Russian forces have recaptured Sudzha, the largest town that Ukraine once occupied in the Kursk region, according to Moscow, threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining chip amid pressure to negotiate an end to the war.

By agreeing to a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire, Ukraine has turned the tables diplomatically on Russia. If the Kremlin maintains its military campaign to subjugate Ukraine, it now risks being framed as the obstacle to peace and incurring the wrath of US President Donald Trump.

President Vladimir Putin made a surprise visit to Russia’s occupied Kursk region on Wednesday, as the Kremlin considers a US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire with his troops closing in on Ukraine’s only territorial bargaining chip.

The U.S. looks to secure a peace deal by forcing Ukraine and Russia to make concessions to end the war, but experts warn Putin has no interest in ending his fight or establishing peace.

Russia continually refuses to make concessions in peace negotiations with Ukraine, which could prolong the war and result in higher casualties.

The ball is now in Russia’s court. But Russia excels at grabbing the ball, pocketing it and debating the rules of the game before claiming the ball has in fact been stolen clean from them by the other team.

Donald Trump has threatened to “devastate” the Russian economy if Vladimir Putin does not accept a ceasefire deal with Ukraine. Trump said that if the Russian leader snubs the 30-day peace deal, then the consequences would be “very bad”.

Putin made a visit to the Kursk region at the frontline of the Russia-Ukraine war. Dressed in a military outfit, he told the troops that his goal is to ‘completely liberate’ t