Ukraine hints Kursk pullback

MOSCOW, Russia (AFP) — President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday expressed hope his army was on the brink of “fully liberating” Russia’s Kursk region, as Ukraine hinted it was pulling troops back in the face of rapid Russian advances.

In his first visit to the region since Ukraine launched its shock counter-offensive in August, Putin, dressed in army camouflage, hailed recent gains and urged his troops on.

“I am counting on the fact that all the combat tasks facing our units will be fulfilled, and the territory of the Kursk region will soon be completely liberated from the enemy,” he said in televised remarks.

Russia’s forces have retaken 24 settlements in the border region over the last five days, chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov told Putin.

Minutes after footage of Putin’s remarks aired on Russian state TV, Ukraine’s army commander suggested his troops were pulling back to minimize losses.

“In the most difficult situation, my priority has been and remains saving the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. To this end, the units of the defense forces, if necessary, manoeuvre to more favorable positions,” commander-in-chief Oleksandr Syrsky said in a Facebook post, in language typically used to describe a withdrawal.

He added however: “Despite the increased pressure from the Russian/North Korean army, we will hold the defense in the Kursk region as long as it is appropriate and necessary.”

Ukraine and its allies say more than 10,000 North Korean troops are fighting for Russia in Kursk.

Gerasimov said Russia had captured 430 Ukrainian soldiers in the region, while Syrsky said 942 Russians had been taken as prisoners of war.

Putin said the captured Ukrainian fighters should be “treated as terrorists, in accordance with the laws of the Russian Federation,” suggesting they could face trials in Russian courts and be jailed for decades.

Russia has already put several captured Ukrainian fighters on trial for “terrorism.”

The Geneva Convention prohibits putting captured fighters on trial for their involvement in armed hostilities.

Gerasimov said Russia had retaken around 1,100 square kilometers of territory in the Kursk region — the vast majority of what Ukraine initially seized in its shock August 2024 incursion.

The Russian success on the battlefield comes as the United States (US) says it wants Russia to agree “unconditionally” to a complete 30-day ceasefire — a plan Kyiv has endorsed.

Ukraine had hoped to use its hold on the Kursk region as a bargaining chip in peace talks with Moscow.

US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that negotiators are headed to Russia “right now” for talks on a possible ceasefire with Ukraine.

Trump did not give further details, but the White House later said that his special envoy Steve Witkoff was going to Moscow later this week.

“People are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office during a meeting with Ireland’s prime minister.

“And if we do, I think that would be 80 percent of the way to getting this horrible bloodbath finished.”

Ukraine gave the nod on Tuesday to a US-backed plan for a 30-day ceasefire at talks in Saudi Arabia — although President Volodymyr Zelensky says he still does not trust Russia.

The Kremlin said earlier Wednesday that it was still waiting for Washington to inform it about the details of the proposal.

Trump would not say when he would next speak to his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, but added that “I hope he’s going to have a ceasefire.”

“It’s up to Russia now,” said Trump.

“I’ve gotten some positive messages, but a positive message means nothing. This is a very serious situation, it could start World War Three.”