Putin guarantees life of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk if they surrender

Russian President Vladimir Putin says he is willing to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region. His comments came as a reply to US President Donald Trump’s appeal for the lives of soldiers blocked by Russian troops.

Putin says a full surrender and withdrawal from the Kursk region is necessary in order to implement Trump’s call.

“For the effective implementation of the US President’s call, a corresponding order from the military-political leadership of Ukraine to its military units to lay down their arms and surrender is necessary.”

Putin added that the servicemen “will be guaranteed life and decent treatment”.

“I would like to emphasize that if they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and decent treatment in accordance with the norms of international law and the laws of the Russian Federation.”

He also claimed that Ukrainian soldiers have committed numerous crimes against the civilian population of the various settlements Kyiv had seized in last year’s surprise cross-border offensive on Russia’s western Kursk region.

“we draw attention to the fact that Ukrainian militants have committed numerous crimes against the civilian population in the invasion zone. These acts, as I have already said, are classified as terrorism by the Prosecutor General's Office of the Russian Federation,” added Putin.

The Russian army, backed by North Korean troops, are now close to completely driving Ukrainian forces from their foothold in Russia's Kursk border region in what would be a major setback for Kyiv.

Meanwhile, the Russian leader also met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss details of the Washington proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, asking him to convey Moscow's thoughts to Trump.