Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the recent cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region marks the first stage of Kyiv’s broader victory plan, which he intends to present to U.S. President Joe Biden during their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in September.
At a press conference in Kyiv on Tuesday, Zelensky revealed his intentions to discuss the plan with Biden, emphasizing that its success heavily depends on U.S. support. “The success of this plan depends on him. Whether we receive what is outlined in this plan, and whether we have the freedom to implement it, is up to them,” Zelensky stated.
Zelensky also mentioned that the plan would be shared with both Vice President Kamala Harris and former President Donald Trump, given the uncertainty surrounding the outcome of the upcoming U.S. presidential election. “We don’t know who the president of the U.S. will be, but we are committed to executing this plan,” he said.
While Zelensky was cautious not to disclose all details, he did confirm that the first phase of the plan involved the successful incursion into the Kursk region. “The Kursk region is part of our victory plan. It might seem ambitious to some, but it is crucial for us,” he remarked, withholding further specifics.
This surprise military action by Ukraine has left Russia scrambling to defend its territory, while Kyiv appears to be pursuing multiple objectives—boosting national morale after a challenging few months and stretching Russian military resources.
The incursion has also sparked questions about how Ukraine plans to end hostilities, especially as Russian forces continue to advance in eastern Ukraine, nearing the city of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region. Local authorities are working urgently to evacuate tens of thousands of residents as Russian troops close in.
Ukrainian army chief Oleksandr Syrskyi told CNN that a key goal of the Kursk offensive was to divert Russian forces away from other strategic Ukrainian cities, particularly Pokrovsk and Kurakhovo. “The enemy understands this, which is why they continue to concentrate their main efforts on the Pokrovsk direction, where their most capable units are positioned,” Syrskyi said.
Speaking at a forum in Kyiv, Syrskyi estimated that around 30,000 Russian troops have already been redeployed to Kursk, with the number expected to grow. However, CNN has not been able to independently verify these figures.
At the same forum, Zelensky highlighted Ukraine’s development of a new long-range rocket drone, named “Palianytsia,” which he previously hinted at as Ukraine’s “own way to take real action” amidst Western restrictions on using long-range weapons within Russia. The name “Palianytsia” refers to a type of Ukrainian bread, traditionally difficult for Russians to pronounce, and has become a symbolic term used by Ukrainians to identify Russian saboteurs.
As the conflict continues on multiple fronts, Russia launched its largest aerial attack on Ukraine to date on Monday, targeting energy infrastructure across the country. The attacks continued on Tuesday, resulting in the deaths of five people and raising the death toll from this week’s strikes to 12.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com
