Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today that Kiev's forces in Russia's Kursk region are not surrounded and are continuing to fight, Reuters reports, BTA reports.
In a message on social media, Zelensky stressed that the situation around the city of Pokrovsk has stabilized, despite a buildup of Russian forces near the border in northeastern Sumy region.
Zelensky categorically rejected claims by US President Donald Trump, who yesterday said that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers were "completely surrounded". The Ukrainian leader clarified that Kiev's troops are not surrounded in the Kursk region, but acknowledged that Russia continues to build up forces in the region. "This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region. We are aware of this and will counter it," Zelensky stressed.
He also called on international partners to understand exactly what Vladimir Putin is planning, what he is preparing for and what he is ignoring.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said a few days ago that he supports Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine in principle, but warned that the fighting would continue until several key conditions are met.
Zelensky commented that the build-up of Russian forces shows that Moscow intends to ignore diplomacy and prolong the war. He stressed that the fighting near the strategic eastern Ukrainian city of Pokrovsk has "stabilized" and that Ukraine has successfully used a new long-range missile produced in Ukraine.
"Our troops continue to hold back Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region. Our troops are not surrounded", Zelensky concluded in a post on "Telegram" after Donald Trump called on Moscow to spare the lives of "thousands of Ukrainian soldiers surrounded on the front line".