Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russia has massed 50,000 troops near the Sumy region in northern Ukraine, but added that Kyiv has taken measures to prevent Moscow from launching a large-scale attack there.
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This escalation comes as Russia appears to be preparing for a new offensive in Ukraine, while Kyiv awaits a formal proposal from Moscow laying out its conditions for moving forward with ceasefire talks.
Sumy lies across the border from Russia’s Kursk region, where Ukraine previously held a pocket of territory for several months before being forced to almost completely withdraw last month—though it maintains control of some areas there.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Zelensky said:
"Their largest and strongest forces are currently on the Kursk front, aiming to push our forces out and prepare for offensive operations in the Sumy region."
Russian President Vladimir Putin has expressed a desire to establish a “buffer zone” along Russia’s border with Ukraine. Zelensky said he believes Russia wants a buffer zone approximately 10 kilometers deep.
Russia has recently taken control of at least four border villages in the region and has made slow gains over the past few weeks along the front line near the eastern Ukrainian city of Kostiantynivka.
However, Zelensky noted that Ukrainian forces pushed the Russians back by four kilometers in that area over the span of two days.
He added that Turkey, the Vatican, and Switzerland are the most likely venues for future negotiations with Russia. Malta, along with several unnamed African nations, has also expressed interest in hosting the talks.
It was previously reported that Moscow does not consider the Vatican a serious venue for negotiations.
Zelensky confirmed he will attend the upcoming G7 summit after receiving an invitation from Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, whose country currently holds the rotating presidency of the group. He also said he will likely participate in the upcoming European Union summit.
Speaking about Ukraine’s domestic arms production, Zelensky said he is seeking $30 billion in funding to fully utilize the country’s fast-growing defense manufacturing sector.
— Reuters
