Russia and Ukraine are "pursuing two different wars" as both countries believe their campaign is "most strategic", a think-tank founder has claimed.
Dmitri Alperovitch said Vladimir Putin is "ignoring" Ukraine's advances as Russia continue "focusing on eastern Ukraine".
Ukraine’s surprise counter offensive into Russia is not said to be a turning point but "still a major upheaval".
US author of World on the Brink told GB News: "For the most part, Putin has been actually kind of ignoring it and the peculiar situation about this conflict at this stage at least, is that it seems like Ukraine and Russia are pursuing two different wars.
Russia and Ukraine are "pursuing two different wars" as both countries believe their campaign is "most strategic", a think-tank founder has claimed
Reuters
"The Ukrainians have massed forces and have successfully executed this offensive in Kursk and have captured territory, have captured hundreds of POWs there as well.
"And the Russians have not really responded in force to this offensive.
"They have not mobilised forces in mass, have not moved significant forces out of the Donbas to confront it and have continued to pursue the campaign that has been ongoing many months now to take the city in the Donbas, which is a key logistical hub, a major railway railroad junction point in the Donbas.
"That can help them - should they take it - proceed onwards and try to take more territory in eastern Ukraine.
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"So the Russians are focused on eastern Ukraine, the Ukrainians are focused on southern Russia.
"And both seem to believe that their campaign is the one that's most strategic."
Russian born Alperovitch believes the land occupied by President Zelensky could be used as "potential future negotiations with Russia".
He added: "I think the Russians feel like because is a key strategic hub that if they take it, they can open up more of the Donbas for further offensives.
Russian born Alperovitch believes the land occupied by President Zelensky could be used as 'potential future negotiations with Russia'
Reuters"The Ukrainians feel like if they can actually hold this territory that they've captured in Russia, they can potentially use it as an exchange fund, as President Zelensky calls it.
"Likely meaning that he thinks it will be helpful in potential future negotiations with Russia to try to exchange Russian territory, for occupied Ukrainian territory.
"But it's a big question, of course, can they hold it? Can they use it in those negotiations?
"And on the Russian side, there are big questions about whether they can take Pokrovsk and if they can they leverage it for future gains in the Donbas."