**Ukraine’s Move into Russia a “Strong Card” in Negotiations**
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine says the country’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk Oblast is a strong bargaining chip. He made this statement on January 2 in an interview with Ukrainian television.
The invasion, which started in early August, was seen as a bold move by Ukraine to draw Russian forces away from its own territory. Zelensky said that countries in the Global South are now taking notice of Russia’s weakness.
**Russia Struggles to Retake Territory**
Despite initial successes, Russia has been struggling to recapture lost ground in Kursk Oblast. Ukrainian forces have managed to hold on to a piece of Russian territory, hoping to use it as leverage in future negotiations.
There is growing hope for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia next year, with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump promising to bring both sides to the negotiating table.
**Debate Over Strategic Impact**
The Kursk incursion has been the subject of much debate over its strategic impact. Some critics have argued that it has not achieved its goal of drawing Russian forces away from Ukraine’s eastern region. However, Zelensky dismissed these concerns in his interview, saying that the deployment of North Korean soldiers to aid Russia was a “tactical mistake”.
**North Korea Suffers Heavy Losses**
The White House recently reported that over 1,000 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded in Kursk Oblast over the past week. These heavy losses have only strengthened Ukraine’s position.
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