The Russian president, wearing a variant uniform, requested yesterday, Wednesday, from high -ranking Russian army officers to defeat Ukrainian forces in the western region as soon as possible, after asking him for war on.
Putin terms to say ‘yes’ to Trump
According to Reuters’ latest information, citing sources with knowledge of the subject, Moscow has already disclosed to Washington its demands, and discussions have been held between the two sides.
According to the same source the requirements are:
1. No Ukraine Integration into NATO,
2. An agreement in order not to develop foreign troops on the territory of Ukraine and
3. To have an international recognition of the claim by Putin of Crimea and four other Ukraine provinces.
It is recalled that Ukrainian forces have unexpectedly invaded Russia’s Kursk Region on August 6, taking part in an attempt to distract Russian troops from the front to eastern Ukraine and possibly gain a negotiation.
However, the Russian counterattack has repelled most of the Ukrainian forces, which now control an area of less than 200 square kilometers in Kursk, out of the 1,300 square kilometers occupied in August, according to the Russian army.
The Putin message to the army
“I expect all the battle missions, which our teams have undertaken, to complete the territory of the Kursk Region soon to be completely free,” Putin said, addressing the Chief of the Russian Army General Staff Valeri Grasimov.
“Our mission in the near future, as soon as possible, is to decisively defeat the enemy in the Kursk Region,” the Russian president stressed.
“And of course we have to think about creating a seat belt along the border,” he added.
For his part, Girasimov told Putin that the Russian forces had repelled the Ukrainian army from 86% of the territory he controlled in Kursk, while 430 Ukrainian soldiers were captured in the most recent promotion of the Russian army in the area.
‘We’re in the final phase’ – Russians escalate how Ukraine answers
Today, the Kremlin spokesman said the Russian operation to expel Ukrainian forces by Kursk is entering its final phase, as reported by the TASS agency.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodimir Zelenski noted that Russian troops “clearly exert the highest pressure” in the Ukrainian forces in Kursk.
Ukrainian Olxandr Sirsky Army Chief of Staff said yesterday that the Ukrainian forces would continue “for as long as it is appropriate and necessary” their businesses in Kursk, adding that the battles are continuing around the city.
“In my most difficult state priority is and remains to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. For this reason, our defense powers, when necessary, move to more favorable positions, “Sirski noted.
American transition to Russia
Putin’s statements from Kursk were made after the US president said he hoped that Moscow would agree with the ceasefire proposal presented by Washington, which has already accepted Ukraine, stressing that otherwise the US would cause financial pain in Russia.
Trump also announced yesterday that US negotiators are going to “already” to Russia, but without giving further clarification.
The White House has clarified that US envoy Steve Witkov would go to Moscow this week, while National Security Advisor Mike Walts talked to his Russian counterpart yesterday.
The US Secretary of State – according to whom the “ball is now on the stadium” in Russia, as he said on Tuesday – said he is “looking forward” to Moscow’s response to “find out if he is ready” to accept the truce “without conditions”.
“If the answer is ‘yes’, then we will know that we have made true progress and that there is a real chance of peace. If the answer is ‘no’, it will be very unfortunate and will make their intentions clear, “Rubio said.
