As the Russia-Ukraine war continues, Russian President Vladimir Putin is amassing troops near Ukraine’s northeastern border, preparing for a potential push into the Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Saturday morning.
Zelensky dismissed Putin’s claims that Ukrainian forces in Russia’s Kursk region had been encircled by Russian troops but warned of Moscow’s possible actions just across the border.
Both Russia and Ukraine are striving to avoid appearing weak as negotiations progress on a potential 30-day ceasefire, brokered by the United States. Each side seeks to strengthen its bargaining position ahead of broader peace talks.
Since mid-2023, Russia has made territorial gains, while Ukraine has faced political challenges—particularly with the U.S. under President Donald Trump, who has signaled a desire to end the war swiftly and has shown openness to working with Putin. This stance has raised concerns among European allies and Kyiv.
Ukraine, heavily dependent on American military aid to defend against Russia’s invasion, fears Trump may pressure it into making difficult concessions without ensuring its long-term security against what it views as an existential threat from Moscow.
Some pro-Russian military bloggers have questioned Putin’s claim that Ukrainian troops were surrounded in Kursk following an incursion in August 2024. The U.S.-based Institute for the Study of War (ISW) noted in its Friday assessment that Moscow may be fabricating reports to shape the political and informational landscape. However, these milbloggers could soon align their narratives with Putin’s claims.
On Saturday, Zelensky posted on X (formerly Twitter), stating that his Commander-in-Chief, Oleksandr Syrskyi, had briefed him on the situation in frontline regions, including Donetsk. He emphasized that Ukrainian forces had stabilized the situation in Pokrovsk, a strategically significant city where Russia has suffered heavy losses.
Zelensky also downplayed concerns about setbacks in Kursk, reporting that many Russian troops had withdrawn while Ukrainian forces continued to resist Moscow’s advances. He claimed that among Putin’s forces were North Korean units, a claim previously supported by Ukraine and South Korea, which estimated that Pyongyang had deployed between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to southern Russia. Neither Moscow nor Pyongyang has confirmed this.
Despite rejecting reports of Ukrainian troops being encircled, Zelensky warned that Russia was bolstering its forces near Ukraine’s eastern border, signaling an imminent attack on Sumy Oblast. He urged Kyiv’s allies to recognize Putin’s intentions and his disregard for diplomatic solutions.
Eitvydas Bajarūnas, a visiting fellow at the Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA), told Newsweek that the ceasefire proposal does not yet align with Putin’s ultimate goal of controlling Ukraine. However, Russia’s economic struggles and military exhaustion might make a temporary pause beneficial for the Kremlin.
A key variable is China, Russia’s primary trading partner. If Beijing backs the U.S. ceasefire proposal, it could pressure Putin into compliance, Bajarūnas suggested.
Zelensky reiterated his stance on X, stating, “We are closely monitoring the Russian military buildup along our eastern border. This signals an intention to attack Sumy. We are aware of this and will respond accordingly. I urge our partners to fully grasp Putin’s plans and his disregard for diplomatic efforts.”
Elena Davlikanova, a democracy fellow at CEPA, told Newsweek that Ukraine sees the conflict as a fight for sovereignty, not just territory. “Even with a ceasefire, Russia’s hybrid warfare will continue, and its strategic objectives remain unchanged,” she said.
As discussions persist about Putin’s long-term war plans, British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer stated during a virtual summit of Ukraine’s allies that a “coalition of the willing” is working on strategies to sustain military aid to Kyiv and uphold sanctions on Russia, aiming to force Moscow to negotiate.
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