19, a top aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin ruled out talks with Kyiv in light of Ukraine’s ongoing cross-border offensive in the Russian border region. The aide stated that Russian forces deployed in the western Kursk region are preparing for fresh Ukrainian assaults following “several waves” of attacks over the weekend. He mentioned that the situation is “controllable” and that Russian forces are ready to meet the enemy troops regardless of their actions. This statement comes almost two weeks after thousands of Ukrainian troops launched an offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, resulting in clashes and casualties on both sides. The ongoing conflict has led to evacuations of civilians and reinforcements being sent to the region as both sides continue to engage in battle. Casualty figures and claims made by both Ukraine and Russia have been disputed, and independent verification of these claims is challenging. The United States has expressed support for Ukraine’s offensive but stated that they were not involved in its planning or execution. Talks between Putin’s aide and Kyiv are currently on hold due to the escalating situation in the region.
Yury Ushakov, a key advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, stated that talks between Moscow and Kyiv are currently off the table due to Ukraine’s ongoing offensive.
“Given the situation in Kursk, we are not considering negotiations at this time,” he told TASS.
Moscow had previously outlined its conditions for resolving the conflict, which include the complete withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from four regions that Russia had invaded and annexed in 2022, now considered as Russian Federation territory.
In addition, Kyiv would need to abandon its bid to join NATO and commit to permanent neutrality under the Russian proposal articulated by Putin in June.
Ushakov confirmed that the Russian proposal is still on the table, but talks are currently not feasible.
The timing for future negotiations will depend on the situation, including developments on the battlefield.
Putin had previously stated that the offensive was intended to strengthen Kyiv’s position before potential cease-fire discussions.
On August 17, Zakharova accused Ukraine of planning an attack on Kursk’s nuclear power plant, as reported by TASS.
However, in a recent address, Zelenskyy emphasized that the military operation is vital for Ukraine’s security, aiming to establish a buffer zone on the aggressor’s territory.
Reuters contributed to this report.
