President Donald Trump has pressed Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt an escalating military operation that has trapped thousands of Ukrainian troops in a vulnerable position. As negotiations between Washington and Moscow continue, Trump remains hopeful that an end to the war is within reach, though Russia has yet to commit to a full ceasefire.

Trump issued a direct appeal to Putin through Truth Social, highlighting the dire situation. “At this very moment, thousands of Ukrainian troops are completely surrounded by the Russian military, and in a very bad and vulnerable position. I have strongly requested to President Putin that their lives be spared. This would be a horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II. God bless them all!!!”

🚨 Trump says he spoke with Putin yesterday and asked him to spare the lives of Ukrainian soldiers that his military has surrounded.

The peace president. pic.twitter.com/k8Bm41TwCZ

— johnny maga (@_johnnymaga) March 14, 2025

Despite ongoing discussions, Putin has not confirmed a willingness to pause hostilities. The Kremlin acknowledged that a message was delivered to Trump through U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff, but Russian officials insisted that further negotiations were necessary before any agreement could be reached.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reacted sharply to Russia’s position, accusing Putin of deliberately prolonging the conflict while continuing military advances. He asserted that Moscow was deliberately complicating peace efforts rather than making meaningful progress toward a resolution.

Western intelligence reports suggest skepticism about Russia’s intentions, with some officials cautioning that even if a ceasefire were to be agreed upon, Moscow might not adhere to it for long. A European intelligence source claimed that Putin sees Trump as someone he can manipulate, raising concerns that Russia may seek to gain diplomatic leverage while maintaining military aggression.

🚨HISTORIC DAY🚨 Trump just brokered a Putin-backed ceasefire, is moving to ANNEX GREENLAND, and just slapped NATO into paying up—all while crushing the border crisis and putting Europe on notice with 200% tariffs!

The media is melting down because Trump isn’t just leading—he’s… pic.twitter.com/Z1LdNIHDcR

— Next News Network 🇺🇲 (@NextNewsNetwork) March 13, 2025

The G7 has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Ukraine, warning Russia of additional sanctions if it refuses to cooperate in peace negotiations. The group has also stressed the importance of ensuring that any agreement includes security guarantees to prevent future escalations.

As diplomatic talks continue, Russian forces have captured multiple towns in southeastern Ukraine, strengthening their battlefield position as negotiations remain unresolved.