President Zelensky: If We Could Strike Deep Inside Russian Territory, There Would Be No Need for Kursk Attack

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. (Source: President.gov.ua)

JAKARTA - President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian forces had seized more than 1,250 square km (480 square miles) in "defense operations" in Russia's Kursk region, urging allies to allow attacks with Western weapons deep into the region.

Two weeks after Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack on Russia's western region, President Zelensky said operations "not known to anyone" proved there was no Kremlin red line to watch out for.

"The naive and illusive concept of the so-called red line regarding Russia, which dominates war judgment by some partners, has been shattered recently somewhere near Sudzha," he said, referring to the border town that is currently under the control of Kyiv. August 20.

In a speech to the ambassadors of friendly countries published on the Telegram messaging platform, President Zelensky said Ukrainian troops had seized a total of 92 settlements.

"If our partners lift the restrictions on the use of weapons in Russian territory, we don't need to physically enter the Kursk territory," President Zelensky said, arguing the need to protect Ukrainian border communities.

Kyiv officials have long urged allies to allow long-range attacks on military targets within Russia, such as airfields and military warehouses, but most of the calls have not changed Western approaches.

President Zelensky also said the restrictions weakened Kyiv's ability to fend off Russian attacks in the east, in the strategic centers of Pokrovsk and Toretsk.

The two cities have seen the fiercest fighting recently as Russian forces continue to advance, moving as close as 10 km (6.2 miles) to the outskirts of Pokrovsk.

"Everyone has to remember, Ukraine will not stop the progress of the Russian army on the front lines with just one decision we are waiting for from our partners," President Zelensky stressed.

He once again stressed the need for timely arms shipments, an issue that often arises during an invasion that has lasted for 30 months.

Such a logistics is currently "confronting delays", he said referring to deals with key partners, including the US.