The plane of Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has crossed the border with Russia, as reported by the state news agency TASS citing the flight tracking service Flightradar.
The U.S. President said on Wednesday that his negotiating team was flying to Moscow to report on the agreement reached with Ukraine in Saudi Arabia and stated that "now everything depends on Russia" and that if Vladimir Putin refuses to accept his ceasefire, "there are things that could be done in the financial realm that would be very bad" for Moscow.
Pending the Russian stance, Putin has ordered his army to defeat the Ukrainian troops remaining in Kursk as soon as possible. The Russian President visited the region for the first time since Ukrainian forces took control of part of the territory eight months ago, just as Ukraine decided to withdraw from the area.
"Our task in the near future, as soon as possible, is to defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region," Putin ordered his generals. "And, of course, we have to think about creating a security zone along the state border."
Kiev reports to the UN and the Red Cross the execution of five of its soldiers in Kursk
Ukraine's Ombudsman, Dmytro Lubinets, reported to the UN and the Red Cross the alleged executions of five unarmed Ukrainian soldiers by Russian military in Kursk.
As Lubinets posted on his Telegram account on Thursday, he sent letters to the UN and the International Committee of the Red Cross to document what would be "a war crime" committed by Russia. "Those who give orders and carry out these atrocities must assume full responsibility," Lubinets stated.
Ukraine's Ombudsman sent these letters in response to the circulation of a new video on social media showing "five alleged prisoners of war murdered" by Russian soldiers.
"Once again, we see the cynical disregard for international humanitarian law by the Russian Army," Lubinets pointed out.
Russia willing to discuss the peace initiative
Meanwhile, the spokesperson for the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, confirmed that Russia is willing to discuss with the United States the peace initiative agreed upon between the U.S. and Ukraine, and that contacts could take place today.
The Kremlin announces a meeting with Trump's envoys
The Kremlin announced today a meeting between the Russian side and the special envoys of U.S. President Donald Trump to address the ceasefire proposal already accepted by Ukraine.
"Indeed, the negotiators are flying. Contacts are planned," said Dmitry Peskov, presidential spokesperson, in his daily phone press briefing.
Peskov stated that the United States had provided certain information to Russia about a ceasefire proposal for Ukraine and would continue to do so in the upcoming face-to-face talks expected in the coming days.
The spokesperson mentioned that Yuri Ushakov, foreign policy advisor to Russian President Vladimir Putin, and Mike Waltz, U.S. National Security Advisor, spoke by phone on Wednesday.
Trump's envoy's plane crosses Russia's border
The plane of U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, has crossed the border with Russia, as reported by the state news agency TASS citing the flight tracking service Flightradar.
Witkoff, officially Trump's envoy to the Middle East, has played an increasingly important role in efforts to end the three-year-long Ukraine war.
Hollande believes Putin is not seeking peace but to freeze the conflict, as he did in 2014
Former French President François Hollande believes that Vladimir Putin does not intend to reach a lasting peace agreement but a pact that allows for the international rehabilitation of Russia and himself, and to maintain "a frozen conflict," as he did with the Minsk agreements with Ukraine in 2014 and 2015.
In an interview on Thursday with public radio France Info, Hollande noted that Putin's appearance on Wednesday alongside Russian troops displacing Ukrainian forces in the Russian region of Kursk is to "demonstrate that he will continue his military offensive" at a time when negotiations are opening up.
His goal, as the former President of France from 2012 to 2017, is to "arrive in a position of strength" at that negotiation, "demonstrate that he is winning" thanks to the conquest of as much territory as possible.
"He will only accept a peace agreement when he is convinced that he will be in a position of strength," he emphasized, stating that what he seeks "is not peace, but a frozen conflict," as he did with the Minsk peace agreements, made under the auspices of Hollande himself and then-German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
Three injured in Dnipropetrovsk and damage to railway facilities
A Russian overnight attack in the Ukrainian region of Dnipropetrovsk has injured three women and shattered 100 windows in apartment buildings in the city, as revealed by Governor Serhiy Lysak on Telegram.
Additionally, the Ukrainian state railway company announced changes in train routes following the morning attack on its energy facilities in the region.
Zelensky: "We must move towards peace"
"We must move towards peace, towards security guarantees, and we need to free our people. We are determined to work with our partners as soon as possible. The key factor is their ability to ensure Russia's willingness not to deceive, but to truly end the war. Because, at this moment, Russian attacks have not stopped," stated Volodymyr Zelensky in his Wednesday night speech.
Trump meets Rutte at the White House today
U.S. President Donald Trump welcomes NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte to the White House to discuss the future of the Atlantic Alliance, in a context marked by the recent agreement in principle for peace in Ukraine and Washington's stance that Europe should take on greater responsibility in its defense against the threat from Russia.
Ukraine shoots down 74 of the 117 drones launched by Russia
The Ukrainian army said on Thursday that it had shot down 74 of the 117 drones launched by Russia overnight. Another 38 drones did not reach their targets, likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures, as specified by the army in a statement on Telegram.
Russia claims to have thwarted attacks against military and officials
The Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) claims to have prevented a series of attacks against military personnel and officials, as reported by the Interfax news agency.
According to the FSB, "Ukrainian special services" were planning to send explosive devices in packages by mail.
Russia shoots down 77 Ukrainian drones
The Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it had shot down 77 Ukrainian drones early this morning: 31 were intercepted and destroyed over the Bryansk region and another 25 over Kaluga.
Other drones were intercepted over the Kursk, Voronezh, Rostov, and Belgorod regions, it added.
Putin orders Ukrainian defeat in Kursk
Vladimir Putin has ordered the top Russian military commanders to defeat the Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region as soon as possible.
The Russian President visited the region for the first time since Ukrainian forces took control of part of the territory eight months ago, just as Ukraine decided to withdraw from the area.