There has been an increased focus on Russia's Kursk region recently, where Ukraine first launched an offensive in August.
According to foreign media, over the weekend, Kiev forces launched a new offensive in the area, leading to fierce fighting.
Speaking to Sky News, Robert Clark, a fellow at the US think tank's Yorktown Institute, says Ukraine's offensive is likely to be a "bargaining measure" to put them in a stronger negotiating position later during the year with Donald Trump as President of the USA, who promises to secure a peace agreement after his return to the White House in less than two weeks, writes A2 CNN.
"The Ukrainian effort is actually going surprisingly well," he says. "And it will be interesting to see how much further they can push in Kursk."
Asked what Trump will do about it, Clark says the fighting at Kursk will mean a "big deal" for Vladimir Putin, more so than for the next US President.
"President Putin has told the Russian people many times recently during Christmas that he will return all the territory of Russia, including Kursk, to Russia," he adds.
"So Putin's ability to really keep control of Kursk is going to be much more important to him and to Russia than it is to President Trump going forward," he added, A2 CNN writes. (A2 Televizion)
A2 CNN Livestream
MUND TE LEXONI GJITHASHTU
