Vladimir Putin made his first visit to Kursk since the Ukrainian incursion into the Russian territory during an unexpected offensive in August 2024. The Russian president expressed optimism that his forces were close to “completely liberating” Kursk, having reportedly reclaimed 24 settlements in just five days. “I trust that all tasks assigned to our units will be accomplished, and the Kursk region will soon be entirely freed from enemy control,” he stated in a broadcast on state television.
Shortly after Putin’s statements were broadcast, the commander-in-chief of Ukraine’s army, Gen Oleksandr Syrski, indicated that his forces were retreating to reduce casualties. “In the toughest situations, my main focus has always been and continues to be the safety of our Ukrainian soldiers. Accordingly, our defense forces will reposition to more advantageous locations when necessary,” Syrski shared online, using language commonly associated with withdrawal.
Syrski noted that the Russian military was incurring significant losses in personnel and equipment in its attempts to gain “political victories” by expelling Ukrainian troops. Sudzha remains the largest settlement that Ukraine has captured in Kursk, and the Ukraine-based Deep State mapping project revealed earlier on Wednesday that Kyiv no longer had complete control of it. “The enemy is deploying airborne units and special operations forces to breach our defenses, displace our troops from the Kursk region, and transition the fighting into the Sumy and Kharkiv territories,” Syrski remarked.
Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Kyiv was doing “everything within its power” to safeguard its soldiers. “The Russians are evidently exerting maximum pressure on our forces, and our military leadership is taking the necessary actions,” the Ukrainian president commented during a press conference in Kyiv. “We are making every effort to preserve the lives of our soldiers.”
Donald Trump proposed that he could impose financial measures against Russia, urging strong actions if Moscow failed to uphold a 30-day ceasefire agreed upon by Ukrainian and US representatives in Saudi Arabia. Washington, Kyiv, and Europe are awaiting Moscow’s response to the proposal, with US envoys anticipated to engage in discussions with Putin by week’s end. The Kremlin has yet to publicly clarify its stance on an immediate ceasefire. Should Putin refuse, Trump suggested he could take “financial actions that would negatively impact Russia.”
Zelenskyy expressed his expectation of robust actions from Washington if Russia declined the ceasefire proposal. “I believe we can expect significant measures. While I don’t have the specifics yet, we are discussing sanctions [against Russia] and fortifying Ukraine.”
The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, stated that Washington seeks Moscow’s agreement without any conditions. “That’s the critical information we need – whether they are ready to do this unconditionally,” Rubio commented while en route to a G7 meeting in Canada. “If the answer is affirmative, it will signify real progress and a genuine opportunity for peace. Conversely, a negative response would be regrettable and would clarify their intentions.”
The US’s warnings came as the French Defence Minister, Sébastien Lecornu, announced at a press conference in Paris that a ceasefire declaration might occur as early as Thursday, requiring Europe to be ready to assist in its enforcement. Defence ministers from Europe’s five main military powers – the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, and France – convened in Paris to deliberate the establishment of a “reassurance force” that would ensure peace in Ukraine if a settlement is reached. Lecornu expressed hopes for a ceasefire announcement tomorrow and mentioned that 15 countries are prepared to contribute to a force of up to 30,000 personnel to secure Ukraine’s airports, ports, and infrastructure on a permanent basis.
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