Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Saturday that his forces have reclaimed full control over the Kursk region, a key border area where Ukraine launched a bold offensive last year.
Speaking to military leaders, Putin declared that Ukraine’s operation had “completely failed,” calling the Russian advance a critical win that could pave the way for further successes along the front.
However, Ukraine’s military quickly pushed back against Putin’s statement. In a Telegram message, Ukraine’s General Staff insisted that fighting is ongoing in Kursk, describing the situation as "difficult" but affirming that Ukrainian troops are still maintaining their defensive positions.
Ukraine’s surprise attack on Kursk in August marked a historic moment—the first foreign incursion onto Russian soil since World War II. Although Ukrainian forces made swift initial gains, Russia, bolstered by thousands of North Korean troops, has since been steadily pushing back. Kyiv had hoped to hold Kursk as leverage for future peace negotiations and to ease pressure on its vulnerable eastern defenses.
In his address, Putin credited the victory in Kursk with creating momentum for Russian forces elsewhere. Meanwhile, Russia’s top general, Valery Gerasimov, praised North Korean soldiers for their “professionalism and bravery” in a Telegram post, acknowledging the estimated 12,000 North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia.
Gerasimov also said efforts are underway to restore normalcy in Kursk, including mine clearance and searches for any remaining Ukrainian fighters hiding in the region.
If Moscow’s claims are accurate, Ukraine’s loss of Kursk could be a significant setback, damaging both its strategic position and morale at a sensitive time when peace efforts are gaining attention.
Meanwhile, diplomatic tensions remain high. Recent attempts by the United States to mediate talks have made little progress. Adding to the complexity, President Donald Trump blamed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for hampering peace by refusing to cede Crimea to Russia. However, Trump later suggested that Russia and Ukraine were nearing a settlement.
Trump and Zelensky briefly met Saturday during the funeral for Pope Francis at the Vatican. According to the White House, their conversation was “productive,” and Zelensky later described it as potentially “historic” if it leads to real results.
Later that day, Trump criticized Putin’s recent missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and floated the idea of new financial penalties against Russia, hinting at the use of "Banking or Secondary Sanctions" to pressure Moscow. “Too many people are dying,” Trump wrote on Truth Social.
