Reuters reported that on March 15, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky denied reports of the Ukrainian army being surrounded in Russia's Kursk region, but noted that Moscow is concentrating forces in the surrounding area to prepare for another attack.
Mr Zelensky predicted that the Russian military could launch a new offensive in Ukraine's Sumy region and affirmed that it had promptly grasped the information and pledged to implement "combat measures".
President Zelensky said that the battlefield situation near the strategic city of Pokrovsk in the eastern region of Ukraine has been completely stable, emphasizing that Ukraine has successfully used a new self-made long-range missile.
According to Reuters, Kiev is expanding its domestic defense industry to reduce its dependence on its Western allies, which have provided important artillery, air defense and long-range missile systems.
On the contrary, in recent days, Russia has issued many positive announcements from the Moscow army when continuously re-controlled many territories of the country, especially the town of Sudzha in Kursk province.
Ukraine launched a major cross-border offensive, targeting Kursk Oblast last August, aimed at creating a strategic-defeasible posture with Russia at the negotiation table.
The Russian Ministry of Emergency Situations said more than 300 residents had been evacuated from the area around Sudzha. Regional governor Alexander Khinshtein said the government is discussing the restoration of re- occupied areas and determining the number of residents who want to return.
In an article on social media, the Ukrainian president expressed hope that Russia's "partners" could understand the upcoming plans of Russian President Vladimir Putin and "What he ( prides Putin) will ignore".
Previously, on March 13, Mr. Putin announced his support for Mr. Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire but affirmed that he would continue fighting until some important conditions were met.
At another event on March 15, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said that European countries and their Western allies are stepping up preparations to support Ukraine in the event of reaching a peace deal with Russia.
Mr. Starmer revealed that a powerful plan under the cooperation of defense leaders will be completed next week.
