Ukraine-Russia war latest: Zelensky confirms new incursion into Putin’s Belgorod region ahead of US talks
Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops are operating in Russia’s Belgorod border region.
Mr Zelensky said Ukraine’s top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi had presented a report “on the frontline, our presence in the Kursk region and our presence in the Belgorod region”.
“We continue active operations in the enemy’s border areas and this is absolutely justified. The war must return to where it came from,” he said, stating that such incursions are defensive missions designed to protect Ukraine’s own Sumy and Kharkiv border regions.
The battlefield update came as Kyiv prepared to send representatives to the US for fresh talks on a rare earth minerals deal. After his bitter spat with Mr Zelensky in the Oval Office, Donald Trump has proposed a more expansive minerals deal which could give the US access to valuable resources including titanium, lithium, and uranium, according to economy minister Yuliia Svyrydenko.
Mr Trump has urged Russia to stop bombing Ukraine after a ballistic missile strike in Kryvyi Rih killed 20, including nine children.,
