Kyiv (Ukraine) (AFP) – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday said Ukraine’s army was still fighting in Russia’s Kursk a day after Moscow claimed the “full liberation” of its western region.
Kyiv had hoped it could use land in the Kursk region as a bargaining chip in future peace talks with Russia, which has seized parts of eastern and southern Ukraine since launching its offensive in February 2022.
“Our military continues to actively defend the designated areas of the Kursk and Belgorod regions,” Zelensky said on Telegram, adding that the situation remained difficult in many areas including Kursk.
Russia said on Saturday it had captured Gornal, the last settlement that was under Ukrainian control in its border Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a shock offensive in August 2024.
Yet hours later Ukraine’s army denied its forces had been forced out, branding Russia’s claim as “propaganda tricks”.
“The situation on the front lines and the actual activities of the Russian army prove that the current pressure on Russia to end this war is not enough,” Zelensky said, calling for increased pressure on Russia to create more opportunities for “real diplomacy”.