Zelensky: Ukraine will offer "victory plan" to US

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that his troops' recent incursion into Russia's Kursk region is part of a "victory plan" he intends to present to U.S. President Joe Biden next month.

Speaking at a forum on Tuesday, Zelensky emphasized that the success of this plan hinges on Biden’s support and the extent to which the U.S. will provide the necessary resources.

He also indicated that the plan would be shared with U.S. presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Zelensky acknowledged that while the plan might seem ambitious, it is crucial for Ukraine's objectives.

In early August, Ukrainian troops conducted an incursion into Russia's Kursk region, with Russia appearing unable to repel the offensive.

At a forum on Tuesday, Ukraine’s top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that Ukraine now controls approximately 1,294 square kilometers (500 square miles) of Russian territory and 100 settlements, although these figures have not been independently verified by the BBC.

Gen. Syrskyi emphasized that Ukraine does not intend to retain the territory permanently and that one goal of the incursion was to divert Russian forces from their offensive in eastern Ukraine, specifically targeting the town of Pokrovsk, a significant hub with a key railway station.

President Zelensky also revealed that Ukraine recently achieved a successful test of a domestically-produced ballistic missile. While he praised the defense industry for this development, he did not provide further details.

Although Ukraine has used U.S.-provided ballistic missiles against Russia, the country is working to develop its own military hardware to reduce dependence on Western aid.

Currently, Ukraine relies heavily on international military support to combat Russian aggression. President Zelensky noted that Ukraine has utilized newly arrived F-16 fighter jets from Western allies to intercept recent Russian missile attacks but stressed the need for additional jets.

In recent days, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukraine with drone and missile strikes, resulting in casualties and widespread blackouts.

President Zelensky commented that such actions indicate Moscow’s lack of interest in peace talks, stating, "When they want [peace talks], they don’t launch 230 air strikes."

Following the Kursk incursion, Russia has indicated it is not interested in engaging in peace negotiations with Ukraine. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov remarked on Tuesday that the prospect of negotiations is currently "irrelevant."