Putin claims Ukraine seeks to improve position in future negotiations with Kursk incursion

By Burc Eruygur

ISTANBUL (AA) - Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday claimed that Ukraine seeks to improve its position in future negotiations with its incursion in the border region of Kursk since last week.

“Apparently, the enemy, with the help of its Western masters, is fulfilling their will, and the West is fighting with us with the hands of Ukrainians. So, apparently, the enemy is striving to improve its negotiating positions in the future,” Putin said during a Russian Security Council meeting.

“But what kind of negotiations can we talk about with people who indiscriminately strike at civilians, at civilian infrastructure, or try to create threats to nuclear power facilities? What can we even talk about with them?” he further said.

Putin said that the goal of Kyiv’s incursion is to also stop Moscow’s advance in eastern Ukraine, adding that the main task of the Russian forces is to drive out Ukrainian troops from its territory.

According to him, Russia’s offensive in the eastern part of Ukraine has increased by “one and a half times,” and the country’s military is advancing along the entire front line.

He went on to claim that another goal of Ukraine’s incursion is to “sow discord,” as well as to “intimidate people” and to “destroy the unity and cohesion of Russian society.”

“The losses of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are increasing dramatically, including among the most combat-ready units and divisions that the enemy is transferring to our border,” Putin added.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Putin's remarks.

Last Tuesday, Russia said that Ukrainian troops, including tanks and armored combat vehicles, attacked its military positions near two border settlements in the Kursk region.

Since then, Moscow has reported that it has been repelling incursions into the border region by Ukrainian forces, in addition to countering airstrikes launched at Kursk and surrounding regions.

On Aug. 7, Putin accused Kyiv of carrying out “large-scale provocation” and “indiscriminate shooting.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later commented on the allegations, saying: “Russia brought the war to our land and should feel what it has done.”

Russia and Ukraine have also traded accusations after reports emerged late Sunday of a fire breaking out at one of the cooling systems of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Moscow has accused Ukraine of causing the fire by shelling the city of Enerhodar hosting the power plant, while Kyiv blamed Russia for starting the fire and using the plant to “blackmail Ukraine, all of Europe, and the world.”