**Ukraine’s Positions in Kursk Oblast Crucial for Possible Negotiations, Blinken Says**
The outgoing US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has said that Ukraine’s positions in Russia’s Kursk Oblast could play an important role in possible talks with Russia. The comments were made on January 6.
Blinken stated that Ukraine’s position in Kursk is crucial because it would factor into any negotiation that may come about in the coming year. This comes as the Biden administration has sped up the delivery of military assistance to Ukraine to put Kyiv in the strongest possible position for potential peace negotiations.
**Ukraine Launches New Offensive Operations**
Reports have emerged of Ukraine launching new offensive operations in Kursk Oblast after months of being on the defensive. In August, Ukraine launched a cross-border incursion and allegedly seized 1,300 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian soil. However, Moscow has since deployed reinforcements, including thousands of North Korean soldiers, and reportedly recaptured around half of the lost territory.
**Growing Expectations of Peace Talks**
There are growing expectations of possible peace talks in 2025 as US President-elect Donald Trump pledged to bring both sides to the negotiating table. Trump’s return to the White House has sparked concerns among Ukraine’s allies due to his past criticism of the Biden administration’s support for Kyiv.
**Zelensky Implies Corruption Concerns**
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky implied that half of US assistance was “lost” due to corruption or lobbying from the side of US companies. He made these comments in response to a question about corruption concerns in Ukraine.
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