Russia claims it has regained significant territory amid a stalled agreement

After several members of the Russian government expressed disagreement with the possibility of a ceasefire in Ukraine, the Kremlin announced that it had regained the territory of Kursk. This occurred amid intense negotiations with U.S. officials to bring peace to Europe. 

The envoy of the President of the United States, Donald Trump, arrived in Moscow on Thursday to discuss a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has accepted, but a senior Russian official indicated that the truce would only benefit Ukraine, as it would give a respite to its fatigued and resource-limited army.

The arrival of Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy, coincided with a Russian claim that its troops had expelled the Ukrainian army from the town of Sudzha, in the Kursk region, where Russia had been trying for seven months to dislodge Ukrainian forces.

Although the ceasefire proposal was accepted by Ukraine, Moscow remains reluctant.

The Kremlin spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, avoided commenting on the proposal before the talks, and Putin's foreign policy advisor, Yuri Ushakov, expressed that the truce would not bring anything positive for Russia, as it would only give Ukraine the opportunity to regroup and continue its actions in the future.

This stance reflects the concern that Russia might use the ceasefire to reorganize its forces. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenski, criticized Russia's slow response to the ceasefire proposal, accusing Moscow of trying to delay any peace agreement.

Regarding the military situation, Russia has managed to recapture several localities, including Sudzha, an important Ukrainian operations base in the Kursk region, near the border.

The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that Russian forces were focused on regaining full control of the region. However, this information has not been independently verified.

In a message to his commanders, Putin expressed his desire to complete the liberation of the Kursk region "in the shortest possible time" and suggested that Moscow might attempt to expand its territorial gains toward the neighboring Sumy region, which would further complicate a possible ceasefire agreement.

The conflict in Kursk intensified over the past months, especially after Ukraine's incursion last August, which was the first occupation of Russian territory by foreign forces since World War II.

This Ukrainian incursion was designed to divert Russian troops and put pressure on the Kremlin. However, Russian forces, with the support of North Korean troops, have gradually regained the lost ground, and the situation has begun to favor Moscow in that region.

Putin, dressed in military uniform, visited his troops in Kursk and emphasized the need to secure the border security zone.

Regarding the control of Sudzha, a video released by Russian media showed scenes of destruction in the city, with burned vehicles and ruined buildings. The population of Sudzha had largely been evacuated, but some residents expressed their intention to return and rebuild the city once the conflict ends.

Meanwhile, the United States has lifted the suspension of its military aid to Ukraine, which includes approximately 3.85 billion dollars in funds for future arms deliveries.

However, the Trump administration has shown a cautious stance, and has not yet decided whether to send more weapons while awaiting the outcome of peace efforts.

President Trump has stated that it now depends on Russia to make a decision, while his administration pressures Moscow to accept the truce and end the attacks.

The dilemma Ukraine faces in accepting the ceasefire proposal is that, while it seeks relief in the conflict, it could offer Russia the opportunity to reorganize its forces and prolong the war.

The situation in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has maintained a base since last August, is critical for both sides and mainly for Kiev, and the outcome of the battle in that area could significantly influence the dynamics of the peace talks.

The U.S. pressure on Russia and the ongoing negotiations reflect the tension between the pursuit of a ceasefire and the persistent struggle for territorial control in Ukraine.

The advance of Russian troops in Kursk, along with Putin's statements and the growing support of allied forces, show that Moscow is determined to capitalize on its recent military successes, while international pressure and peace talks remain an unknown.