Putin says he will 'spare' Ukraine troops if they surrender
What's the story
Russian President Vladimir Putin has urged Ukrainian soldiers in the Kursk region to "surrender."
His appeal came on a day when former US President Donald Trump urged him to spare the lives of these troops.
The surrender call comes after a massive Russian counteroffensive in Kursk, where Russia has retaken most of the land Ukraine captured in an unexpected incursion last August.
US intervention
Trump's plea for Ukrainian troops
Trump described the situation as dire, saying "thousands" of Ukrainian troops were "completely surrounded by the Russian military and in a very bad and vulnerable position."
He said his talks with Putin were "very good and productive," about a proposed 30-day ceasefire.
Trump stressed the urgency of his request to Putin, warning of a "horrible massacre, one not seen since World War II," if he didn't spare these lives.
Denial and diplomacy
Ukraine's military and political response
Ukraine's military leadership denied claims it was getting encircled, saying, "There is no threat of our units being encircled."
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy admitted there was difficulty in the Kursk region, but insisted it was a strategically important area.
He accused Putin of sabotaging a ceasefire initiative, saying Russia was setting "extremely difficult and unacceptable conditions right from the start even before a ceasefire."
Sanctions threat
G7 foreign ministers issue warning to Russia
Group of Seven (G7) foreign ministers have warned Russia of fresh sanctions unless it accepts "on equal terms."
They said sanctions could include "caps on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine and other means."
This comes amid talks of a possible ceasefire deal between the US and Russia. Putin said at a news conference that he supported a truce in principle but set out a host of details that need to be clarified before it is agreed.