition to the Ukraine conflict, the trade war instigated by Trump with global tariffs is expected to be addressed during the discussions in Charlevoix.
- Kursk
- Ukraine
- Vladimir Putin
- Russia
- Moscow
- Donald Trump
- Sudzha
- Kyiv
- USA
- Kremlin
- Military
- Oleksandr Syrskyi
- Ceasefire
- Saudi Arabia
- US President
- Micheál Martin
- Valery Gerasimov
- Steve Witkoff
- Volodymyr Zelenskyy
- Partner
- Following Putin's visit to a command post in the Kursk region, it is unclear whether Russia will adhere to the U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, as the Russian response to the American-Ukrainian talks in Saudi Arabia has been evasive.
- The Ukrainian troops allegedly encircled in the Kursk region, as claimed by Russian General Staff Chief Valeri Gerasimov, have been offered a safe passage by Ukraine, but it remains to be seen if Russia agrees to this proposal.
- In response to the ongoing crisis in the Kursk region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has called upon the allies of Ukraine to maintain pressure on Moscow, expressing his hope that the UN Charter, agreed upon by the European Union, Russia, and other nations, will be upheld in this critical situation.
