Russian marines, with the support of North Korean soldiers, launched an assault on Ukrainian positions in the Kursk region on Thursday, as reported by analyst Forbes David Ax. One of the reasons for this urgency may be the so-called "peace plan" proposed by Donald Trump, which has been previously discussed in Western media.
As Ax explains, one of Trump's proposals is for Ukraine and Russia to agree to a ceasefire along the current front line. This line not only encompasses the south and east of Ukraine but also includes the Kursk region of Russia.
"If Trump's plan actually works - and that's a very big 'if' - Russia would essentially give up 270 square miles of Russian territory in exchange for about 20 percent of Ukraine - which amounts to 45,000 square miles that it occupies," Ax writes, noting that this seemingly favorable exchange is unlikely to satisfy the Russian dictator Putin.
As Ax points out, during an attempt to attack the left flank of the Kursk salient on Thursday, the Russian 810th Marine Brigade, along with attached North Korean soldiers, suffered a devastating defeat.
According to Kriegsforscher, during the assault, the Russians deployed 14 armored personnel carriers (APCs), of which ten were destroyed or damaged and abandoned. Ax indicates that these APCs can carry up to 10 soldiers each, meaning that the 810th Marine Brigade could have lost a total of 140 personnel, although it is possible that some managed to escape.
David Ax notes that the Kremlin is willing to sacrifice hundreds and even thousands of lives in an effort to eliminate the Kursk salient. However, this is only advantageous if Trump's "peace plan" is implemented.
Nevertheless, Trump’s proposal to establish a demilitarized zone does not include any means of enforcement, which would likely lead to it being ignored or frequently violated. Thus, Trump's peace proposal is considered "naive," allowing Russia and North Korea to deploy troops and equipment to the Kursk salient in an attempt to create conditions for a ceasefire that may never occur, the analyst observes.
Trump's "Peace Plan" - What We Know
The WSJ has revealed details of a potential "peace plan" by Trump to end the war in Ukraine. One option may involve a requirement to refrain from joining NATO for at least 20 years and freezing the front line without returning territories to Ukraine. In exchange, the U.S. would continue supplying arms to Ukraine to deter future Russian aggression.
Additionally, Ukrainian presidential advisor Dmitry Litvin noted that the actual plans of presidents are unlikely to be announced in newspapers, while there is always a plethora of Russian disinformation in the press.