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The Kremlin has rejected Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s proposal to exchange occupied Ukrainian land for parts of Russia’s Kursk region.
Some shit you should know before you read: Back in August, Ukraine launched a surprise offensive into Russia’s Kursk region, catching Russian forces off guard and seizing roughly 500 square miles of territory. The attack, which marked one of the boldest cross-border operations since the war began, was initially seen as a major embarrassment for the Kremlin, exposing weaknesses in Russia’s defensive lines. In response, Moscow deployed tens of thousands of troops, including North Korean forces, in an effort to retake the lost territory, but after six months of heavy fighting, Ukraine still controls more than half of the land it originally took. This has led to some military analysts questioning the strategic value of Ukraine’s Kursk operation, noting the significant toll on Ukrainian troops, who are now stretched thin as they attempt to defend their gains while also fighting Russia on multiple other fronts.
What’s going on now: In an attempt to broker a deal, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy proposed a territorial exchange with Russia, suggesting that Ukraine could return parts of Russia’s Kursk region that it currently occupies in exchange for regaining some of its own Russian-held territories. In an interview, Zelenskyy acknowledged that he did not yet know which specific areas of Ukraine would be part of the trade but said that all Ukrainian land was important and there were no priorities when it came to reclaiming occupied territory.
Despite the offer, Russia immediately rejected the idea, with Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov calling it “impossible” and insisting that Moscow would never negotiate over its own land. He dismissed any suggestion of an exchange, stating that Russian forces would expel all Ukrainian troops from Kursk—either through combat or forced withdrawal.
This all comes as President Donald Trump announced today that he is in talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to resolve the war in Ukraine. Speaking at a press conference, Trump claimed he was leveraging his personal relationships with both leaders to broker a deal that could end the war.
