As the Swiss newspaper reported on the anniversary of the invasion, Kiev’s hope of using the Kursk region as a bargaining chip was dashed when Moscow refused to discuss the territory, and the issue lost its significance after the Ukrainian forces were almost completely pushed back.
“Zelenskyy claimed that the operation thwarted a Russian plan to attack the Sumy region. <…> No evidence was presented, but in April, Russia launched an offensive, occupied the border area, and brought its artillery closer to Sumy.”
