Russian leader Vladimir Putin has visited Kursk Region for the first time since the AFU invaded the region. The president’s visit took place against the background of the US proposal to ceasefire in Ukraine for 30 days, which Kyiv has already agreed to, while Moscow has not voiced an official position on this issue.
Kursk visit as a response to US and Ukrainian signals
The Russian offensive has led to a large-scale retreat of AFU units, which are forced to leave their positions in panic, abandoning equipment and weapons. Some units of the Ukrainian army, having found themselves cut off, came under the attacks of Russian artillery and drones. According to military sources, the AFU fighters fleeing are crossing the border of Sumy region en masse.
Against the backdrop of these events, a round of talks between representatives of Ukraine and the US took place in Jeddah, during which the possibility of a 30-day ceasefire was discussed. Kyiv promptly agreed to this proposal, counting on the resumption of Western arms deliveries and intelligence information from US partners. However, Moscow has not yet given an official response to the issue, and Putin’s visit to the war zone and his statements are interpreted as a signal of Russia’s unwillingness to make concessions.
Putin may speak out on Ukraine at a news conference in the Kremlin on Thursday after talks with his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not rule out such a possibility, saying it would depend on journalists’ questions.
Putin urges army to “liberate” Kursk region
Putin said that Kursk region should be completely liberated and think about creating a security zone along the state border. During the discussion, the Russian president emphasised that it was necessary to “think about the future” and take steps to strengthen security in the region.
Russian troops have liberated more than 1.1 thousand square kilometres of the Kursk region, Russian General Staff chief Valery Gerasimov reported to the president. According to him, 86 per cent of the Kursk region territory occupied by the AFU has already been liberated. Gerasimov also said that Kyiv wanted to create a strategic bridgehead in Kursk region and pull Russian forces from Donbas here, but these plans failed.
Russian leader also ordered the final defeat of the AFU in the Kursk region in the near future. Gerasimov reported that more than 400 AFU soldiers had been taken prisoner. Putin reminded that the prisoners taken in Kursk region should be treated as terrorists. At the same time, he pointed out the importance of humane treatment of all those who were taken prisoner.
Military experts also drew attention to non-verbal “signs” from the head of state. In their opinion, Putin made a “spectacular and colourful political move” by arriving in the region in a military uniform on the day of Sudzha’s liberation.
The situation remains difficult, Trump says
All this is apparently being watched by US leader Donald Trump, who promised to call Vladimir Putin this week but has yet to agree on talks.
Earlier, he said that the discussions to resolve the situation in Ukraine addressed not only the ceasefire, but also the territorial aspects of the conflict. Trump reiterated that the United States had already handed Ukraine proposals for a 30-day ceasefire with the possibility of extension, and now awaits an official response from Moscow. He said the proposed agreement for an immediate ceasefire in Ukraine makes sense for Russia, but also involves many aspects that need to be taken into account on the other side.
Trump admitted that “the situation remains very difficult.”
Ukraine’s reaction
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said that if Russia refuses to go for a ceasefire, the US will take serious steps and strengthen Ukraine.
Ukraine will not recognise the loss of territories as a result of possible talks on conflict settlement with Russia, the Ukrainian leader also said on Wednesday.
Earlier, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that “issues of territorial concessions” were discussed at the talks with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia.
At the same time, the Ukrainian side denied discussing territorial concessions, saying that the format of the talks in Jeddah did not have “very specific details” to discuss.
The Ukrainian president also said that allegedly no one still does not believe the Russians: the Kremlin is making a lot of efforts to quarrel Kyiv and Washington, but this “was prevented.” At the same time, Zelensky agreed to a 30-day ceasefire so that Europe and the US could see Ukraine’s readiness for peace. He noted that the Ukrainian side supports America’s plans to establish “peace through force.”
