Russian President Vladimir Putin said Ukraine invaded Kursk to destabalise Russia and improve its position in ceasefire talks, but the assault makes peace talks less likely to happen. Putin made the remarks in a televised meeting with top security officials on August 12 to address the ongoing cross-border offensive by Ukrainian forces into Russia’s Kursk region, which has now entered its seventh day. The incursion, which has seen Ukrainian troops seize control of 28 settlements within Russian territory, has prompted an angry response from the Kremlin. Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syr…