Putin Promises Safe Surrender for Ukrainian Troops in Kursk

US President Donald Trump has called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops surrounded in the Kursk region, expressing hope that the war could come to an end. In response, Putin stated that he would honor this request if the troops surrendered, acknowledging the humanitarian considerations raised by Trump. Putin's remarks came after a meeting with US envoy Steve Witkoff, during which a US-brokered ceasefire proposal was discussed, which Ukraine has accepted. While Putin accused Ukrainian forces of crimes against civilians, he emphasized that surrendering troops would be guaranteed protection under international law. Conversely, Russian officials warned that failure to surrender would lead to severe consequences for the Ukrainian soldiers. The situation remains fluid as military analysts report that the Ukrainian forces are reportedly repositioning rather than being encircled as claimed by Russia.