Ukraine's Strategic Move: Zelenskyy Plans to Hold Seized Russian Territory Indefinitely
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy revealed that Ukraine intends to indefinitely hold the nearly 500 miles of Russian territory it seized in a surprise incursion last month. This strategic move is part of Zelenskyy's "victory plan" aimed at forcing President Vladimir Putin to the negotiating table.
"We don’t need their land. We don’t want to bring our Ukrainian way of life there," Zelenskyy stated during his first one-on-one interview since the high-stakes operation. However, he emphasized that the seized territory is integral to his strategy to end the war. "For now, we need it," he added, indicating plans to present this proposal to international partners, including the United States.
Zelenskyy declined to comment on whether Ukraine plans to seize more Russian territory, citing the importance of maintaining the element of surprise. "I will not tell, I’m sorry, I can’t speak about it. It’s like the beginning of our, this, Kursk operation," he said. "With all respect, I can’t speak about it, I think the success is very close to surprise."
The Kursk operation, which saw Ukrainian troops sweeping into Russia’s border region nearly a month ago, has been a game-changer in the two-and-a-half-year-old conflict. Kyiv now claims control over nearly 500 square miles of Russian territory and has taken hundreds of Russian prisoners of war.
Initially shrouded in secrecy, the Kursk operation took Ukraine’s allies, including the U.S., by surprise. Zelenskyy confirmed that the Biden administration was not informed about the operation, emphasizing that it was kept as a closely guarded secret even within Ukraine. "Yes, we did not inform anyone. And it’s not the question of lack of trust," he said. Zelenskyy explained that Kyiv’s counteroffensive last summer failed partly because it was widely advertised, giving Russians ample time to prepare.
Washington has repeatedly stated that it was not involved in Kyiv’s plans for Kursk. Zelenskyy’s revelation underscores the strategic importance of maintaining secrecy in military operations to achieve tactical advantages.
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