Ukraine plans to hold Russian territory in Kursk, but don’t need their land: Zelenskyy

In a secretive operation, the Ukrainian military entered Russia’s border and captured the Kursk region partially which challenged the war’s status quo being maintained for the past two and a half years.

Zelenskyy further detailed the ‘pre-emptive’ strike by the country inside of Russian territory, which was the first since World War 2, and said it was necessitated in order to halt the Russian military from creating a buffer zone along Ukraine’s border.

Ukraine claims that it has seized control of 500 square miles of Russian territory and even holds hundreds of Russians as prisoners of war.

The United States had distanced itself from Ukraine’s attack inside Russian territory and President Zelenskyy agreed in an NBC News’ interview that Washington wasn’t aware of their plans.

“Yes, we did not inform anyone. And it’s not the question of lack of trust,” Zelenskyy said, adding that Kyiv’s earlier counteroffensive failed as it was advertised too much and hence Russia got a chance to prepare accordingly.

President Zelenskyy claimed that even the Ukrainian intelligence services weren’t aware about the attack and the unawareness made the offensive a success.