Donald Trump has been echoing Vladimir Putin’s claims that large numbers of Ukrainian troops are “surrounded” in Kursk – suggestions disputed by Kyiv and a number of other reports. The US and Moscow, meanwhile, have also been expressing optimism about ongoing talks. Follow the latest here.
false,Friday 14 March 2025 18:27, UK
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Earlier, we brought you comments from US secretary of state Marco Rubio who was speaking about the ceasefire deal from the G7 meeting in Canada.
Watch what we had to say below…
Vladimir Putin believes it is impossible to accept the ceasefire right now despite knowing Donald Trump “will not wait forever,” a former Russian deputy foreign minister has said.
Speaking to our presenter Jonathan Samuels, Andrey Fedorov said: “For Putin to make this step, to accept this proposal, it is only possible if some of the conditions will be fulfilled.
“Yesterday, Steve Witkoff received a list of questions without answering them. Any move forward is not possible, of course it will take time.”
Fedorov said Putin can’t have a ceasefire right away after the Russian president said he still had “lots of questions” yesterday.
When asked to outline Putin’s main demands for ending the war, Fedorov said Russia’s president wants guarantees for “lasting peace” and is demanding that during the ceasefire, all weapon deliveries to Ukraine are stopped.
But Fedorov described this demand as “very hard to realise”.
We’ve now heard from French president Emmanuel Macron, who said he had spoken to Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Sir Keir Starmer today to discuss the ceasefire proposal.
In an online post, Macron followed in the footsteps of Ukraine’s allies calling on Russia to accept the proposal, saying “Russian aggression in Ukraine must end”.
He also said there must also be a stop to “delaying tactics” – something Vladimir Putin has been accused of after saying there were “nuances” and “lots of questions” remaining over a deal yesterday.
In contrast with Trump, Macron’s comments echo those of Zelenskyy (see 16.38 post).
The French president will join a virtual meeting of world leaders tomorrow, hosted by Starmer, aimed at building on the “coalition of the willing” – the countries which have pledged their support to Ukraine.
Throughout the day, we’ve been keeping you across what the US and Russia have been saying about Kursk as Ukraine continues to lose its foothold in the region.
Echoing Vladimir Putin’s claims, Donald Trump said “thousands” of Ukrainian troops were being cut off – something that was disputed by our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke (see 2.15pm post).
He also called on Putin to spare the lives of the Ukrainian troops, something Russia’s president has said he will only do if Ukraine gives orders to surrender.
Ukraine has also rejected the claims, with a number of analysts suggesting the picture being presented by Putin – and, in turn, Trump – is not entirely accurate.
Ukrainians are in some difficulty in some places, Oliver Carroll, foreign correspondent at The Economist has said.
“Some small groups are in Russian pockets,” he wrote in a post on X, but says their number is “not 1000s”.
He explains it is in part because troops are being withdrawn in a staggered way in an attempt not to open up the Sumy region to a Russian offensive.
“Some can’t retreat on vehicles, so are going on foot,” he added.
While US secretary of state Marco Rubio was addressing the media at the G7 meeting in Canada, Vladimir Putin has also been speaking.
He says the situation is starting to move following talks with Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow, adding “let’s see what comes of it”.
Putin also addressed Trump’s request to spare the lives of Ukrainian troops (see 1.40pm post).
In a post on Truth Social, the US president said: “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.”
Responding to Trump’s comments, Putin called on Ukrainian authorities to give an order for their soldiers to surrender.
He says in the case that they surrender, Russia will guarantee their lives will be saved.
As previously noted, Ukraine has said claims its troops are surrounded in Kursk are untrue.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he sees a “good chance” to end the war with Russia.
The Ukrainian president repeated his assertion that Vladimir Putin would try to drag the ceasefire proposal into endless discussions, and urged the US and Kyiv’s other allies to apply pressure on Russia.
In a similar vein, a Ukrainian government source has told Sky News: “The Americans offered an unconditional ceasefire for 30 days, and we agreed to it.
“So there should be a mirror agreement from Russia’s side. What Putin said publicly yesterday and what we heard Putin said to American side are additional conditions to Ukraine for a ceasefire, in particular, stop recruitment into the army, stop supply of defence aid.
“Any attempt to add conditions for ceasefire we see as an attempt by Russia to drag things on.”
US secretary of state Marco Rubio has been speaking at the G7 meeting in Canada.
He said there was a “positive interaction” between White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Vladimir Putin, who met in Moscow yesterday.
He said that once Witkoff returned, the team would examine the Russian position more closely and Donald Trump “will determine the next steps”.
“I think there’s reason to be cautiously optimistic,” he said.
“But by the same token, we continue to recognise this is a difficult and complex situation.”
Asked if he trusts Putin, Rubio markedly declines to answer directly, saying he thinks that is “an irrelevant question”.
“Foreign policy is not about trusting, it’s about actions,” he says.
“In the end, on something like this, you can’t just say you want peace, you have to do peace, and that’s true for both sides in any conflict.”
But Rubio did say both sides will have to make concessions in their talks to end the war in Ukraine.
“That’ll have to be part of the negotiation, but it’s not going to be helpful to enter into those negotiations making blanket statements that may give an excuse for one side or the other not to participate in it,” he added.
Ukraine is “ready to sign” a minerals deal with America but the US has “not decided yet on the terms”, according to the country’s deputy prime minister.
Olha Stefanishyna said today: “The agreement is ready. There are no changes in the text.”
She added in comments to the media: “The American side has not decided yet on the terms on which they want to sign it. Ukraine is ready to sign.”
Donald Trump has made a minerals deal a key part of continuing US support for Ukraine, as he seeks a ceasefire in the war.
There has been plenty of uncertainty about whether the deal would come with US “security guarantees” – with Ukraine and Europe saying they would be necessary to deter Russia and enforce any peace deal.
Trump, however, has repeatedly suggested having American companies in Ukraine to make the most of a minerals deal would be enough protection – his reasoning being Russia would not risk putting US workers in harm’s way.
In the past hour, our US correspondents have been answering questions from readers and viewers – including whether Vladimir Putin has some kind of hold on Donald Trump.
It was one of the most popular questions people got in touch with for our weekly Q&A, as part of the Trump 100 podcast, looking at the first 100 days of the Republican’s second term in the White House.
Obviously, Trump’s leadership and policies have already impacted Ukraine enormously. So if you’re interested in catching up on the latest questions and answers, click the link below.
You can also follow Trump 100 wherever you enjoy your podcasts.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been speaking to two key religious figures today – emphasising the message that Ukraine wants peace, and Russia does not.
He has spoken with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, a leader of the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as a close aide of Pope Francis – Secretary of State of the Holy See, Cardinal Pietro Parolin.
During his conversation with the cardinal, Zelenskyy “wished Pope Francis a speedy recovery and thanked him for his prayers and moral support for our people, as well as for his efforts in facilitating the return of Ukrainian children illegally deported and displaced by Russia”.
He added: “The Holy See has received a list of Ukrainians being held in Russian prisons and camps. We are counting on the support for their release.”
He went on to say, in posts on X explaining his conversations: “The Ukrainian people want peace more than anyone.
“Meanwhile, the world sees how Russia is deliberately setting conditions that only complicate and drag out the process, as Russia is the only party that wants the war to continue and diplomacy to break down.”
Ukraine’s leader has a similar message in his chat with the Orthodox leader, saying “only Russia is unwilling to end the war” and that Ukraine supports “the US proposal for an unconditional 30-day full interim ceasefire in the sky, at sea and on land”.
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