Ukrainian troops face being ejected from the Russian province of Kursk – in a major blow in war with Vladimir Putin’s forces

Ukrainian troops face being expelled from the Russian province they invaded earlier this year – in a major blow to their country.

Western-backed forces are on the edge of Kursk after months of fighting, US officials revealed.

They fear that the Ukrainians could be surrounded if they stay there for more than a few months.

US officials issued their dire warning as President Joe Biden issued his administration’s latest multi-billion dollar aid package.

The outgoing commander-in-chief signed for almost $6 billion in military equipment and direct budget support.

But the latest tranche of funding could come too late to help Ukraine hold onto its territory within Russia.

His forces captured up to 1,000 square kilometers in the Kursk region in August – a move that stunned the Kremlin.

But Russia has since retaken at least half of the territory and is sending thousands more troops to the region.

Ukrainians near the Sumy region of Russia. Western-backed forces are on the edge of Kursk after months of fighting, US officials revealed. They fear that the Ukrainians could be surrounded if they stay there for more than a few months

A Ukrainian military vehicle drives past a destroyed border crossing with Russia in the Kursk region. Russia has retaken at least half of the territory and is sending thousands of additional troops to the region

According to reports, US officials hope that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will withdraw sooner or later to prevent loss of life.

He previously stated that his intention was to hold territory within Russia “indefinitely.”

More recently, his aides have softened their tone and suggested their troops will stay only as long as is feasible.

The Ukrainian force, which also includes British volunteers, is outnumbered and outnumbered by 60,000 Russian troops and 12,000 North Koreans.

However, at least 3,000 North Korean troops are believed to have been killed in recent weeks.

A Ukrainian withdrawal could change the balance of the peace talks expected after Donald Trump takes power on January 20.

Ukraine hopes to use territory in Kursk as leverage to reclaim Russian-occupied territory within its borders.

Yesterday it also emerged that Donald Trump’s advisers had sounded out the Kremlin about peace terms prior to his inauguration.

President Zelensky (pictured) recently said: ‘For [Vladimir] The most important thing for Putin is to drive us out of the Kursk region. It is very important for him to show that he has the situation under control after President Trump takes office.’

A residential building burns in Kharkov in August 2024. Russia has lost, killed or wounded 787,940 troops since invading Ukraine almost three years ago

Russian officials have apparently rejected an offer to suspend Ukraine’s accession to NATO for 20 years in exchange for a ceasefire.

Russia could demand better conditions once its forces drive out the Ukrainians.

As President Zelensky recently said: “For [Vladimir] The most important thing for Putin is to drive us out of the Kursk region.

“It is very important for him to show that he has the situation under control after President Trump takes office.”

Russian forces have also made huge gains on Ukraine’s eastern front, capturing six times as much territory there in 2024 as in 2023.

Yesterday, Ukraine and Russia exchanged prisoners of war in a deal brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

About 150 troops from each side were transferred. Some Ukrainian soldiers had spent two years in captivity.

Russia has lost, killed or wounded 787,940 troops since invading Ukraine nearly three years ago.

According to figures released by Ukraine, Russia has also lost 9,663 tanks, 20,003 armored fighting vehicles and 21,069 drones.

Despite these losses, Russia has managed to replenish its armed forces, while Ukraine has struggled to mobilize sufficient troops.