Synopsis
On March 14, US President Donald Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops surrounded by Russian forces. He described his conversation with Putin as productive and emphasized the urgency to prevent a potential massacre.Key Takeaways
- Trump requested Putin to spare Ukrainian troops.
- Discussions characterized as productive.
- Ukrainian commander denied encirclement claims.
- Ceasefire plan proposed and accepted.
- Putin's conditions for ceasefire must be met.
Washington, March 14 (NationPress) US President Donald Trump stated on Friday that he had urged Russia's President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of thousands of Ukrainian troops who are entirely surrounded by the Russian military.
Trump shared on his Truth Social platform that this appeal was made during a phone conversation with Putin on Thursday, which he characterized as productive and positive.
Although Trump did not provide specific details, he was alluding to the Russian military's offensive in the Kursk region, an area that had previously been captured by Ukraine.
Putin visited this region on Thursday to celebrate the military's advancements there.
In his post, Trump remarked, “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.”
He further stated, “I have strongly requested President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II.”
In response, Ukraine's top commander refuted claims that Ukrainian forces were encircled in Kursk, as reported by Reuters, asserting instead that they were establishing stronger defensive measures.
Additionally, President Trump's envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrived in Moscow for discussions on Thursday, coinciding with the day when the Russian leader tentatively accepted a ceasefire plan. However, he emphasized that certain conditions must be fulfilled before he would formally agree, primarily that Ukraine must not exploit the ceasefire to mobilize troops or receive weapons.
A ceasefire proposal for 30 days was put forth by the US, which Ukraine accepted during a meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, involving US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz along with Ukrainian representatives.
