Abhay Singh
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed to NBC News on Tuesday that Kyiv has strategically decided to persistently retain control over the Russian territories it captured during a sudden incursion last month.
This calculated move serves as a strategic leverage aimed at compelling President Vladimir Putin to engage in negotiations, emphasizing Kyiv’s unwavering determination to push for a peaceful resolution to the ongoing conflict.
“We don’t need their land”
In his first one-on-one interview following the high-stakes invasion of Russia by Ukraine, he claimed “We don’t need their land. We don’t want to bring our Ukrainian way of life there,”
According to Zelenskyy, Ukraine would “hold” the territory since it is essential to his “victory plan” to end the conflict. He also stated that he will offer the idea to allies abroad, including the US.
He added “For now, we need it,”
A month ago, Ukrainian troops entered Russia’s Kursk area, posing a challenge to the two-and-a-half-year-old war. Kyiv claims to control approximately 500 square miles of Russian territory and has captured hundreds of Russian prisoners of war.
The incursion was a preemptive strike intended to prevent Russia from establishing a buffer zone along Ukraine’s border. Putin has threatened to seize Ukrainian border territory in order to put an end to the attacks.
Zelenskyy declared that he was unable to comment on whether Ukraine intended to attempt to annex additional Russian land. He said “I will not tell, I’m sorry, With all respect, I can’t speak about it. I think the success is very close to surprise.”
Biden administration was not aware of plans
Zelenskyy also claimed that because plans to enter Russia were kept under wraps, even within Ukraine, the Biden administration was unaware of them in advance. Washington has stated time and time again that it was unaware of Kyiv’s plans for Kursk.
Zelenskyy stated “Yes, we did not inform anyone. And it’s not the question of lack of trust, I shrunk to the maximum the circle of people who knew about this operation, I think it was one of the reasons why it was successful.”
The Kremlin has attempted to preserve some appearance of control in the face of the assault, claiming Kyiv’s military are suffering extraordinarily significant losses. So far, Russia has failed to drive the Ukrainians out of its land.
Despite what is popularly perceived as Ukraine’s triumph in Russia, the country continues to lose territory in the east, where Kremlin forces are getting closer to seizing the critical logistics hub of Pokrovsk and adjoining Toretsk in the Donetsk area.
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