Putin visits Kursk region for first time since booting Ukrainian forces from territory
The United States is eagerly awaiting a proposal from Russian President Vladimir Putin for a ceasefire following a recent phone call between President Donald Trump and Putin, according to Secretary Marco Rubio. The call has sparked hopes for a potential breakthrough in the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine.
Putin made a visit to the western Kursk region on Tuesday, marking his first visit to the area since Russian forces successfully ejected Ukrainian troops last month. During his visit, Putin met with volunteer organizations in the region and also visited the Kursk-II nuclear power plant, as reported by the Kremlin.
State TV coverage showed Putin alongside Kremlin first deputy chief of staff Sergei Kiriyenko, engaging with volunteers and local officials in the region, including acting Governor Alexander Khinshtein.
Russia announced that it had expelled Ukrainian forces from the Kursk region, putting an end to the largest incursion into Russian territory since World War II. The conflict escalated on August 6 when Ukraine launched a bold attack, breaching the Russian border into Kursk with the support of drones and heavy Western weaponry. Ukrainian forces managed to claim approximately 540 square miles of the region.
The recent developments come after Russian and Ukrainian officials engaged in direct peace talks in Turkey last week, their first face-to-face negotiations in years. However, the talks failed to produce a ceasefire agreement, prolonging the conflict that began with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
President Trump has expressed confidence that Putin desires peace with Ukraine and believes that he has “had enough” of the war. The international community remains hopeful for a peaceful resolution to the conflict as they await Putin’s proposal for a ceasefire.
The ongoing tensions between Russia and Ukraine continue to be a pressing issue on the global stage, with hopes for diplomatic efforts to bring an end to the conflict. Stay tuned for updates on this developing story.
*This article contains contributions from Reuters.
