Ukrainian Incursion into Kursk Nears End amid Russian Counteroffensive and Diplomatic Turmoil
Ukrainian forces launched a bold and controversial cross-border incursion into Russia’s Kursk region last year, catching many observers—and even some within Ukraine—by surprise. While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has maintained that the operation was a calculated success and could strengthen Kyiv’s negotiating position in any potential peace talks with Moscow, the situation on the ground has sharply deteriorated in recent weeks.
Russian forces have steadily gained ground in Kursk, and Ukrainian troops are now under severe pressure. Military experts warned last month that Ukraine could soon be forced to make a strategic withdrawal from the region.
Recent developments appear to confirm those predictions. The fall of the village of Oleshnya has left only one remaining settlement—Gornal—under Ukrainian control, according to Agence France-Presse. Russian state news agency TASS, citing “security forces,” reported that Gornal is the last area Russia needs to reclaim full control of the Kursk region.
While POLITICO has reached out to Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense for confirmation of these latest reports, the claims could not be independently verified at the time of publication.
Meanwhile, diplomatic efforts appear to be evolving rapidly. Bloomberg reported that the United States is open to recognizing Russian sovereignty over Crimea as part of a broader peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv, citing unnamed sources familiar with the discussions. President Zelenskyy, however, has consistently rejected the notion of surrendering any Ukrainian territory.
Adding to the diplomatic tension, U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday warned that the United States could pull out of peace negotiations altogether if no tangible progress is made.













Leave a Reply