Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia has concentrated around 50,000 troops near the northeastern Sumy region, but assured that Ukraine has already taken defensive measures to prevent a potential large-scale assault.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Zelensky said the troop buildup is part of what appears to be Russia’s preparation for a summer offensive, as Moscow steps up military pressure while Kyiv awaits the Kremlin’s official terms for resuming direct ceasefire negotiations.
“Russia’s most powerful forces are now positioned along the Kursk front,” Zelensky said, referring to the Russian region that borders Sumy. “They’re aiming to push our forces out of the Kursk region and lay the groundwork for a wider offensive into Sumy.”
The Sumy region, which borders Russia’s Kursk Oblast, has seen renewed military activity in recent weeks. Although Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed last month that it had completely cleared Ukrainian forces from areas they briefly held inside Russian territory, Kyiv maintains that some positions are still under its control.
Zelensky also said that Russia appears to be pursuing a 10-kilometer-deep “buffer zone” within Ukrainian territory, echoing statements made by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Moscow has already captured at least four border villages in Sumy, while also making incremental gains near the eastern front line city of Kostyantynivka.
However, Zelensky pointed to recent Ukrainian counterattacks that have pushed Russian troops back by about 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) in some areas near Kostyantynivka over the past two days.
On the diplomatic front, Zelensky said Ukraine remains open to peace talks, including technical-level discussions. He also expressed his willingness to participate in a three-way summit involving U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, if such a meeting could help move the peace process forward.
He urged Washington not to disengage from negotiations, amid growing frustration in the U.S. over the slow pace of progress. “We don’t want the U.S. to step back from this process,” Zelensky said, emphasizing that American support remains vital to both Ukraine’s defense and any future peace settlement.
