Vladimir Putin has called on Kyiv’s forces to surrender. (Image: Getty)
has responded to Donald Trump’s request to prevent what he called a “massacre” of Ukrainian forces, by demanding Kyiv’s forces surrender. Putin said: “We are sympathetic to President Trump’s call… If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment”.
The comment comes after ‘s General Staff rubbished claims that its soldiers were “completely surrounded” in ‘s Kursk region, as Trump had earlier written online. Kyiv’s General Staff said: “Reports about the enemy’s alleged encirclement of Ukrainian units in the Kursk region are untrue and are being created by the Russians for political purposes and to put pressure on and its partners. The situation did not change significantly over the day. Combat actions in the operational area of the Kursk military grouping continue.”
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They were both responding to comments from after a phone call with Putin apparently led him to spout the Russian narrative of catastrophic defeat for in Kursk – in contrast to Kyiv’s claims that an orderly withdrawal is underway.
Posting on Truth Social, Trump said: “We had very good and productive discussions with President of 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!!!”
Vladimir Putin in Kursk on Thursday (Image: NC)
Putin’s post notably fails to rule out treating Ukrainian POWs as “terrorists”, something he warned he would do during his visit to Kursk on Thursday, despite it being in breach of internationa law.
Russian President met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the American proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in the war with , asking him to convey Moscow’s thoughts to Washington, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday.
Putin asked Witkoff late on Thursday to give additional messages to U.S. President , Peskov told reporters, after the Russian leader said at a news conference that he supported a truce in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed.
Mr Witkoff was kept waiting for hours for the meeting, according to the New York Post.
Donald Trump and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte at the White House on Thursday (Image: Getty)
Sir on Friday said Putin must stop playing games with a ceasefire and come to the table as he convened world leaders to discuss peacekeeping in .
The Prime Minister explained: “We can’t allow President Putin to play games with President Trump’s deal.
“The Kremlin’s complete disregard for President Trump’s ceasefire proposal only serves to demonstrate that Putin is not serious about peace.
“If finally comes to the table, then we must be ready to monitor a ceasefire to ensure it is a serious and enduring peace.
“If they don’t, then we need to strain every sinew to ramp up economic pressure on to secure an end to this war.”