Putin guarantees life to Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk region upon surrender

MOSCOW, March 14 (Xinhua)--Russian President Vladimir Putin has confirmed that Ukrainian soldiers that are currently in the Kursk region will be guaranteed life if they surrender, local media reported Friday.

"If they lay down their arms and surrender, they will be guaranteed life and dignified treatment in accordance with the norms of international law and the laws of the Russian Federation," he said during a meeting with members of the Russian Security Council.

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that his administration "had very good and productive discussions," with Putin yesterday, adding that there is a very good chance that the "horrible, bloody war" can finally come to an end.

In a post on Truth Social, Trump said that thousands of Ukrainian troops were currently surrounded by the Russian military, adding that he urged Putin to spare their lives.

Putin noted that in order for Trump's call to be carried out, Ukraine's leadership must order its troops to surrender.

In an earlier statement on Friday, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied the reports that Ukrainian troops had been encircled in Russia's western Kursk region.

The Ukrainian army launched an offensive into Russia's Kursk region in August, seizing about 1,300 square kilometers of land. As the Russian army intensified its counterattack in recent weeks, the situation for the Ukrainian forces in the region is reportedly deteriorating rapidly. ■