Putin acts on Trump’s 'strong' appeal to spare lives, urges Ukrainian troops to surrender in Kursk region

Putin's ultimatum: Surrender or face death

Putin claimed that Ukrainian troops had been cut off and surrounded inside the conflict zone, warning that if a complete blockade was enforced in the coming days, the soldiers would be left with only two choices — “surrender or die.” He reiterated that Russian forces were in full control of the region, escalating pressure on Ukraine's military leadership.

Trump warns of 'massacre not seen since WWII'

Earlier, in a post on Truth Social, Trump claimed to have held "productive discussions" with Putin and emphasized the dire circumstances facing Ukrainian soldiers allegedly encircled by Russian forces. "There is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, 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. "I have strongly requested President Putin to spare their lives. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!"

Ukraine denies encirclement, calls it strategic repositioning

Ukraine’s top commander, however, denied claims of encirclement, saying that troops in the region were merely repositioning to more defensible locations. Nonetheless, Putin’s remarks underscore growing Russian military pressure in the region.

Kursk conflict: A shifting battlefield

Putin's surrender call comes as Russia continues to push back Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region, an area that Ukrainian troops had reportedly held since August 2023. On Thursday, Putin had also expressed conditional support for a ceasefire, insisting that any halt in fighting must address the underlying causes of the conflict to ensure lasting peace.