Driving the news:
During a visit to a Russian army command center involved in the Ukraine war, Putin said Russian troops had surrounded 15 Ukrainian battalions in Kupiansk and should allow Ukrainian soldiers to lay down their arms and surrender.
What they are saying:
Putin declared, "Russian forces “have encircled 15 Ukrainian battalions in the city of Kupiansk, and must “allow Ukrainian soldiers to hand over their weapons and surrender.”
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov also said in a press briefing that Putin had received “a report regarding full control of the city of Kupiansk.”
Why it matters:
Putin’s remarks come as Washington—under President Donald Trump’s new administration—pushes a controversial peace plan requiring sweeping concessions from Kyiv. If pursued, the plan could redraw territorial lines and redefine postwar European security guarantees.
The big picture:
The conflict remains locked in a grinding war of attrition, with Russia using territorial pressure to extract political leverage, while Ukraine attempts to maintain Western support and resist proposals viewed as legitimizing Russian gains.
Meanwhile, the Trump administration is signaling a shift toward pressure-driven diplomacy modeled on the Gaza ceasefire framework.
Key points
(U.S. 28-point plan):
- According to U.S. officials, the Trump administration’s proposal includes:
- Donbas to be fully integrated into Russia, including areas currently held by Ukraine.
- A requirement that Ukraine forgo NATO membership for several years.
- A prohibition on deploying international peacekeeping forces as a deterrent against future Russian aggression.
- In exchange, Ukraine would receive U.S. security guarantees, while Russia commits—under legally defined constraints—to refraining from future attacks on Ukraine or other European states.
Catch up quick:
Kupiansk, in northeastern Ukraine, remains contested after months of offensives and counteroffensives.
Russia seeks control of the surrounding logistics routes to pressure Ukrainian defensive lines.
The Trump administration is moving quickly to differentiate its Ukraine policy from previous Washington approaches.
Go deeper:
Russia Sounds Alarm as Ukraine Eyes Tomahawks
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