Putin says Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk isolated and face choice to surrender or die

Record ID: 1983374

  • Title: Putin says Ukrainian forces in Russia's Kursk isolated and face choice to surrender or die
  • Date: 13th March 2025
  • Summary: MOSCOW, RUSSIA (MARCH 13, 2025) (RUSSIAN POOL) REPORTER ASKING QUESTION DURING NEWS CONFERENCE BY RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN AND BELARUS COUNTERPART ALEXANDER LUKASHENKO (SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING: "The situation over there (in Russia's Kursk region) is fully under our control. The grouping (of Ukraine's military) which invaded ou
  • Embargoed:
  • Keywords: Kursk Putin Ukraine advantage conflict situation
  • Location: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • City: MOSCOW, RUSSIA
  • Country: Russia
  • Topics: Diplomacy/Foreign Policy,Europe,Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA001862613032025RP1
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday (March 13) said that a 30-days ceasefire is "very good" for Ukraine which faces grave setback in Kursk region because of Russian advances. Russia supports the idea of truce, Putin said, but with certain reservations.
    Putin described the situation in Kursk region as a "complete isolation" of Ukrainian forces there which have only two options left - "surrender of die".
    Russian forces have been advancing since mid-2024 and control nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory.
    Putin said Russian forces were moving forward along the entire frontline and said the ceasefire would have to ensure that Ukraine did not seek to simply use it to regroup.
    He also alleged that the Ukrainian soldiers committed "mass crimes against civilians" in the parts of Kursk region they took control of since August 6, 2024. "Do we have to let them go?" Putin asked.
    Putin said he and U.S. President Donald Trump may hold a call to discuss the issues over a proposed ceasefire.
    U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday that his special envoy Steve Witkoff is in serious discussions with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine.
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