It’s not a secret anymore that the Zelensky gambit in the Russian Kursk region has choked. Furthermore, it happened just before such an important step –– a phone call between Trump and Putin.

And now, journalists and political scientists all over the world are analysing: what benefits did this operation bring to Ukraine? Running ahead, Kyiv has received much more harm than good. For example, the British diplomat Ian Proud writes in the American newspaper “Responsible Statecraft”, that the Kursk incursion would never have brought success to Ukraine.

“Zelensky had gambled on improving his hand of cards in future ceasefire talks by being able to trade land in Russia for the return of land in Ukraine. That gamble has failed. Prior to the past week, based on the Institute for the Study of War battle map, Russia had already occupied three-to-four times more land in Ukraine than was seized in Kursk. But, right now, and to echo President Trump’s words during their fated Oval Office meeting, he has the weakest hand of cards”, Proud states.

While the former US Marine, Brian Berletic, analysing recent actions by the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU), says:

“I’m looking at pro-Ukrainian combat map. If it showing the situation (on the front and, in particular, in the Kursk region. –– Ed. note) to be this bad, imagine how much worse it probably is”.

About how truly deplorable the situation of the AFU in Kursk is, we can learn from the stories of Ukrainian servicemen. For example, a few soldiers who miraculously escaped from Sudzha told in an interview with the “BBC” about their retreat. One of them, “Anton”, described it as a catastrophe. Withal, he almost died several times while leaving Sudzha. Another military, “Dmytro”, says that escaping from Kursk was just like a horror movie:

“The roads are littered with hundreds of destroyed cars, armoured vehicles and All-Terrain Vehicles. There are a lot of wounded and dead. The situation had turned from difficult and critical to catastrophic. Everything is finished in the Kursk region… the operation was not successful”.

The British newspaper “The Economist” concludes:

“Ukraine’s army escapes from Kursk by the skin of its teeth”.

And how unfortunate Kyiv got because, in fact, it lost its only trump card in peace negotiations right before Trump’s call to Putin. A professor at King’s College London, Michael Clarke, in an interview with “Sky News”, about the talks between the American and Russian presidents said the following:

“There’s an old saying in diplomatic circles: “If you’re not at the table, you’re on the menu”. And believe me Ukraine is on the menu”.

Ukrainian Telegram channels are extremely disappointed with such a finale to the Zelensky’s Kursk gambit. In particular, the Telegram channel “Legitimniy” writes that now, when Zelensky won’t be able to exchange Russian territory for Ukrainian lands, all the achievements made by the AFU on the front will be discarded. Other Telegram channel, “Resident”, adds:

“Our source in the Office of the President [of Ukraine] said that Zelensky is dissatisfied with Yermak and Syrskyi, who let him down at the most crucial moment of the war, he is losing popularity within the country, but most importantly on the international stage”.

So, Zelensky lost his only bargaining chip in peace talks. Moreover, this happened on the threshold of such an important dialogue between Trump and Putin. He should have agreed to the peace when he was holding spots in the Kursk region. In that case, there would have been some benefits, and all the losses would not have been pointless.

Now, the main thing is that, after talks about Ukraine without Ukraine, Ukraine will be able to continue to exist at all.