Ukraine plans to indefinitely hold the territory it controls in Kursk region (Russia) until it forces Vladimir Putin to sit down at the negotiating table, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in an interview with NBC News.

"We do not need Russian territory. The goal of our operation is to restore our territorial integrity," Zelenskyy said in an interview. Answering the question of whether Ukraine plans to hold Russian territory for a long time, he said "from a conceptual point of view, we will hold it."

The president said Ukraine will "hold" this territory, since it is an integral part of his "plan for victory" in the war. Zelenskyy added that he will present this proposal to international partners, in particular, the United States.

Speaking about the territory that Ukraine currently holds as part of Russia, Zelenskyy said: "For now, we need it."

In addition, the head of state said he cannot discuss whether Ukraine plans to try to take control of even more Russian territories.

"I will not say, sorry, I cannot talk about it. This is like the beginning of our Kursk operation. With all due respect, I cannot talk about it, I think that success is very close to unexpectedness," Zelenskyy said.

According to him, Ukraine has now captured hundreds of occupiers, whom it plans to exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war.

The president said he did not inform the United States about plans for Kursk, and preparations for the operation were also kept secret within Ukraine.

"Yes, we did not inform anyone. And it is not a lack of trust," Zelenskyy said, noting that Kyiv's counteroffensive last summer failed largely because it was advertised and talked about a lot, thereby giving the Russians time to prepare.