Russia has thwarted a Ukrainian charge to expand its incursion in the Kursk region, while Ukraine has received almost €4.2 billion from the European Union as part of the Ukraine Facility, a finance plan to support the country’s recovery in the face of Russian aggression. The Ukraine Facility, which aims to provide up to €50 billion in grants and loans over four years, went into effect on March 1. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy recently acknowledged the country’s incursion into Russia for the first time, stating that the military operation in the Kursk region is an attempt to stop Russian shelling.
Zelenskyy emphasized the importance of destroying Russian terrorists where they are based to bring peace closer and force Russia into accepting peace. The European Union has expressed support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself and restore its territorial integrity. While the EU is not directly involved in Ukraine’s military offensive in Russia, they stand fully behind Ukraine’s efforts to fight against Russia’s illegal aggression. The EU also noted that they are not commenting on operational developments on the front line.
On the other hand, Russia has reported halting Ukrainian troops from expanding their incursion into the Kursk region, stating that they have no intention of occupying Russian territory. Russian army units, along with reserves, aircraft, drone teams, and artillery forces, stopped Ukrainian armoured mobile groups from moving deeper into Russia near various settlements in Kursk. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has clarified that their cross-border operation was aimed at protecting Ukrainian land from long-range strikes launched from Kursk and that they are not interested in taking over the Kursk region, but only want to protect their people’s lives.
Overall, the financial support received by Ukraine from the European Union under the Ukraine Facility will play a significant role in the country’s recovery, reconstruction, and modernization efforts in the face of Russia’s aggression. President Zelenskyy’s acknowledgment of the Ukrainian incursion into Russia reflects the ongoing conflict between the two countries and the importance of defending Ukraine’s territory. With the EU’s support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself, the situation in the Kursk region remains tense as both Russia and Ukraine assert their positions and take necessary measures to protect their respective interests.
In conclusion, the conflict between Russia and Ukraine in the Kursk region continues to escalate, with Russia thwarting Ukrainian efforts to expand their incursion. However, with financial support from the European Union, Ukraine is looking to rebuild and modernize in the face of Russian aggression. President Zelenskyy’s acknowledgment of Ukraine’s actions in Russia highlights the complexity of the situation, while the EU’s support for Ukraine’s right to defend itself reinforces the country’s efforts to push back against Russian aggression. The coming days will be crucial as both parties work to protect their interests and restore peace in the region.