Source: Responsible Statecraft
by Ian Proud
“Ukraine has occupied more territory in Russia this year than Russia has occupied in Ukraine, but the margin of difference is relatively small. What drove Zelensky’s bold gamble and will it, ultimately, succeed? In a Telegram post on August 16, Zelensky referred to captured land in Kursk as an addition to his ‘exchange fund.’ Kursk is less about overall military victory, than about gathering bargaining chips to trade in future peace negotiations with Russia. But that trade will only work to Ukraine’s benefit if its military can hold on to more territory than Russia gains over the period prior to formal negotiations starting. Only then would Zelensky be able to claim that the loss of men and materiel had been worth it. But his profit margin in any future land-for-land trade is narrowing.” [editor’s note: That claim assumes equal valuation of territory by each party – TLK] (09/04/24)