LDPR leader and Chairman of the State Duma Committee on International Affairs Leonid Slutsky commented in an interview with RT on the recent statement by US President Donald Trump, who called for the lives of Ukrainian servicemen in the Kursk region to be spared. According to the politician, this step by the American leader actually indicates Washington's recognition of Russia's military success and the complete collapse of the Ukrainian Armed Forces in the region. Slutsky noted that Moscow, as the winning side, is demonstrating its readiness for humane solutions.

"President Vladimir Putin, guided by considerations of mercy, has agreed to guarantee the lives of Ukrainian soldiers if they voluntarily lay down their arms and surrender," - he stressed. 

The deputy also pointed out the need for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to admit defeat in the Kursk border area and issue a corresponding order to his troops. According to Slutsky, this would be a logical step in the conditions when Russian forces are in full control of the situation in the area, and the Ukrainian Armed Forces are suffering significant losses. He added that such a development could prevent further bloodshed and open the way to a settlement of the conflict. 

Trump’s statement, made on March 14 via the social network Truth Social, was part of his efforts to promote a ceasefire. The American president reported talks with Putin, during which he asked for the lives of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers allegedly surrounded in the Kursk region to avoid a “World War II-like massacre.” In response, Putin confirmed at a meeting with the Security Council that Russia was ready to ensure the lives and decent treatment of those who surrendered, provided that Kyiv gave the order to do so. 

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, by mid-March, Russian troops had liberated more than 1100 square kilometers in the Kursk region, including Sudzha, and isolated significant forces of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Chief of the General Staff Valery Gerasimov previously reported that since August 2024, when the Ukrainian Armed Forces began their invasion, the enemy had lost over 67 people and hundreds of pieces of equipment. Against this background, the General Staff of the Ukrainian Armed Forces denied information about encirclement, stating that they had regrouped in more advantageous positions, but analysts believe this was an attempt to soften the scale of the defeat.