LOS ANGELES.–Admitting that Ukrainian troops were in Belgorad was a surprise to many observers knowing they were in Russia’s Kursk region but not in Belgorad, a leftover from the Aug. 8. 2024 incursion into the Kurk region, at one time occupying some 143 square kilometers of Russian territory. Russia has since pushed Ukrainian troop back from Kursk only occupying now about 43 square kilometers. Uraine’s top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said “our presence in the Kursk region and the presence in Belgorad region.” We continue active operations in the enemy’s border areas and this is absolutely justified,” said Syrskyi. The war must return to where it came from,” meaning the Ukraine would take the fight to the enemy inside Russia. Zelensky said the the Kursk invasion was necessary to divert Russia’s resources away from the frontline to defend parts of its border region.
Zelensky’s plan backfired when Russian President Vladimir Putin did not divert his troops from the main battlefront that let Ukraine occupy Russian territory for months before sending in reinforcements. Ukraine controls a fraction of the territory it once held, as Russian troops attempt to surround Ukraine’s position in Kursk. “Our main objective remains the same: To protect our land and our communities in the Suny and Kharkiv regions from Russian occupiers,” said Zelensky. Zelensky has been under pressure from 78-year-old President Donald Trump to end the over three-year conflict, recognizing the fact that Zelensky continues to lose ground to the Kremlin. Zelensky has rejected Trump’s peace efforts thinking that it doesn’t serve Ukrainian interests to cede territory for peace. Trump wants Zelensky to give up land lost during the last three years.
Zelensky’s concept of any peace involves Russia leaving Ukrainian territory, including the Crimean Peninsula. Once former President Joe Biden funded proxy war with the Kremlin, he turned Russia into a mortal enemy of the United States. Trump has done everything possible to reverse the damage Biden did to U.S.-Russian relations. Zelensky can’t fathom the fact the Trump wants to normalize diplomatic relations with Russia while it’s at war with Ukraine. When Zelensky blew up in the Oval Office Feb. 28, it was over the fact that Trump was seeking to improve diplomatic relations with Putin, some Zelensky considers as war criminal. Zelensky question how the U.S. under Trump can be an ally of Ukraine when it’s making peace with the Kremlin. Instead of letting Trump work to get a ceasefire and peace deal, Zelensky worked behind Trump’s back to undermine his peace efforts.
Zelensky denounced Trump at the Munich Security Conference, telling EU leaders that Trump was no longer interested in European security. Trump questions Zelensky’s connection to Europe at all, since Ukraine was part of the Russian Empire and Soviet Union. Zelensky only now wants to affiliate with Brussels because he hopes to gain NATO membership, something Putin opposes in the strongest possible way. Zelensky continues to provoke Putin by demanding NATO membership, something Putin won’t permit in any settlement. Zelensky knows this but deliberately seeks to sabotage Trump’s peace efforts with the hope of getting the EU to take over funding his proxy war. So far, he’s gotten no firm commitments from the EU to take over subsidizing his war. Most EU leaders want Zelensky to work with Trump to negotiate a cease fire and peace deal.
Zelensky and his generals refuse to level with the Ukrainian people about the losses incurred with over three years of war with the Kremlin. Asking for more cash-and-arms, Zelensky tells the same story since the start of the war Feb. 24, 2022, that he just needs more time to oust Russia from Ukrainian territory. Trump has told Zelensky that he doesn’t “hold the cards” in any ceasefire and peace deal because he’s lost the war, losing more sovereign Ukrainian land. Zelensky wants all his land back but has no way to getting it from Putin. Trump has told Zelensky that any peace settlement would swap land for peace, including territories lost during over three years of war. “Due to the entire Kursk operation, we have managed to reduce pressure on other frontline sectors, particularly in Donetsk region,” Zelensky said, in complete denial of his losses.
European leaders must get real with Zelensky about where they see the Ukraine War going. Expressing sympathy for Ukraine is much different than funding proxy war with the Kremlin. Trump wants Zelensky to accept his role in brokering a ceasfire and peace deal with Putin. Zelensky’s keeps resisting any peace process in which he’s required to cede land to Russia. But the only way to get his land back is to continue the war with a different funding source. EU officials haven’t said they want to takeover the funding now that Trump has backed out of funding the war. Trump’s main priority is restoring normal U.S. Russian relations and ending the war. Zelensky knows that he’s on thin ice, most likely forced out once Ukrainians know that he’s lost the war with Putin. Trump should work with French President Emmanuel Macron to get Zelensky to accept reality.
About the Author
John M. Curtis writes politically neutral commentary analyzing spin in global and national news. He’s editor of OnlineColumnist.com and author of Dodging The Bullet and Operation Charisma.
