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Trump claims he asked Putin to 'spare thousands of surrounded Ukrainian troops' in Kursk Oblast

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Trump claims he asked Putin to 'spare thousands of surrounded Ukrainian troops' in Kursk Oblast
Donald Trump, during a campaign rally at Riverfront Sports, in Scranton, Pennsylvania, US on Oct. 9, 2024. (Michael M. Santiago/Getty Images)

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.

With Putin demanding new concessions for a ceasefire, all eyes are on Trump’s next move
As a U.S. delegation in Moscow worked to hammer out a ceasefire agreement with Russian President Vladimir Putin, the Russian leader responded by demanding extensive concessions in exchange for a ceasefire deal in Ukraine. So far, Trump has made harsh demands on Ukraine while avoiding putting simila…
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By infiltrating Ukrainian positions in small infantry groups, Russia has accumulated around 200 troops within Pokrovsk, the General Staff reported. These personnel are engaging in "intense" small arms and drone clashes with Ukrainian troops in the city.

While Ukraine also lacks Western-supplied weapons, soldiers and commanders say shortages of basics — cars, drones and people — make holding back Russia extremely difficult. Even as Kyiv seeks U.S. approval for Tomahawks, they say critical, rudimentary gear is the more pressing need.

Russia faces an increase in the arson and “spontaneous combustion” of electrical panels, railway relay cabinets, and other infrastructure helping Moscow wage its war against Ukraine over the past week, a source at Ukraine’s military intelligence told the Kyiv Independent.

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The episode covers Russian war crimes in Pokrovsk and continued attacks on Ukrainian cities, including missile strikes on Kyiv and Kharkiv. While Moscow continues to reject a ceasefire with Ukraine, has President Trump finally shifted his approach to Russia?

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