US considers backing Ukraine's offensive in Kursk region: WP
Photo: Ukrainian military in the Kursk region (Getty Images)
The administration of US President Joe Biden is still debating whether to support Ukrainian forces in maintaining and potentially expanding their presence in Russia's Kursk region, reports The Washington Post.
According to the publication, US officials stated that the Pentagon has inquired about what Ukraine needs for success in the Kursk operation, but no decisions have been made regarding material support for these efforts.
Internal discussions within the White House administration are focused on whether to adjust the contents of the weapon packages currently sent every two weeks, such as including more armored vehicles or speeding up the delivery of specific ammunition and other equipment that could help Ukrainian forces "dig in and defend themselves" on the Russian territory they control.
The publication reports that two main issues dominate the discussions about aiding Ukraine in the Kursk operation. In the US, there is uncertainty about the overall offensive strategy of the Ukrainian forces, and concerns about the direct escalation of the conflict between the US, NATO, and Russia have resurfaced due to Ukraine's reliance on American weapons.
As WP notes, the Biden administration currently has no clear understanding of Ukraine's objectives on the occupied Russian territory or whether it plans to maintain or expand the operation's boundaries.
"They (Ukraine - ed.) may have a plan, but they’re not sharing it with us," an American official told the publication.
Meanwhile, some members of the US administration and military have expressed admiration for how Ukrainian forces have handled the invasion into the Kursk region.
Ukrainian operation in the Kursk region
It should be noted that Ukrainian troops have been conducting an operation in the Kursk region for over two weeks. Ukrainian forces have breached the border and taken control of several settlements in the Russian region.
The operation aims to protect residents of Ukraine’s border regions from Russian shelling and create a buffer zone.
On August 22, it was reported that Ukrainian forces had taken control of another settlement in the Kursk region, bringing the total number of controlled settlements to over 90.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukrainian troops, as part of the Kursk operation, are not only restoring justice but also achieving effective results.
Additionally, reports emerged yesterday that some Russian troops in the Kursk region could be encircled in one of the combat zones.
