Blinken says Ukrainian positions in Russia’s Kursk region key for future negotiations
The positions held by Ukraine’s forces in Russia’s Kursk region will play a critical role in future negotiations to end the war, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Monday during a visit to Seoul.
“[The Ukrainian Armed Forces’] position in Kursk is an important one because certainly it's something that would factor in any negotiation that may come about in the coming year,” Blinken said.
He added that even if negotiations begin, Ukraine will need “adequate security assurances,” emphasizing that a ceasefire alone would not mean “game over” for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Blinken also warned that Russia may be close to an agreement to exchange advanced satellite technology with North Korea. “We have reason to believe that Moscow intends to share advanced space and satellite technology with Pyongyang,” he said.
On January 5, Russian pro-war bloggers reported that Ukrainian forces had launched a new offensive in the Kursk region. Andriy Yermak, the head of the Ukrainian president’s office, spoke of “good news” from the area. Shortly afterward, Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that Ukrainian forces had conducted a “counterattack by an assault group” aimed at “halting the advance of Russian troops in the Kursk sector.”
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