Russian President Vladimir Putin has demanded that Russian forces achieve a total victory over Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, just ahead of talks with US President Donald Trump’s envoy. Putin visited a command center in Kursk on Wednesday and ordered troops to “destroy” all remaining Ukrainian formations.
The order comes as Ukrainian forces have pushed back against Russian counteroffensives, but recent weeks have seen their gains reverse and significant ground recaptured by Russian forces. The US has proposed a 30-day ceasefire, with American representatives meeting with Kremlin officials this week.
Russia’s battlefield successes in Kursk will be crucial in determining the trajectory of peace talks between Moscow and Kyiv. Putin said he plans to create a security zone along the state border to prevent repeat incursions by Ukrainian forces, which would be treated as terrorists under Russian law.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio expressed optimism that Russia would engage in peace negotiations following the US-Ukrainian agreement on a ceasefire proposal. However, Kremlin officials have been non-committal, saying they will not prejudge the outcome of talks with American negotiators arriving in Moscow this week.
The latest development comes as Trump’s push for peace has been met with skepticism from some allies, who worry about his alignment with Russia’s false narratives about the conflict. The US and Canada are also locked in a trade war, with Trump repeatedly suggesting that Canada be absorbed by the US.
Source: https://abcnews.go.com/International/putin-demands-kursk-total-victory-ahead-moscow-talks/story?id=119743582