Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak confirmed Friday that the military offensive in the Kursk region is aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s position in future peace talks with Russia, and ultimately serving as a bargaining chip for the return of Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.
“We need to inflict significant tactical defeats on Russia. The goal of military action in the Kursk region is to convince the Russian Federation to accept a fair negotiation process,” presidential adviser Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on the Telegram social network.
Ukrainian forces continued their offensive in the Kursk region on Friday, a day after Zelensky confirmed the capture of the strategic town of Sudzha and the creation of a military command to administer the occupied zone, including sending humanitarian aid to the Russian population.
According to Podolyak, Ukraine is “not interested in occupying Russia,” but this is the only way to force Putin to sit down at the negotiating table.
Moscow accuses NATO of involvement
Russia yesterday accused NATO and the West of helping Ukraine launch its offensive on Kursk. “Without your participation and direct support, Ukraine would not have dared to enter Russian territory,” said presidential adviser Nikolai Patrushev on the same day that Russia said it had “destroyed” a Ukrainian unit equipped with American weapons in Kursk and Sweden.
Author: Ricardo Ramos
Source: CM Jornal
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