Trump dispatches US officials to Moscow as Putin tours Kursk, where Russian forces push against Ukraine

US officials are heading to Moscow for urgent talks on a potential ceasefire in Ukraine, President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday. This follows Ukraine’s agreement to a 30-day ceasefire in a tense meeting with American officials in Saudi Arabia. But now, the challenge is to convince Russia to sign on.

As diplomatic efforts intensify, Vladimir Putin has escalated tensions. On Wednesday, he visited Russia’s Kursk region, a conflict zone where Ukrainian incursions last year disrupted Moscow’s control. Wearing combat gear, he toured a command post alongside his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, and reportedly ordered forces to “fully liberate” the region.

Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump acknowledged that Russia had sent “positive messages” about a ceasefire but cautioned, “A positive message means nothing. This is a very serious situation.” He also hinted at economic pressure as leverage, warning, “I can do things financially… That would be very bad for Russia.”

While Trump did not confirm which officials were travelling to Moscow, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt disclosed that National Security Secretary Mike Waltz had already spoken with his Russian counterpart. A source revealed that Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff would lead the Moscow negotiations following the Jeddah talks.

Despite these diplomatic moves, the situation on the battlefield remains volatile. Overnight, Russian drones and missiles struck Ukrainian cities, including Kryvyy Rih—Zelensky’s hometown—Odesa, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kharkiv. Meanwhile, in Kursk, the Kremlin claimed that Russian forces were advancing and reclaiming lost ground.

Ukraine’s military chief, Oleksandr Syrsky, signalled a partial withdrawal from Kursk, acknowledging that the “lives of Ukrainian soldiers” were the priority. This could indicate a strategic repositioning amid growing Russian pressure.

This new push for peace comes after weeks of tensions between the US and Ukraine. A 28 February meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly descended into a shouting match, leading to a temporary freeze on US military aid. That pause was lifted after the Jeddah meeting, and Trump now insists that the Ukrainian side is serious about peace.

However, Putin remains silent on the US-backed ceasefire proposal, keeping the world in suspense over Russia’s next move.