There is no interest from the Ukrainian side to take over the Russian territory where they have advanced, says a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry.
The sooner Russia agrees to a fair peace, the sooner the Ukrainian defense forces' raids in Russia will cease, he says at a press conference where he calls the Ukrainian offensive "absolutely legitimate".
"Under our control"
Earlier in the day, President Volodymyr Zelenskyj shared a video on the platform X where the Ukrainian army chief speaks.
The soldiers are fulfilling their tasks. The battles continue along the entire front line. The situation is under our control, says army chief Oleksander Syrskyj.
He claims in the video that Ukraine controls 1,000 square kilometers, while from the Russian side it is claimed that 28 areas in the region are under Ukrainian control and that 121,000 people have fled from Kursk since Ukraine launched its ground offensive.
Russia reports on Tuesday that the country has prevented Ukrainian attempts to break through in the region.
Evacuations have also begun in the Belgorod region.
Surprise offensive
Ukraine launched a surprise offensive on Russian territory last week and it is likely the largest since Russia's full-scale invasion of the neighboring country in February 2022. The offensive has reached about three miles into Russia.
According to the American think tank Institute for the Study of War, ISW, Ukrainian forces appear to continue advancing in the Kursk region, despite Russian military bloggers claiming the opposite.
Russian President Vladimir Putin claims that the offensive is a Ukrainian attempt to stop the Russian offensive in the Donbass region and an attempt to gain a better negotiating position in future talks.
Zelenskyj confirmed on Monday in a video on Telegram that Ukrainian forces are operating in the Kursk region. He praised soldiers and commanders for their "steadfastness and determination".
