Trump Appeals to Putin to Spare ‘Thousands’ of Ukrainian Troops Surrounded by Russians

Russian forces have reported recent success retaking their Kursk border region.

Amid efforts to broker a 30-day cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump appealed to Russian President Vladimir Putin to spare potentially thousands of Ukrainian troops that have been surrounded by Russian forces.

In a March 14 post on his Truth Social platform, Trump said his administration has had recent productive talks with the Russian side 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,” Trump added in all caps.

“I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!”

In his social media appeal to the Russian leader, Trump did not specify how and where thousands of Ukrainian troops had become surrounded by Russian forces. However, Trump’s post coincided with reports from the Russian military about recent progress in retaking a portion of the Kursk border region, which Ukrainian forces have occupied since August.

The Trump administration has called for a temporary cease-fire, presenting it as an opportunity to advance talks for a more lasting peace between Russia and Ukraine.

Kyiv has signaled support for the temporary pause in the fighting, but Moscow has stopped short of full support for the plan.

Putin, speaking at a Kremlin press conference on March 13, indicated he is open to a 30-day cease-fire between Russia and Ukraine but said he had questions about how exactly the arrangement would proceed.

During these same Kremlin remarks, Putin touted Russian advances in the Kursk region and claimed Ukrainian forces in the area are isolated with little possibility of a safe retreat, while Russian forces have overmatched them with firepower.

The Kursk battle zone was a recurring topic as Putin raised various questions about the U.S.-backed cease-fire proposal.

“First, what will we do about the incursion section in the Kursk region? What would that mean if we cease fire for 30 days?” Putin asked. “Does this mean that everyone who is in there will just walk out without a fight? Do we have to let them go after they committed numerous heinous crimes against civilians? Or will the Ukrainian leadership issue a command for them to lay down their arms and just surrender?”

Putin expressed some additional wariness about Ukraine using the cease-fire period as an opportunity to prepare its forces for more fighting rather than to move toward a more lasting peace settlement.

As Ukraine indicated its support for the temporary cease-fire plan this week, the Trump administration announced it would resume intelligence sharing and security assistance for Ukraine, reversing a pause it had ordered earlier this month.

Putin also asked how the participating parties of the cease-fire would monitor for violations.

White House special envoy Steve Witkoff departed for Moscow earlier this week.

In remarks shared by Russia’s TASS state news agency on Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov politics/1928159″ target=”_blank” class=”article-hover-class”>said Putin had met with Witkoff the day prior.

Peskov said the White House envoy had provided some information to Putin, who then “conveyed information and additional signals to President Trump.” Peskov did not provide additional details about their meeting.

Speaking with reporters on Friday, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed Witkoff met with Putin the day prior. Leavitt said Trump had not connected with the Russian leader by phone during Witkoff’s visit.

Discussing the cease-fire proposal on Thursday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted Ukraine is ready to proceed with the temporary cease-fire but said Putin is intentionally complicating the process.

“Putin is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war and keep killing Ukrainians,” Zelenskyy said. “That’s why, in Moscow, they are surrounding the cease-fire idea with such preconditions that it either fails or gets dragged out for as long as possible.”