Russia's troop buildup near Sumy defied by Zelensky's vow
Russia has amassed over 50,000 soldiers near the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. Volodymyr Zelensky assures that they will not succeed in creating a buffer zone.
What do you need to know?
- Russia has amassed over 50,000 soldiers near the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast, which poses a serious threat to the area.
- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky emphasises the successes of the Ukrainian forces, including the capture of eight prisoners in the Tyotkino area.
- Russian troops are concentrating on the Kursk direction, planning offensive actions and attempting to create a buffer zone.
What are Russia's plans at the border with Ukraine?
Russia has amassed over 50,000 soldiers near the border with Ukraine's Sumy Oblast. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a conversation with journalists, emphasised that despite this concentration of forces, Russia will not be able to create a buffer zone.
- Right now, they are amassing troops on the Sumy front. Over 50,000. We are aware. But we are also seeing some successes there. For example, today (27 May), eight enemy soldiers were taken prisoner near Tyotkino [a settlement in Russia’s Kursk Oblast – ed.], said Zelensky.
Is Ukraine ready for Russia's actions?
Zelensky noted that Russian troops are concentrating on the Kursk direction, aiming to expel Ukrainian forces from Kursk Oblast and preparing an offensive in Sumy Oblast.
- Regarding the Sumy front, their strongest and most concentrated forces are currently positioned in the Kursk area. Their goal is to push our troops out of there and prepare for offensive actions in Sumy Oblast – to create what they call a 10-km-deep buffer zone inside Ukraine. I believe they understand they lack the capacity to achieve this, declared the President of Ukraine.
Zelensky on U.S. support
The President of Ukraine also expressed confidence that the U.S. "will not support" Russia's demands regarding territories currently controlled by the authorities in Kyiv. The head of state also stated that he would not like the United States to withdraw from peace negotiations.
- It doesn't matter what is written in the ultimatums if we are not just talking about a piece of paper, but about something that could lead to the first step, a ceasefire. I think that even at the highest level, the United States will not support Ukraine's withdrawal from the territories that Ukraine currently holds, said Zelensky in a conversation with journalists.
