Ukraine War: Russian Troops Recapture Largest Town in Kursk Border Region

Russia announced on Thursday that its forces had driven the Ukrainian army out of Sudzha, the largest town in Russia’s Kursk border region. The claim came just hours after President Vladimir Putin visited his military commanders in Kursk, dressed in fatigues. However, the report has not been independently verified, and Ukrainian officials have yet to comment.

The renewed Russian offensive, coupled with Putin’s high-profile visit, coincides with U.S. President Donald Trump’s push for a diplomatic resolution to the war. On Tuesday, the U.S. lifted its March 3 suspension of military aid to Kyiv following progress in peace negotiations between senior U.S. and Ukrainian officials during talks in Saudi Arabia.

‘It’s Up to Russia Now’: Trump on the 30-Day Ceasefire Proposal

On Wednesday, Trump stated that “it’s up to Russia now” as his administration urges Moscow to agree to a proposed 30-day ceasefire. He also issued veiled threats of new sanctions if Russia fails to engage in peace efforts.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed on Thursday that U.S. negotiators were en route to Russia but declined to comment on Moscow’s stance regarding the ceasefire proposal.

“Before the talks begin—and they haven’t started yet—it would be inappropriate to discuss them publicly,” Peskov told reporters.

White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt told Fox News that National Security Adviser Mike Waltz spoke with his Russian counterpart on Wednesday. She also confirmed that Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, was traveling to Moscow for talks, potentially with Putin. Russian news agencies later reported that Witkoff’s plane had landed in Moscow, though independent verification was not immediately available.

Senior U.S. officials have expressed hopes that Russian attacks on Ukraine will cease in the coming days.

However, Yuri Ushakov, Putin’s foreign policy adviser, voiced concerns that a ceasefire would serve as a “temporary break for the Ukrainian military.” He emphasized that Moscow seeks a “long-term peaceful settlement that accounts for Russia’s interests and concerns.” His remarks echoed Putin’s repeated claims that a short-term ceasefire would primarily benefit Ukraine and its Western allies.

Ukraine’s Position and the Military Situation

By signaling openness to a ceasefire, Ukraine has placed the Kremlin in a strategic dilemma. Russia must now decide whether to accept the truce—potentially forfeiting further territorial gains—or reject it and risk disrupting its cautious diplomatic engagement with Washington.

The Ukrainian army’s foothold inside Russia has been under intense pressure for months due to a renewed Russian offensive, supported by North Korean troops. Ukraine’s bold incursion into Russian territory last August, which led to the first occupation of Russian soil by foreign troops since World War II, was a significant embarrassment for the Kremlin.

During a meeting with military commanders on Wednesday, Putin stated that he expected Russian forces to “completely free the Kursk region from the enemy in the near future.” He also suggested creating a “security zone along the state border,” raising concerns that Moscow may seek further territorial expansion into Ukraine’s Sumy region—an issue that could complicate ceasefire negotiations.

Ukraine initially launched its cross-border raid to counter a series of battlefield setbacks, divert Russian forces, and gain leverage in potential peace talks. However, the incursion has not significantly altered the broader dynamics of the war.

The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed late Wednesday that Russian forces had taken control of Sudzha, a border town previously home to about 5,000 people.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s top military commander, Gen. Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated late Wednesday that Russian airstrikes on Kursk had reached an unprecedented intensity, leaving Sudzha almost entirely destroyed. While he did not explicitly confirm whether Ukraine still controlled the settlement, his comments suggested heavy Russian bombardment of the area.