Zelensky’s press conference was a bait. Putin has no choice but to fall for it.

The battle for Kursk has begun

It was almost tit for tat. Putin convenes his officials for a meeting, broadcasts it, tells the Russians that Ukraine’s incursion into Kursk is an act of terrorism, and asks Russia’s internal security services to clean up the state.

The message was clear: we are in control and there is nothing to worry about.

Zelensky responds by calling his officials to a meeting, broadcasting it, telling Ukrainians and the entire world that they are now holding 1,000 kilometers of Russian territory, and asking his military to do what’s necessary to achieve lasting peace.

The message was clear: We must win this battle.

Putin can, of course, control the Russian media landscape. But how much ability does he have to stop Zelensky’s press conference and the undertones from reaching different parts of Russia?

Every Russian ultranationalist knows about this press conference.

I don’t remember the last time Zelensky convened a meeting with his military apparatus and broadcast it to the entire world. He took this step because he is trying to stop Putin from acting like the Kursk incursion is not a big deal.

It was a bait.

Putin has already taken the bait.

He broadcast his meeting with the governor of Kursk Oblast, where he asked the governor to explain the socio-economic difficulties in the region. His subjects can now get back to work, reassured that the kingdom is doing everything to stop the menace from across the border, as the king himself is directly involved.

The issue here is that by directly involving himself in the daily affairs of Kursk Oblast and telling his subjects about it, he has taken ownership of the situation. Now, he has no choice but to keep going until Ukrainian forces are evicted from Kursk Oblast.