“Their largest, strongest forces are currently on the Kursk front, to push our troops out of the Kursk region and to prepare offensive actions against the Sumy region,” he told reporters.
Buffer-zone plan
Zelensky said President Vladimir Putin aims to carve out a 10-km-deep “buffer zone” inside Ukrainian territory.
Russia has seized at least four villages near the border in recent weeks, yet Zelensky said Ukrainian counter-fire had driven Russian units 4 km back in two days near Kostiantynivka in the east.
Dialogue still on the table
Kyiv is ready for further peace talks “in any format,” the president said, adding he would meet Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump together if that would advance a ceasefire.
He named Turkey, the Vatican and Switzerland as the most realistic venues, while rejecting Moscow’s suggestion of talks in Belarus.
“I don’t want the United States to leave the peace process,” he warned, after Washington said it could walk away if talks stall.
Growing war economy
Ukraine needs $30 billion this year to run its fast-growing domestic arms industry at full tilt, Zelensky said, as the country braces for a widely expected Russian summer offensive.
Earlier this month the sides swapped 1,000 prisoners each at talks in Istanbul that failed to produce a truce.
Russia currently occupies about 20 % of Ukraine, including Crimea.
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Source: Polskie Radio 24, Reuters