Trump appeals to Putin to spare encircled Ukrainian troops
I have strongly requested to President Putin that their (Ukrainian soldiers - ed.) lives be spared, wrote U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday. He assessed Thursday's talks with Putin as very good and productive.
"We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end," Trump wrote on Friday on the social media platform Truth Social.
"BUT, AT THIS VERY MOMENT, THOUSANDS OF UKRAINIAN TROOPS ARE COMPLETELY SURROUNDED BY THE RUSSIAN MILITARY, AND IN A VERY BAD AND VULNERABLE POSITION (in the Kursk region in Russia - editor's note). I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!" he added.
It is not yet clear whether Trump personally spoke with Putin on Thursday or was referring to the talks of his envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
