Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated in an interview with NBC News that Ukraine plans to indefinitely hold Russian territories seized in a surprise incursion in order to force President Vladimir Putin to negotiate. Zelenskyy emphasized that Ukraine does not aim to annex the land or impose Ukrainian ways of life on it, but rather sees holding the territory as essential to his “victory plan” to end the war. The proposal to hold the territory will be presented to international partners like the United States, according to Zelenskyy. The incursion, which took place nearly a month ago in Russia’s Kursk region, involved Ukrainian troops claiming control of nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory and taking hundreds of Russian prisoners of war.
The incursion into Russian territory was characterized by Zelenskyy as a preemptive strike to prevent the creation of a buffer zone along Ukraine’s border by the Russians. While Kyiv intensifies its attacks on Russian border regions, Putin has threatened to take Ukrainian border territory to stop the assaults. Zelenskyy declined to reveal whether Ukraine planned to seize more Russian territory, stating that the success of their operations is contingent on maintaining an element of surprise. The Biden administration was reportedly not informed of plans to enter Russian territory ahead of time, as the operation was kept confidential even within Ukraine.
Despite claims from the Kremlin that Kyiv’s forces are suffering heavy losses, Russia has not been successful in pushing Ukrainian troops out of its territory. However, Ukraine continues to lose ground in its eastern regions as Russian forces advance towards key logistics hubs. Zelenskyy noted that the goal of the incursion was to compel Moscow to withdraw troops from across the 600-mile front line in Ukraine, particularly in the east. Talks of peace negotiations have been circulating as Ukraine seeks to engage from a position of power, potentially aided by holding Russian territory. A second peace summit is anticipated in November, with Russian representatives expected to participate, even though some Russian officials have deemed negotiations impossible following Ukraine’s invasion of Kursk.
The success of Ukraine’s incursion into Russian territory was attributed to the secrecy surrounding the operation, with Zelenskyy stating that even Ukrainian intelligence services were not privy to the details. By limiting the number of individuals aware of the operation, Zelenskyy believed it contributed to its success. Despite ongoing conflict in Ukraine’s eastern regions and regular bombardments in cities and villages, the Ukrainian government remains committed to ending the war through diplomatic means. Holding Russian territories and engaging in peace negotiations from a position of strength are seen as essential steps towards achieving a peaceful resolution to the conflict. The continued presence of Russian forces in Ukraine and the challenges of war fatigue and recruitment highlight the importance of strategic decision-making and maintaining pressure on the adversary in pursuit of peace.
