In a powerful move, President Donald Trump has described his recent talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin about the Ukraine conflict as both “very good and productive.” This discussion brings hope for a possible end to the long-standing war.
On Thursday, President Putin agreed “in principle” to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine. This promising step could bring an end to this drawn-out and costly conflict. However, Putin has emphasized that discussions with the U.S. must continue, especially a call with President Trump.
On Friday, Trump shared his thoughts on Truth Social:
“We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and 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. 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!!!“
— GOP (@GOP)
March 14, 2025
In a clear bid to control the narrative, Ukraine’s military is once again in denial, dismissing reports of its troops being surrounded in Russia’s Kursk region as “false and fabricated by the Russians for political manipulation.” Yet, the reality remains—Ukraine’s forces are on the brink of collapse within Russian territory.
The Times reported:
Ukraine’s military has denied reports its troops are being encircled in Russia’s Kursk region after President Trump posted on social media that they are “completely surrounded by the Russian military”.
The general staff of Ukraine’s armed forces said the reports were “untrue”, adding: “There is no threat of encirclement of our units.”
“[The reports] are being created by the Russians for political purposes and pressure on Ukraine and partners … The situation has not changed significantly over the past day,” the military said in a statement on Telegram.
During a press conference on Thursday, Putin posed the question, “Should we release them after they committed serious crimes against civilians?” Russia had previously declared that soldiers captured in Kursk would be labeled as terrorists, according to Axios.
It’s apparent that Ukraine’s military is not being truthful. The situation for Kyiv grows dire.
TGP’s Paul Serran highlighted back in August that the beleaguered Ukrainian army ventured into Russian territory in the Kursk region. They managed to capture a small area that, while insignificant from a military strategy angle, served as a symbolic victory for the struggling Kiev regime’s forces.
To maintain this small foothold for seven months, Ukrainian Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrsky sent numerous troops into harm’s way, troops that could have been more effectively deployed along the expansive 600-mile frontline.
Now, even the mainstream media, alongside Russian and Ukrainian forces, acknowledge that the Ukrainian ‘pocket’ inside Russia is nearing obliteration. The Red Army has seized 12 settlements in the last 24 hours, including the major city under Kiev’s control, Sudzha.
Reuters reported:
“Ukrainian troops appeared on the point of losing their hard-won foothold inside Russia’s Kursk region on Wednesday as Moscow claimed further advances there and military bloggers on both sides said Kiev’s forces were withdrawing.”
“Reuters was able to verify video published by Russian bloggers and state media showing troops standing with a Russian tricolor flag on a square in the center of Sudzha, a town near the Ukrainian border on a highway used by Ukraine as a supply route.”
