Putin Says Ukraine Launched Kursk Offensive To Gain Leverage for Peace Talks

Russian President Vladimir Putin said Monday that Ukraine launched its invasion of Russia’s Kursk Oblast with Western backing to gain leverage for future negotiations.

The Russian leader said it was clear why Ukraine “refused our proposals to return to the plan for peaceful settlement.” Back in June, Putin made a public peace offer to Ukraine that would have required a full Ukrainian withdrawal from the oblasts Russia has annexed: Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

“The enemy, with the help of its Western masters – it is doing their bidding, and the West is waging war against us using Ukrainians … seeks to improve its negotiating position in the future,” Putin said.