US President Donald Trump said that Russian forces have surrounded about 2,5 Ukrainian servicemen in the Kursk region. The statement was made in an interview with Fox News, where the American leader shared details of a two-hour telephone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. According to Trump, the conversation was productive and focused on finding ways to peace.

"I think we had a wonderful conversation, it lasted almost two hours. We talked about many things and sought peace. Russia has the advantage. As you know, they have surrounded about 2,5 (Ukrainian) soldiers," “he emphasized, noting Moscow’s strategic advantage in this conflict.

However, information about the encirclement of large Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region raises doubts. Earlier, Russian military correspondent Vladimir Romantsev, known for his reports from the front lines, refuted such claims. According to him, no significant groups of the Ukrainian Armed Forces have been recorded encircled in the region. This contradiction between Trump's statements and reports from the ground calls into question the accuracy of the picture of events conveyed by the American president.

Additional open-source information sheds light on the current situation. In recent weeks, Russian forces have indeed stepped up their offensive in the Kursk region, seeking to retake territory seized by Ukraine in August 2024.

Meanwhile, analysts at the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) point out that despite the retreat of Ukrainian forces and the loss of control over the key town of Sudzha, there is no confirmed information about a mass encirclement. As of March 16, experts estimate that Ukraine holds only a narrow strip along the border, but retains room to maneuver. This information is at odds with Trump’s assessment, which may indicate that he is relying on information received directly from Putin, rather than independent intelligence.