In the talks with the US, Ukraine agreed to a one-month ceasefire, but Russia disagreed. Yuri Usakov, an aide of Russian President Vladimir Putin, has made it clear that the one-month ceasefire proposal is not acceptable.

He refused, saying that a temporary ceasefire would give Ukraine a chance to regroup. He says that Russia is looking for a long-term peace agreement in Ukraine. "There is a normal exchange of ideas between Russia and America in a calm manner," he said.

Earlier, Dmitry Peskov, the spokesman of the Russian Presidential Office, Kremlin, responded that he was waiting for detailed information from the American side about the talks. He says that it is necessary to analyze the commitment of the Americans before commenting on the possible ceasefire agreed upon in the talks. While America, Ukraine and other countries are waiting for a response, Russian President Putin made an unexpected visit to the war-torn Kursk region on Wednesday. He has been to Kursk for the first time since the invasion of Ukraine last August. 

Putin says Russia's campaign to drive Ukrainian troops from Kursk has entered its final phase. Putin is seen in military uniform in a photo released by the Russian presidential office, the Kremlin. According to the Russian state news agency TASS, Putin has ordered the Russian army to completely withdraw the Kursk region. Putin says that any captured Ukrainian soldier is considered a terrorist. 

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the Kursk region would soon be retaken from Ukrainian forces and declared independent. The President has said that this work needs to be done as soon as possible. It will take time to save the lives of as many of our troops and peacekeeping residents as possible. But there is no doubt that the Kursk region will be liberated soon," he said. 

Russian forces have retaken control of Sudzha, the main city of the Kursk region, previously captured by Ukrainian forces. Ukraine evacuated thousands of people after Russia's brutal invasion of the Kursk region last August. But fighting in the region has intensified since Ukraine launched a counteroffensive in January. At the time, Ukrainian President Zelensky said the operation in Kursk prevented Russian troops from being deployed in key areas of eastern Ukraine. But for a few days now, Russia is regaining the area. On Wednesday, Ukraine indicated that its troops were withdrawing from Kursk. 

US President Donald Trump has said that he has received a "positive message" about the possibility of a ceasefire. Trump has said that it could be "very bad" for Russia economically if a deal is not agreed on that Ukraine is ready for. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky also said that Ukraine is committed to working with its partners for peace as soon as possible. President Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has arrived in the Russian capital, Moscow, to discuss the ceasefire proposal. US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz spoke with his Russian counterpart, the White House said. 

In the talks held with the US in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Ukraine has accepted the US proposal and is ready for a month-long ceasefire. European leaders have welcomed a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire on land, sea and air with Russia after Ukraine said it was ready.  Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sibiha, Defense Minister Rustema Umerov, Head of the Presidential Office Andriy Yermak participated in the

talks. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz and Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal bin Farhan and National Security Advisor Mossad bin Mohammed Al-Aiwan were present on behalf of the organizers in the American team led by Foreign Minister Marco Rubio.