Zelensky says goal in Kursk is to build a buffer zone

Ukraine’s President Zelensky says the purpose of his army’s invasion of Russia’s Kursk region is to create a buffer zone to prevent cross-border attacks. His military chief said Ukraine’s armed forces were continuing to expand their footprint on Russian territory as drone footage confirmed the destruction of a second strategic bridge, suggesting Ukraine units plan to dig in. Ukrainian civilians were meanwhile evacuated from Pokrovsk in Donbas, where the Russian army is close to claiming control. Its advance prompted Zelensky to ask Western allies to speed up its supply of weapons. The Kursk operation has been a morale-booster for Ukraine but has also disrupted secret Russia-Ukraine talks on halting mutual attacks on energy infrastructure, the WaPo reports. Putin refuses to appear preoccupied. En route to Azerbaijan after visiting North Korea and Vietnam, he called the invasion “a situation”.