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The newspaper La Jornada
Tuesday, August 20, 2024, p. 21

kyiv. Russia yesterday ruled out any negotiations with Ukraine at the current stage due to the offensive launched by kyiv troops two weeks ago in the Russian region of Kursk, which according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is achieving its objectives.

In the midst of a war of declarations between Moscow and kyiv, Zelensky assured that his forces are achieving (its) goals in Kursk, where they launched a large-scale operation on August 6.

Zelensky said his forces control more than 1,250 square kilometers and 92 localities in Russian territory.

He said he did not inform his Western allies in advance about the offensive on Russian territory, considering that their concerns naive and illusory Regarding an escalation with Moscow, nothing came of it.

We must force Russia, with all our strength and our partners, to make peace.the president urged and again asked his Western allies to authorize Ukraine to use long-range missiles to attack deep into Russian territory and thus stop Moscow’s forces in the east.

At the current stage, given this adventure, we will not talkYuri Ushakov, diplomatic adviser to President Vladimir Putin, told Russian media Shot. At the moment, engaging in a negotiation process would be totally inappropriate.he stressed.

Talks between the two sides have been blocked since spring 2022, shortly after the start of the Russian military offensive in Ukraine.

Moscow is demanding that Ukraine accept the annexation of part of its territory, while Zelensky reiterates that peace will only be possible if the Russian army withdraws completely, including from the Crimean peninsula, annexed by Russia in 2014.

Russia claimed yesterday that it took Zalizne (Artemovo in Russian), a important settlement in the Donetsk region, and that its forces are approaching Pokrovsk, a logistical hub located about 50 kilometers away.