Kursk Raid May Become Important Part Of Negotiation Process - Zelensky

(MENAFN- UkrinForm) President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine predicts that the ongoing Kursk operation by Ukraine's armed forces will become an important part of the negotiation process.

He stated this following a meeting with British Foreign Secretary David Lammy, answering an Ukrinform correspondent's question.

"Tomorrow will be exactly six months since we launched our operation in the Kursk sector. A very important operation. You are yet to see, once we reach a stage of diplomatic settlement of the end of the war, the conditions the Russians will put forward to Ukraine regarding the Kursk sector. This was a very important step. I do not like to throw around words like 'historical'. After all, Ukraine's whole life and struggle is certainly a historical path, so I won't be throwign around this word regarding the operation. But it was definitely very important. And I'm grateful to all the soldiers who defend our territory thanks to the Kursk raid as well," Zelensky said.

Read also: Ukrainian forces capture 21 Russian soldiers in Kursk region

He stressed that the Armed Forces of Ukraine "are keeping the situation stable, and will continue to do so."

"The Russians suffer really large losses there. They are greatly underestimating them. Their Koreans (troops from North Korea - ed.) are fleeing, we see it," the President said.

He also noted that several important targets in Kursk region were hit using long-range weapons

"We hit several really important military control points. And these are very serious steps. They are important. And I think they won't be able to push us out of that territory anytime soon, and this, like a magnet, keeps 60,000 of their soldiers in this area today," the head of the Ukrainian state said.

The president also stressed that the operation in Kursk region allowed for stabilizing the situation in Kharkiv region.

Read also: There can be no compromises on Ukraine's sovereignty – Zelensky

As Ukrinform reported, the Kursk Operation kicked off on August 6, 2024. At that time, there were about 11,000 Russian troops deployed in Kursk region, mostly conscripts. The peak size of the AFU control zone in Kursk region since the operation start stood at 1,300 sq. km.

As of today, about 60,000 Russian troops have been deployed in Kursk Region, while their casualty toll over less than six months has been estimated at 38,000 (killed, wounded, or captured).

Photo: President's Office

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