Troops Not Surrounded In Russia's Kursk Region: Zelenskiy

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that its troops are still fending off Russian and North Korean forces in Russia's Kursk region but face a potential new attack on Ukraine's northeast Sumy region.

Russia is close to ejecting Ukrainian forces from their months-old foothold in the western Russian region, seized in a mass cross-border incursion last August, said military analysts on Saturday (March 16).

Russia's Defence Ministry said its forces had retaken two more villages near Sudzha, 10 km (six miles) from the Ukrainian border, reports Reuters.

Besides, Russia's Emergencies Ministry said more than 300 residents had been evacuated from areas around Sudzha.

The region's acting governor, Alexander Khinshtein, said officials discussed restoring recaptured areas and establishing how many residents wanted to return to their home settlements.

Zelenskiy said on social media, after being briefed by his top general, that Kyiv's troops were not encircled in Kursk, but that Moscow was accumulating forces nearby for a separate strike.

"This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region," he said. "We are aware of this and will counter it."

"I would like all (our) partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring."

Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday he supported in principle Trump's proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine but would fight on until several crucial conditions were worked out.

On Saturday, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said European nations and Western allies were boosting preparations to support Ukraine in the event a peace deal was struck with Russia, with defence chiefs to firm up "robust plans" next week.

"The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to keep ignoring diplomacy," Zelenskiy added. "It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war."