Trump: "Spare the lives of surrounded Ukrainian troops in Kursk"

[connda]

President Trump said he strongly requested that Russian President Vladimir Putin spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers surrounded by Russian troops, in a statement posted to his social media site.

“There is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end — BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 
https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/5194834-trump-urges-putin-ukraine-soldiers/


Putin's response: "Surrender or die."
"Putin said Ukrainian soldiers were cut off inside the invasion zone. "And if a physical blockade occurs in the coming days, then no one will be able to leave at all, there will be only two ways - to surrender or die."
https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russia-says-its-forces-will-soon-retake-all-kursk-ukrainian-troops-2025-03-13/

 

In tragic absurdity, Ukraine claims that their troops are not surrounded.  Time will tell.  We're finally getting to "reality crunch time" where the facts become obvious and the BS jettisoned..
"Ukraine’s top commander denied earlier this week that Ukrainian troops were being encircled in Kursk, Reuters reported, but said they were adopting better defensive positions."

No doubt we will be told that the Ukranians are marching on Moscow tomorrow and that the Ruskies are down to throwing rocks and shivering in fear.  🙄 Well, until we are told that the Ukrainians are being slaughtered and the West screams, "War Crimes!"  Stand by, we'll see.

[thaibeachlovers]

Back when the invasion in Kursk started I said that the Russians would likely cut off the supply lines and the invasion would fail. Seems it took a while longer to do so than I thought, but surrounding the occupying forces is a pretty good way to cut supplies, and without supplies an army is doomed.

 

I don't envy the Ukrainains ( and even less if they are mercenaries ), and they best be hoping that the troops that taking them into custody are not some really PO guys from the back blocks of Russia that have seen many of their friends die at the hands of the Ukrainians.

[bannork]

Vladimir Putin knew the US would cut military aid and intelligence sharing with them, Ukrainian troops are said to believe.

 Within hours of the decision, Russian forces captured key villages across Kursk.

But despite the setback, Volodymyr Zelensky's popularity has "skyrocketed" on the front since his feisty showdown with Donald Trump in the Oval Office. Mr Zelensky has been praised for his "unwillingness to back down and be bullied" since the debacle.

Ukraine will fight on with or without US aid, Lieutenant Colonel Vano Nadiradze, a top commander in Ukraine, said. 

He added that while manpower is a problem, it is not "catastrophic".

Ukraine army chief's scathing take on Donald Trump's decision to cut military aid

[problemfarang]

for your information:

 

there are no surrounded troops there.. all groups evacuated. i do believe only 1 group had problem.. but they managed to evacuated. but yes i know they have 3-4 POWs sadly

[NoDisplayName]

21 hours ago, connda said:

Putin's response: "Surrender or die."

 

Reuters said that.

Quote-mined and unreliable.

Reminds me of the Zimmermann 911 call, edited to fit the narrative.

 

 

"We are sympathetic to President Trump's call," Putin said in remarks broadcast on Russian television.

"If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment," Putin said.

https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/amid-ceasefire-talks-russian-president-vladimir-putin-tells-ukrainian-troops-to-surrender-in-kursk-7926159

[NoDisplayName]

16 minutes ago, problemfarang said:

for your information:

 

there are no surrounded troops there.. all groups evacuated. i do believe only 1 group had problem.. but they managed to evacuated. but yes i know they have 3-4 POWs sadly

 

Of course!

 

All airlifted out by the Ghost of Kiev in his Sopwith Chinese Spy Barroom.

[NoDisplayName]

21 hours ago, connda said:

"Ukraine’s top commander denied earlier this week that Ukrainian troops were being encircled in Kursk, Reuters reported, but said they were adopting better defensive positions."

 

They also regularly claim they've shot down all 67 of the 38 incoming missiles.

 

Missiles, which they claim, Russia ran out of.

[problemfarang]

35 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Of course!

 

All airlifted out by the Ghost of Kiev in his Sopwith Chinese Spy Barroom.

Sorry no have time to explaine thing to another russian.. 

[Patong2021]

53 minutes ago, NoDisplayName said:

 

Of course!

 

All airlifted out by the Ghost of Kiev in his Sopwith Chinese Spy Barroom.

 

Please check with your  friends in Russia for updated instruction.

Note that  ISW has observed no geolocated evidence to indicate that Russian forces have encircled a significant number of Ukrainian forces in Kursk Oblast or elsewhere along the frontline in Ukraine.  Not the first time Putin has made this claim. Putin claimed in October 2024 that Russian forces "encircled" 2,000 Ukrainian troops in Kursk Oblast, but ISW never observed any Russian milblogger claims or geolocated footage to substantiate Putin's October 2024 claim.

Putin has repeatedly failed to acknowledge that the Ukrainian salient in Kursk Oblast extends from the Ukrainian-Russian international border and that Ukrainian forces can transit the sections of the border under Ukrainian control.  https://www.understandingwar.org/backgrounder/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-march-14-2025

[NoDisplayName]

21 minutes ago, Patong2021 said:

Please check

 

I will.

 

22 hours ago, connda said:

BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION,” Trump wrote on Truth Social. 

 

The leader of the free world said it, so it must be true.

 

Or I could listen to the propaganda claiming "tis but a flesh wound."