Asger Risom
Ukraine braces for a summer assault near Sumy as Moscow pushes for a deeper buffer zone.
As the war enters its third summer, tensions are mounting along Ukraine’s northern border.
A new Russian military buildup near the Sumy region has sparked fears of a fresh offensive — one that could mark a new phase in the conflict, even as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.
Ukrainian officials say they’re watching the situation closely, with defensive measures already in place to prevent a major breakthrough.
But the scale of the deployment signals that the Kremlin may be preparing for a renewed push into Ukrainian territory.
New offensive brewing on the Kursk–Sumy front
President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia has positioned 50,000 troops near the Sumy region, bordering Russia’s Kursk oblast.
The area has seen intense fighting in recent months, with Ukraine briefly controlling parts of Russian territory before being pushed back.
Their largest and most powerful forces are currently on the Kursk front… to push our troops out and prepare offensive actions against the Sumy region.
Zelensky added that Russia may be aiming to create a 10-kilometer buffer zone, echoing President Vladimir Putin’s repeated demands to insulate Russian territory from future attacks.
Moscow has recently advanced into several border villages and continues to gain ground slowly in Ukraine’s east.
However, Zelensky noted that Ukrainian forces had pushed Russian troops back by 4 kilometers near Kostiantinivka over the past two days.
Diplomatic channels still open — barely
Despite the intensifying military pressure, diplomatic conversations continue. Zelensky confirmed that Ukraine and Russia exchanged 1,000 prisoners each after talks in Istanbul earlier this month — though no ceasefire followed.
Zelensky said he sees Turkey, the Vatican, and Switzerland as the most credible venues for future negotiations.
Russia has dismissed the Vatican as a serious option, but other countries including Malta and unnamed African nations have expressed interest in hosting.
He also confirmed plans to attend the upcoming G7 summit, invited by Canada’s Mark Carney, and likely the next EU summit as well.
As reported by HotNews.ro, Zelensky is also calling for $30 billion to scale up Ukraine’s domestic weapons production — a sign that Kyiv sees this war not just continuing, but entering a potentially more intense phase.