Zelensky said that fighting is ongoing in the Kursk region

On March 14, US President Donald Trump stated that "thousands of Ukrainian soldiers are completely surrounded by Russian troops and are in a very bad and weak condition." Trump called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to "have mercy on them," otherwise, according to him, "a horrific massacre not seen since World War II" will occur.

Most likely, Trump was referring to Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region. According to circulated video recordings, Ukrainian armed forces units have abandoned a large part of the platform in the Kursk region, suffering significant losses. Only the "Sudja" border crossing point and several surrounding villages remain under the control of the Ukrainian army. Although it has become difficult to supply these areas due to Russian drone strikes, there is no encirclement.

It is assumed that Trump's statement is based on the Pentagon's assessment: an anonymous American military source informed NBC News that Russian armed forces have "almost completely surrounded" Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region, with some Ukrainian units retreating and leaving behind equipment.

Vladimir Putin announced his readiness to fulfill Trump's request. "For the effective implementation of the US president's call, the Ukrainian military-political leadership must issue the appropriate order to their military units to lay down their arms and surrender," Putin said before the meeting of the Russian Security Council began on March 14. The next day, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a TASS reporter that Putin's offer to lay down arms is still in effect, but that Ukrainians' "time is shrinking like a squeezed lemon."

Shortly after Trump's statement, the Ukrainian armed forces' headquarters reported that claims about Russian troops encircling Ukrainian units in the Kursk region "may not correspond to reality and were created by the Russians for political purposes and to exert pressure on Ukraine and its partners."

According to the headquarters, military operations continue in the operational zone of Ukraine's "Kursk" troops group. "Ukrainian defense forces units have regrouped, moved to more favorable defensive lines, and are carrying out assigned tasks in the Kursk region. Our fighters are repelling the enemy's offensive actions and effectively firing back with all types of weapons," the Ukrainian side's statement said. The headquarters emphasized that "there is no risk of encirclement of the units."

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 15 that he received a report from the Commander of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Oleksandr Syrskiy, regarding the situation of Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region:

The operation of our armed forces in certain districts of the Kursk region is ongoing. The units are carrying out tasks exactly as needed. Due to Ukrainian forces, many Russian troops have been diverted from other directions in the Kursk region. Our troops continue to hold back the respective groups of Russia and North Korea in the Kursk region. Our troops have not been encircled. Putin is lying about Ukrainian troops being encircled in the Kursk region. Russia wants to encircle Ukrainian troops in the Kursk direction, but it is not Russia that is on Ukrainian territory. And we know where we are.

Zelensky added that Ukrainian officials are observing that Russia is amassing troops along Ukraine's eastern border. "This indicates their desire to strike at Sumy. We understand this and will resist. I wish all partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he is neglecting. The buildup of Russian forces indicates that Moscow intends to disregard diplomacy in the future as well. It is clear that Russia is prolonging the war," said the Ukrainian president.

The Meduza publication also quoted other statements from the speech of the Ukrainian leader published in local media while preserving the essence:

- Everyone believes that Ukraine will win in negotiations with the US, said Zelensky.

- The United States raised the issue of occupied territories, but Ukraine does not recognize them as Russian.

- The security guarantees of allies, as well as the decision on Ukraine's NATO membership, cannot depend on Russia's wishes.

- If the Russians are not ready to cease fire for 30 days, then they do not agree with Trump's proposal.

- The ceasefire regime may require not 30 days, but a bit more time; the main thing is that the US should not bow to Russia's "buts."

- If Russia breaks the peace, we will continue to defend ourselves.