Trump awaiting response from Moscow, Putin orders recapture of Kursk

While Trump hopes for a ceasefire, but may be left holding the bag… Putin visits the Kursk region to order the territory’s liberation from Ukrainian forces. Balance gets complicated on diplomatic and military fronts

Donald Trump eagerly awaits a response from Moscow for the ceasefire, which Ukraine has already approved, but Vladimir Putin’s first move seems anything but encouraging. In military fatigues, the Russian leader went to the Kursk region, which has been partially occupied by Ukrainian troops since August 2024, and kicked off new operations to recapture it: “Let’s free it now,” he declared. Moscow aims to regain control of this strategic area, while Kiev confirms the retreat of its forces under pressure from the Russian army.

American diplomacy, meanwhile, continues to weave its threads. After talks with Ukrainian representatives in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the United States is preparing to engage in direct confrontation with Russia. Trump said, “We have sent people on their way to Moscow,” emphasizing the hope of finalizing the agreement after Ukrainian acceptance of the truce.

However, the U.S. president does not rule out severe consequences should Russia not adhere to the truce: “There are financial actions we can take, and they will have a very negative impact on Moscow,” Trump warned. His words are a stark reminder of the harshness of sanctions imposed against Russia during his previous term: “With me, Russia took nothing,” he said, recalling the failures of previous U.S. administrations to prevent Russian annexations.

Despite the harsh tone, Trump reiterated that he did not want a new escalation: “My goal is peace.” The Jeddah talks, called a success, also discussed disputed territories, but the real challenge now is getting a response from Putin. “Will Putin say yes? We don’t know yet,” Trump said, leaving open the possibility that Russia might accept the truce.

In the meantime, however, Putin does not seem willing to give in. In his visit to Kursk, he ordered Russian soldiers to “complete the liberation” of the region, thus eliminating possible Ukrainian leverage in the negotiations. “All combat missions must be completed,” Putin said, adding that it is crucial to ”restore the situation along the Russian border.” General Valery Gerasimov also confirmed the failure of the Ukrainian attempt to use the Kursk as a diversion to stop the Russian advance in the Donbass.

On the other hand, skepticism is also growing in Kiev. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has declared that Ukraine is ready for a cease-fire, but he makes no secret of his lack of trust in Moscow. “Everything depends on Russia: does it really want a truce or does it prefer to keep killing?” said Zelensky, reiterating that Kiev will never recognize the occupied territories as part of Russia.

So the situation remains tense, and while Trump speaks of hopes for peace, on the ground the war continues to claim victims and destabilize regional balances.

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(Photo: © AndKronos)