Zelensky: "Our troops are holding back Northern Russian forces in Kursk"

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated on the 15th (local time) that his country's forces are still operating in Russia's Kursk region and are not surrounded by Russian troops.

This denies the implication made the previous day by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin that Ukrainian forces in Kursk were surrounded by Russian troops.

According to Ukrainian state news agency Ukrinform and others, President Zelenskyy received a situation report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi and posted this information on Facebook.

President Zelenskyy said, "In the designated area of Kursk, our units are carrying out their missions precisely as required," adding, "Thanks to the Ukrainian military, a significant number of Russian troops had no choice but to withdraw in other directions."

He continued, "Our forces continue to hold back North Korean and Russian troops in the Kursk region," and emphasized, "Our troops are not surrounded."

He further stated, "The reinforcement of Russian troops indicates Russia's intention to continue ignoring diplomacy," and "It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war."

President Zelenskyy declared, "We are ready to provide all actual information about the frontline, the Kursk region, and the situation at our borders to our allied countries."

He also reported that the situation in Pokrovsk, a fierce battleground on Ukraine's eastern front, has stabilized.

Earlier, Ukraine and the United States agreed to a 30-day temporary ceasefire. However, the ceasefire was delayed due to Russia's ambiguous stance, and Russia and Ukraine continued drone attacks against each other.