Putin: “Ukraine is using the invasion of Kursk to gain a negotiating advantage.”

CONSTANTINOPLE:

Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Monday that Ukraine was seeking to improve its position in future negotiations with its invasion of the Kursk border region since last week.

“It seems that the enemy, with the support of their Western supporters, is carrying out their instructions, and the West is using Ukrainians as proxies in this conflict. It seems that the adversary aims to strengthen its negotiating position for the future,” Putin said during an operational meeting with government officials in the capital Moscow.

“However, what kind of negotiations can we have with those who indiscriminately attack civilians and civilian infrastructure or threaten nuclear power facilities? What is there to discuss with such parties?” he asked.

Putin said the Kiev invasion also aims to halt Moscow’s advance in eastern Ukraine, adding that the main task of Russian forces is to drive 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 army is advancing along the entire front line.

He went on to argue that another goal of Ukraine’s invasion is to “create discord and division” in Russian society, as well as “to undermine the unity and cohesion of the Russian people.”

“Casualties of the Ukrainian Armed Forces are increasing dramatically, including the most combat-ready units and divisions that the enemy is bringing to our borders,” he said, adding that there was a noticeable increase in the number of people signing contracts with the Russian Defense Ministry.

Ukrainian authorities have not yet commented on Putin’s statements.

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

Since then, Moscow has said it is repelling incursions into the border region by Ukrainian forces, in addition to countering airstrikes in Kursk and surrounding areas.

On August 7, Putin accused Kiev of conducting “large-scale provocations” and “indiscriminate shooting.” Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy later commented on the allegations, saying: “Russia has brought war to our land and must feel what it has done.”

Russia and Ukraine have also traded accusations after reports emerged late Sunday of a fire in a cooling tower at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant.

Moscow accused Ukraine of causing the fire by bombing the town of Enerhodar, which hosts the power plant, while Kiev accused Russia of starting the fire and using the plant to “blackmail Ukraine, all of Europe and the world.” .

Russian and Ukrainian officials later said the fire at the cooling tower had been extinguished and that radiation levels near the plant were normal.