Russia has firmly stated that it will consider the deployment of foreign troops or military bases in Ukraine as utterly unacceptable. According to Maria Zakharova, a spokesperson for the Russian Foreign Ministry, such actions would signify a direct involvement of foreign nations in the ongoing conflict with Russia. She emphasized, “Should any country attempt to deploy its troops, we will undertake appropriate measures to protect our interests.”
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This situation intensifies as Steve Witkoff, special envoy from former US President Donald Trump, has arrived in Moscow to meet with President Vladimir Putin. Russian officials disclosed that US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz provided insights on a proposed ceasefire during discussions yesterday, and Russia is prepared to engage in talks regarding this initiative.
Former President Trump expressed his hope that the Kremlin would endorse the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire during a statement at the White House. In a significant development, the US agreed on Tuesday to resume the supply of weapons and intelligence sharing with Ukraine, following Ukraine’s indication that it is inclined to support a ceasefire proposal discussed in Saudi Arabia.
Furthermore, President Putin has issued orders to his top commanders to swiftly defeat Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, particularly after the United States urged him to contemplate a ceasefire lasting 30 days. During his visit to Kursk, Mr. Putin, clad in military fatigues, praised recent military accomplishments and rallied his troops, stating, “I am confident that our units will execute all combat tasks, ensuring the complete liberation of the Kursk region from enemy forces.”
According to General Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian armed forces, Russian troops have regained control of 24 settlements in the border region over the past five days. The Russian Defence Ministry also confirmed the recapture of the town of Sudzha.
In what could be seen as a strategic move, Ukrainian forces made a significant push into Russian territory on August 6, attempting to divert Moscow’s focus from the frontline in eastern Ukraine. However, following a quick Russian counter-offensive, Ukraine now controls less than 200 square kilometers in Kursk, down from a peak of 1,300 square kilometers last summer, according to Russian military sources.
In televised comments directed at his military leaders, Mr. Putin reiterated, “Our goal is to decisively defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region as quickly as possible. Additionally, we must consider establishing a security zone along the state border.”
As tensions rise, Trump remarked, “I hope Moscow will agree to a ceasefire. If not, the US has the means to inflict financial repercussions on Russia.”
In a rapid response to Putin’s comments, Ukraine’s army commander indicated that his forces are strategically maneuvering to limit their losses, stating, “In the most challenging situations, my priority is saving the lives of our soldiers. We will adapt our positions as needed.” He assured that Ukrainian troops will continue their operations in Kursk as necessary.
General Gerasimov reported that Russian forces have successfully displaced Ukrainian units from over 86% of the territory they once occupied in Kursk, indicating a territorial recovery of approximately 1,100 square kilometers. He highlighted that Ukraine’s strategy to leverage Kursk in future negotiations has not yielded the desired results.
Moreover, the Russian military stated it had regained control over 259 square kilometers of land and detained over 400 Ukrainian soldiers in just five days. Putin further instructed that these captured soldiers be treated as terrorists in line with Russian law, insinuating potential long-term incarceration for them.
According to Russian state news agency TASS, the operation to expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk has now entered its concluding phase, as reported by Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian military claimed to have downed 74 out of 117 Russian drones launched overnight, with additional drones failing to reach their objectives likely due to electronic warfare measures.
In a related incident, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that it thwarted a series of planned attacks against military and civil officials, attributing the operation to “Ukrainian special services” aiming to dispatch explosive devices through the mail.
Edited By Ali Musa
Axadle Times International–Monitoring.
