The Kremlin stated that it will not discuss exchanging part of the Kursk region with Ukraine

Russia has not discussed and will not discuss the issue of exchanging its territory.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov stated during a briefing.

“This is impossible. Russia has never discussed and will not discuss the issue of exchanging its territory,” Peskov said, responding to statements made by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Peskov also expressed confidence that Russia will expel Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region before the anticipated peace negotiations begin.

“They will be destroyed, they will be expelled,” the Kremlin spokesperson emphasized.

Earlier, Russia’s Foreign Ministry made a similar statement, declaring that Moscow has no intention of negotiating an exchange of the part of the Kursk region controlled by Ukrainian forces for Russian-occupied Ukrainian territories.

Recently, Zelensky stated that Ukraine intends to use the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ operations in the Kursk region as leverage in potential peace talks to end the war.