US intelligence sharing suspension hampers Ukraine Kursk operations
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Reportedly, following the cessation of intelligence sharing from the United States, Russian troops have begun advancing rapidly in the Kursk region.
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In this photo taken from a video released by Russian Defense Ministry press service on Nov. 29, 2024, a Russian serviceman aims a D-30 howitzer towards Ukrainian positions in the border area of Kursk region, Russia (AP)
The suspension of US intelligence sharing with Ukraine has created significant challenges for Ukrainian forces operating in Russia’s Kursk Region, The New York Times reported on Monday, citing Ukrainian soldiers.
The United States has temporarily suspended intelligence sharing with Ukraine following a notable rift between President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky, CIA Director John Ratcliffe confirmed on Wednesday.
The decision comes after a public disagreement between the two leaders during a meeting in the Oval Office last week, which also led to the suspension of critical US military aid to Ukraine.
Speaking to Fox Business, Ratcliffe stated that the pause in intelligence cooperation is linked to Trump's concerns about Zelensky's dedication to the peace process with Russia.
"President Trump had a real question about whether President Zelensky was committed to the peace process," Ratcliffe said. He noted that the suspension is temporary and expressed confidence that the US would soon resume its close partnership with Ukraine.
Pause hampering Ukrainian efforts
A senior US military official, speaking to The New York Times on condition of anonymity, stated that the pause had made it more difficult for Ukrainian forces to detect and attack Russian positions in the Kursk Region, as well as limiting their ability to strike high-value targets.
The newspaper reported that Russian forces are advancing rapidly in the region, while Ukrainian officials are reportedly hoping to use the attack on Kursk as leverage in negotiations to end the conflict.
On Friday, The Telegraph reported that around 10,000 Ukrainian soldiers were at risk of encirclement in the Kursk Region. An unnamed Ukrainian soldier told the newspaper that military commanders were considering withdrawing from the area to prevent further losses.
The Ukrainian offensive in the Kursk Region began on August 6, 2024, when Ukrainian forces crossed the border into Russia. In response, Russian President Vladimir Putin described the attack as a large-scale provocation, vowing a decisive response. The Russian Defense Ministry has claimed that Ukraine lost over 66,000 troops during the offensive.
Russia announced in January that Ukrainian forces had launched a counteroffensive in the border region of Kursk, which has been a focal point since Kiev initiated a ground offensive last August.
According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the Ukrainian military lost almost 65,000 servicemen during the Kursk operation.
In an effort to repair relations, Zelensky described the clash with Trump as "regrettable" and expressed a desire to "make things right." Trump, meanwhile, claimed that Zelensky assured him of Ukraine's readiness to engage in peace talks with Moscow and finalize a deal granting the US access to Ukrainian minerals.
