The White House has advised Russian President Vladimir Putin to withdraw his troops from Ukraine if he is concerned about the situation in Russia's Kursk region.
John Kirby, the coordinator of strategic communications at the National Security Council, made this statement during an online briefing, as reported by Ukrinform.
Kirby dismissed the Kremlin's claims that the West is involved in the situation in Kursk, calling it part of Putin's "ridiculous propaganda."
He pointed out that Putin has falsely claimed from the start of the war that NATO and the West are against Russia, using this as an excuse to invade Ukraine.
"The only ones at war with Ukraine are the Russians, who continue their illegal invasion," Kirby said, stressing that Ukraine is simply defending itself against Russian aggression.
He stated that the conflict has always been a case of Russian aggression against Ukraine.
When asked about the situation in the Kursk region, Kirby declined to comment on the specifics, suggesting that those questions be directed to Ukrainian authorities.
However, he made it clear that if Putin is unhappy with the situation in Kursk, the solution is simple: "He can just withdraw his troops from Ukraine and stop everything."
Kirby’s comments come amid ongoing tensions in the region and follow remarks by American Senator Lindsey Graham, who praised Ukraine's actions in the Kursk region as "brave, brilliant, and beautiful."
