Zelensky says Ukraine not kicked out of Russia's Kursk

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday Ukraine s army was still fighting in Russia s Kursk despite Moscow claiming the lib...

Kyiv, Ukraine: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Sunday Ukraine's army was still fighting in Russia's Kursk despite Moscow claiming the "liberation" of its western region, as Washington signalled a "critical week" ahead for negotiations.

Kyiv had hoped it could use land in the Kursk region as a bargaining chip in future peace talks with Russia, which has seized parts of eastern and southern Ukraine since launching its offensive in February 2022.

"Our military continues to perform tasks in the Kursk and Belgorod regions -- we are maintaining our presence on Russian territory," he said in his evening address Sunday.

In a statement earlier Sunday, he conceded that the situation remained difficult in many areas including Kursk.

Russia said on Saturday it had captured Gornal, the last settlement under Ukrainian control in its border Kursk region, where Kyiv launched a shock offensive in August 2024.