Russian President Vladimir Putin made an unexpected visit to the war-torn region of Kursk on Wednesday after Ukraine agreed to a one-month ceasefire in talks with the US. Putin visited Kursk for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine last August.
Putin said that Russia's campaign to expel the Ukrainian army from Kursk has entered the final stage, according to the Russian state news agency Tass.
The photo released by the Russian presidential office shows Putin in military uniform. According to Tas, Putin has ordered the Russian army to withdraw the Kursk region completely. Putin says that any captured Ukrainian soldier is considered a terrorist .
Putin unexpectedly arrived in Kursk while the United States was waiting for a response about the month-long ceasefire accepted by Ukraine in the talks held in Saudi Arabia.
In the talks held with the US in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Ukraine has accepted the US proposal and is ready to cease fire immediately for one month . Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha, Defense Minister Rustema Umerov, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak participated in the talks.
The American team led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio was attended by National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mossad bin Mohammed Al-Aiwan on behalf of the organizers.
President Trump's special envoy Steve Witkoff has left for the Russian capital Moscow to discuss the proposal. US President Donald Trump said he had received a "positive message" about the possibility of a ceasefire. But Russian President Putin has not yet commented on the proposal.
The White House said US National Security Adviser Mike Waltz had spoken with his Russian counterpart, and so had the CIA director.
