U.S. President Donald Trump said his administration held "productive discussions" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, during which he urged him to "spare" surrounded Ukrainian troops, he wrote in a Truth Social post on March 14.
"At this very moment, thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position," Trump wrote, without providing any evidence.
"I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all."
A day before, Putin said that Russia is prepared to accept a U.S.-backed 30-day-long ceasefire but demanded that Ukraine halt mobilization, military training, and foreign aid deliveries.
Putin also mentioned Russia's breakthrough in Kursk Oblast, claiming that the ceasefire would be beneficial for Ukraine. Moscow claimed on March 12 to have retaken over 86% of seized territories in the region, including a key town of Sudzha, captured by Ukrainian troops at the start of the Kursk incursion in August 2024.
"(In case of) complete physical blockade, (Ukrainian soldiers) will have only two options: surrender or die," Putin said.
Ukraine's Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged on March 12 the "difficult situation" in the region but said that Ukraine will hold the defenses "as long as reasonable and necessary."
Earlier, Syryskyi said that there was no threat of encirclement of Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast.
Trump's statement comes as the president's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow on March 13 and met with Putin late in the evening, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed.
He said that Russia has sent "additional signals" to Trump regarding a proposed ceasefire through Witkoff. Previously, the U.S. president called Putin's remarks "very promising" but said they were "not complete," adding he is open to meeting with the Russian leader.
Oleg Sukhov
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