US President Donald Trump has claimed that his discussion with Russian President Vladimir Putin could pave the way for ending the war in Ukraine. However, he also sounded an alarm, stating that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are currently “completely surrounded” by Russian forces and face a potentially catastrophic situation.
In a dramatic post on social media, Trump wrote: “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!!!”
While there has been no independent confirmation of Ukrainian troops being encircled, Trump’s claim has sparked intense debate about the war’s trajectory and his role in shaping potential peace efforts.
Earlier on Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin responded to US calls for a ceasefire, saying Moscow is open to halting hostilities but insisted that key concerns must be addressed first.
Also read: ‘Could do things very bad for Russia’: Trump warns Putin amid Ukraine ceasefire talks
“We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire (with Ukraine) to cease hostilities, but we proceed from the fact that this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace and should remove the root causes of this crisis,” Putin said at a joint press conference with Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
However, Putin expressed skepticism over how the ceasefire would work in practice, questioning whether Ukrainian forces would fully comply and raising concerns that a pause could allow Kyiv to rearm and regroup.
“How will other aspects be dealt with along the 2,000-kilometer contact line? As you know, Russian troops are advancing practically in every sector, and all the conditions are there for us to besiege fairly large units. So what would happen during those 30 days?” Putin asked.
He also questioned who would enforce the ceasefire and how violations would be addressed, emphasizing that further negotiations—including possibly a direct call with Trump—would be needed.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reacted to Russia’s cautious approach, accusing Moscow of attempting to prolong the war rather than seeking a genuine resolution.
“Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made. This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible,” Zelenskyy said.
Meanwhile, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had regained control of Sudzha, the largest town in the Kursk region, from Ukrainian forces—underscoring the ongoing intensity of the conflict despite ceasefire discussions.