As Ukrainian forces mount a new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Monday said that success in this region would improve Kyiv’s bargaining position in any future ceasefire negotiations.

Ukrainian armed forces on Sunday night began a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region. This was in an apparent attempt to regain the initiative on the battlefield before Donald Trump’s imminent return to the White House,

Ukrainian forces launched a surprise offensive in Russia’s Kursk region on Sunday, as Kyiv seeks to reclaim lost territory ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration later this month. Footage shows columns of armored tanks advancing through the snowy landscape toward the village of Bolshoe Soldatskoe.

President Volodymyr Zelensky expressed optimism in an interview published Sunday that "strong" incoming US president Donald Trump will be able to force Russia into peace talks and end the war in Ukraine.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky praised the incoming U.S. President Donald Trump as the one who could possibly end the Russia-Ukraine war. Zelensky said ‘strong’ Donald Trump will be able to force Russia into peace talks and end the war in Ukraine.

President-elect Donald Trump is “strong and unpredictable,” qualities that could help end the war between Russia and Ukraine, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said this week. “I believe [Trump] is strong and unpredictable.