The entry of Ukrainian troops into Russia causes concern about the escalation of the war

2024-08-13 18:15:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

The entry of Ukrainian troops into Russia causes concern about the escalation of

Ukraine moved the war inside Russia in recent days, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed his military's moves to "take the war to the aggressor's territory" with attacks in Russia's Kursk region.

The war is no longer happening only in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed that his troops entered the Kursk region in western Russia in recent days. His reasoning?

"It is right to destroy Russian terrorists where they are, from where they launch their attacks; Russian military airfields, Russian logistics. This can be useful for bringing peace. Russia must be forced to negotiate for peace, if Putin is going to continue to fight so fiercely", he said.

One hundred thousand Russian civilians were evacuated and Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed that the number of conscripts had increased.

"It seems that the enemy is aiming to improve the negotiating position in the future. But what kind of negotiations can we talk about with people who carry out indiscriminate attacks on civilians, on civilian infrastructure and try to endanger nuclear energy facilities?", he said.

Both the White House and the State Department issued stern warnings to Moscow on Monday over the use of Iranian munitions.

"We are prepared to respond quickly and severely if Iran sends ballistic missiles, which in our view would constitute a dramatic escalation in Iran's support for Russian aggression against Ukraine. Iranian officials also continue to deny that they have sent drones to Russia when the evidence is clear," State Department deputy spokesman Vedant Patel said.

White House National Security Council spokesman John Kirby was tight-lipped on Monday when asked whether Washington was concerned that Ukraine could use US-supplied weapons against Russia.

"We are continuing to talk with our Ukrainian counterparts about these operations. I will leave it to them to comment on their operations," he said.

Analysts say Ukraine's move was surprising and likely a tactic to challenge Moscow.

"I think the Ukrainians wanted to move the war to Russia, to send a message to the Russian people that they are not immune from this war and will feel the consequences," says Charles Kupchan of the Council on Foreign Relations.

But others say President Putin could use the Ukraine move as an excuse to attack a NATO country bordering Russia.

"He (President Putin) now has evidence that Ukrainians who are armed and - as he claims trained and encouraged - by the West, are now attacking Russia itself. This is how he will explain to the Russians, saying that he has done nothing wrong. I think these are very dangerous days", says Leon Aron of the "American Enterprise" Institute.

Something that the residents of Kursk have learned in recent days./ VOA