Russian Ambassador to the US Anatoly Antonov said that President Vladimir Putin has decided how to react to the incursion of Ukraine into Russia's Kursk Region, and the country will not allow Ukraine to realize its aim of getting a "buffer zone" or strengthen its position in any future peace deal. While commenting on Moscow's future steps in response to the invasion, the Ambassador told media persons that President Putin has already "made a decision", RT reported. He also said that he is "firmly convinced that everyone will be severely punished for what happened in Kursk Region".
Earlier in August, Ukraine launched its biggest cross-border attack on Russia's Kursk. It sent in some of its best-equipped, most experienced soldiers to take Russian territory. Ukrainian officials expressed hopes that the operation would divert pressure from its forces elsewhere along the front line, improving their negotiating position at eventual peace talks with Moscow.
Nevertheless, Russia's Defense Ministry has said that the incursion has been successfully repelled, and although Kiev's troops still retain some territories in the region, they have sustained large losses throughout the fighting. According to estimates, Ukrainian losses have been at least 4,700 servicemen and hundreds of pieces of heavy weaponry since the beginning of the incursion.
Although Ukraine reportedly says it wants to create a "buffer zone" by making its incursion into Russian territory, Antonov has said that the Ukrainian operation will not achieve its desired outcome.
"This is impossible. There will be no buffer zone on the territory of Russia," he said, RT reports.
He further stated that Washington can stop Kiev's aggression against Kursk Region "in a snap of the fingers," but it evidently doesn't consider such a step "expedient or necessary."
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