Sun Apr 27 22:40:00 UTC 2025: ## Zelensky Denies Russian Claim of Kursk Recapture Amidst Critical Week for Peace Talks
**Kyiv, Ukraine –** Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has refuted Russia’s claim of fully recapturing the Kursk region, stating that Ukrainian forces continue to operate within Russian territory. This comes as a critical week for peace negotiations looms, with conflicting signals from both sides and international players.
Russia announced on Saturday the capture of Gornal, the last Ukrainian-held settlement in Kursk, after a counteroffensive launched by Ukraine in August 2024. However, Ukraine immediately dismissed this as propaganda, and reports from Russian military bloggers and a local commander corroborate ongoing fighting. Zelensky himself acknowledged the difficult situation but emphasized the continued Ukrainian presence. He called for increased international pressure on Russia to facilitate meaningful diplomacy.
The conflicting reports follow a meeting between Zelensky and former US President Donald Trump at the Pope’s funeral, where a potential ceasefire was discussed. Trump later questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin’s commitment to ending the war. Following the meeting, Russia launched drone and missile attacks on eastern Ukraine, killing civilians.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described the coming week as “very critical” for peace negotiations, while German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius cautioned against Ukraine making excessive territorial concessions in any potential deal. Washington has reportedly proposed a plan involving a frontline freeze and acceptance of Russian control over Crimea. For the first time, Moscow admitted the participation of North Korean soldiers in the Kursk campaign.
Russia’s reported recapture of Kursk, achieved in part through a covert operation involving an underground gas pipeline, follows a period where Ukraine was temporarily deprived of key US intelligence. Russia intends to continue its advance in the four Ukrainian regions it claims to have annexed in 2022 and create a buffer zone in the Sumy region. The conflict has already seen Russia occupy approximately 20% of Ukraine’s territory.
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