Doha: Ukraine finds itself at a crossroads with critical decisions ahead as the United States leads diplomatic efforts for a ceasefire between Ukrainian and Russian forces, amidst escalating military actions in the Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had advanced into back in August.
According to Qatar News Agency, Russian President Vladimir Putin visited Kursk two days ago in military attire and ordered his troops to fully retake the region, calling for consideration of establishing a safe zone along the border between the two countries. This was the first visit by the Kremlin leader to the area since Ukrainian forces launched a surprise attack seven months ago, capturing hundreds of square kilometers, which Russian troops have since been trying to reclaim.
The Kremlin announced that the Russian Northern Forces Command informed Putin that they had successfully encircled Ukrainian forces in Kursk, bringing the operation to liberate the region into its final phase. Russian Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov stated that Russian forces had recently reclaimed over 1,100 square kilometers of the province, equivalent to 86% of the land previously occupied by Ukrainian troops.
Ukraine's initial goal with its attack on Kursk was to gain a bargaining chip for negotiations regarding the Ukrainian territories occupied by Russia. According to the latest reports, Ukrainian forces have begun losing ground in the province due to a Russian offensive that began on March 7. Ukrainian Army Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi announced a retreat of his forces in Kursk, adding that in this most difficult situation, saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers remains their top priority.
He emphasized that, when necessary, Ukrainian forces are maneuvering to more advantageous positions, a strategy commonly used by both Russian and Ukrainian sides when discussing retreats, but Syrskyi ruled out a complete withdrawal from Russian-held territories. On the political front, US President Donald Trump announced that American negotiators were en route to Russia, as Washington urges Moscow to accept its proposed 30-day ceasefire agreement, as agreed upon during recent talks between Ukrainian and American delegations in Saudi Arabia.
Trump expressed hope that Russian President Vladimir Putin would also agree to this plan, though he did not specify the pressures that could be applied in case of refusal, stating that he could take financial actions that would be very bad for Russia. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio stated that senior diplomats from G7 allies meeting in Canada should focus on ending the war, expressing hope for a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine within "days" if Russian leaders agree.
Rubio, speaking during a stopover in Ireland on his way from Saudi Arabia to Canada, said that this is what they hope for the world in a few days: no exchange of fire between the two sides - no missiles, no shells, no bullets, no artillery, adding that the fighting stops, the fighting stops, and dialogue begins. Meanwhile, defense ministers from the five major military powers in Europe - the UK, Germany, Italy, Poland, and France - met in Paris yesterday to discuss forming a "peacekeeping force" to ensure peace in Ukraine if an agreement is reached.
They expressed hope for a ceasefire tomorrow, Friday, and announced that 15 countries are prepared to contribute to a force of up to 30,000 soldiers to secure airports, ports, and infrastructure in Ukraine on a permanent basis. However, the ministers emphasized that they still want the United States to provide guarantees to support the peacekeeping forces, hinting that a metals deal set to be signed between US and Ukraine would not be enough.
In Moscow, the Kremlin announced it is waiting for full information from Washington regarding the proposed ceasefire. The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov mentioned that a phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and his US counterpart, Donald Trump, might take place shortly. Earlier this year, Russian President Putin repeatedly rejected the possibility of a temporary ceasefire in the Ukraine war, stressing that he is focused on addressing what he called the "root causes" of the conflict.
Earlier, the Russian Security Council informed that there should be no short truce, no pause to regroup and rearm for further continuation of the conflict, but rather long-term peace. Instead, Putin outlined a list of maximal demands for ending the war, including Ukraine renouncing its pursuit of NATO membership, undergoing partial disarmament, and ceding full control over the four Ukrainian regions that Russia seized in 2022.