Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Saturday of attempting to encircle Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region to strengthen Moscow’s position amid ceasefire negotiations with Washington. Zelensky stated that Russia had failed to create a “cauldron” to trap Ukrainian troops but acknowledged that Russian forces are advancing in an effort to cut off Ukrainian units.
The Russian Defense Ministry reported that its troops had recaptured two villages near Sudzha, a key city in the Kursk region previously occupied by Ukraine. The Ukrainian General Staff did not publicly comment on the situation in Sudzha, but a published battlefield map showed the city outside the area controlled by Ukrainian forces.
Intense fighting continues in part of the Kursk region, which Ukraine seized during a surprise offensive in the summer of 2023. Russia is actively advancing in an attempt to reclaim lost territory while simultaneously delaying ceasefire talks proposed by Washington and Kyiv.
On Friday, Vladimir Putin called on Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region to lay down their arms, promising to spare their lives if they surrendered. He also claimed that Ukrainian troops were encircled, a statement later echoed by former U.S. President Donald Trump on his Truth Social platform. However, Zelensky dismissed these claims as false.
Ukrainian officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, acknowledged that withdrawing troops from the Kursk region had become risky after Russia established fire control over the road from Sudzha. Nevertheless, they emphasized that no full encirclement of Ukrainian forces had occurred.
Moscow has expressed dissatisfaction for several months over the partial occupation of the Kursk region, marking the first time since World War II that a foreign power has seized Russian territory. Russian authorities previously stated that negotiations with Ukraine would be impossible until the occupation ended.
Putin had previously rejected the idea of a truce, arguing that even a temporary ceasefire would give Ukraine an advantage. However, after the Trump administration proposed a 30-day pause in hostilities, the Russian leader softened his stance, calling the idea “correct” but requiring further discussion. At the same time, he put forward conditions unacceptable to Kyiv, including a ban on troop recruitment and weapons supplies.
Trump, in turn, stated that his administration had held “very good and productive discussions” with Putin, expressing hope for an end to the conflict.
The situation in the Kursk and Sumy regions remains tense, with Russia’s actions indicating its intent to maintain military pressure despite diplomatic initiatives.
