Donald Trump has said „it’s up to Russia now“ as he urged Vladimir Putin to agree to a 30-day ceasefire with Ukraine. Earlier, the Kremlin said it was studying the proposal but would not agree to anything until it had heard from the US. Follow the latest here.
Thursday 13 March 2025 00:50, UK
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We’re pausing our live updates, but here’s a summary of the day’s key developments:
Donald Trump has piled the pressure on Vladimir Putin to accept a ceasefire deal after saying „it’s up to Russia now“.
The US president was speaking in the Oval Office after welcoming Irish prime minister Micheal Martin, and said „hopefully we get a ceasefire“.
He also confirmed a US team is travelling to Russia „right now“ following reports his Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff will visit Moscow this week to present the deal.
Pressure was also applied by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who called on „everyone“ to be part of a union to make Russia be compelled to accept peace, adding „everything depends on whether Russia is willing to do so“.
Earlier, the Kremlin said it will not decide on the ceasefire until it hears from the Americans, but Trump also had a warning for Russia, saying „there are things you could do in a financial sense that would be very bad“.
But over on the battlefield, Putin visited the frontlines in Kursk for the first time since the Ukrainian invasion last summer as his forces claim advances in the region.
The Russian president, dressed in camouflage, called on his troops to defeat the enemy and completely liberate the region.
He also said enemy troops captured in the region will be treated as terrorists.
Meanwhile, Ukraine’s top army commander said troops will continue the operation in Kursk for „as long as appropriate and necessary“ as he accused Russia of trying to oust Kyiv from the Kursk region and shift fighting into Ukrainian border territories.
Back in the UK, the Foreign Office summoned the Russian ambassador as the diplomatic spat between the two countries deepens.
It accused Russia of trying to drive the British embassy in Moscow towards closure, and said „the depths to which Russia sinks can only be met through strength“ as it revoked accreditation for a Russian diplomat and their spouse.
Earlier today, our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke answered your questions on the war in Ukraine, with the implications of Russia’s pending response to the ceasefire among the topics discussed.
Watch the full Q&A in the video below…
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called on Ukraine’s partners to ensure Russia does not „deceive“ as he warns strikes on his country have not stopped.
He said around one hundred Shahed drones attack Ukraine each night, as he urged allies to ensure Russia will „genuinely end the war“.
„Missile strikes are regular, some of our civilian infrastructure and ports have been hit, unfortunately, including in Odesa,“ he said.
Zelenskyy added he is awaiting a report from the Ukrainian delegation that held talks with US officials in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
Ukraine has accepted the ceasefire proposal, while a US delegation is travelling to Russia to present the plans to Vladimir Putin this week.
Earlier, we told you about the European defence ministers meeting in Paris today for talks involving aid to Ukraine and the continent’s defence capabilities (see 6.16pm post).
UK Defence Secretary John Healey was among those in attendance, and had a direct message for Russia’s president in his speech.
„I say to president Putin, over to you, you want to talk, prove it,“ he said in a news conference.
Healey called on Russia to accept the ceasefire and end the war, adding „the pressure is now on Putin“.
He also confirmed work is progressing to build a „coalition of the willing“ to support Ukraine after French defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said around 15 countries expressed an interest in discussing security for the country.
Vladimir Putin was playing to a domestic audience with his visit to Kursk, NBC News chief foreign correspondent and co-host of The World podcast Richard Engel has said.
He described the Russian president as putting on a „uniform show“ with his visit.
„The Russian troops are making progress, they are making advances and they are recapturing their own territory,“ Engel said.
„That is because at the end of the day, Ukrainians captured land inside Russia. That’s a dynamic that isn’t often understood in this conflict.“
Engel said those trying to watch this conflict play out from anywhere in the world will have their „heads spinning“ over not knowing the American position from one day to the next.
„Is the US an ally of Ukraine? Is it an enemy here in Ukraine? These issues are deadly serious,“ he added.
„They’re fighting the war every single day, the peace proposal that they’re talking about could potentially see Ukraine give up 20% of its land to Russia, potentially forever changing the map of this country.“
President Trump appeared to have make-up applied to his hand for his meeting with the Irish prime minister, our US correspondent James Matthews writes.
Pictures taken during an Oval Office news conference with Donald Trump and Micheal Martin appear to show cosmetics applied to the back of the president’s right hand.
It sported a large bruise when he met the French President Emmanuel Macron on 24th February.
At that time, the White House put it down to the 78 year-old president “working and shaking hands all day every day.”
In a December interview with NBC’s „Meet the Press,“ the 78-year-old president said he would release his full medical report.
He has yet to do so.
Asked whether he had applied make-up to his hand, as seen in the meeting with the Irish prime minister, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt said: „President Trump is a man of the people and he meets more Americans and shakes their hands on a daily basis than any other president in history.
„His commitment is unwavering and he proves that every single day.“
Vladimir Putin’s outing in military gear is something we rarely see from the Russian president.
Throughout the war, it’s been common to see Putin in formal suits – a stark contrast to Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who has been in military wear for the past three years.
That became a point of tension at the Ukrainian president’s disastrous White House visit less than two weeks ago – after he was reportedly advised to wear a suit and left Donald Trump „offended“ when he didn’t.
He was asked in the Oval Office why he wasn’t wearing one by a reporter – and his answer that he would „wear the costume when the war was over“ sparked an exchange that quickly escalated into the now infamous showdown between the two leaders as Trump accused Zelenskyy of disrespect.
Shunning formal attire on a wartime visit to the White House is something we’ve seen before: Winston Churchill famously wore his „siren suit“ on a visit in 1942.
The all-in-one design was a practical item of clothing worn by Churchill before, during and after the Second World War.
Earlier today, our security and defence analyst Michael Clarke answered your questions on the war in Ukraine, with the implications of Russia’s pending response to the ceasefire among the topics discussed.
Watch the full Q&A in the video below…
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
Vladimir Putin’s visit to the Kursk region carries a lot of significance. Because in the three years since launching Russia’s war in Ukraine, he’s rarely gone near the front.
But his forces‘ apparent seizure of the key town of Sudzha is clearly a proud moment.
Ukraine’s crossborder incursion into Russia’s Kursk region (way back in August) was hugely embarrassing for the Kremlin. Even more so, the fact it’s gone on this long.
But now that the invading forces are on the verge of finally being expelled, Russia’s president wants to make the most of it.
The commander-in-chief was the commander-in-camouflage, donning military fatigues on his visit to his forces‘ regional HQ.
And there was no talk of a ceasefire, despite the apparent pressure from the US to agree to one. In fact, quite the opposite.
„Our task in the near future, in the shortest time possible, is to finally defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region, and to completely liberate the territory,“ he said, addressing the top brass.
Instead of pausing the fighting, it sounds like Putin wants to press home Russia’s advantage. And his message won’t go unnoticed in Kyiv or Washington.
We brought you images of Vladimir Putin visiting Kursk a little while ago – now we can bring this video, courtesy of the Kremlin.
We’ve just showed you Vladimir Putin visiting Kursk as his forces claim strong advances in the region.
We’ve now heard from Ukraine after Russia’s suggestion that Ukrainian forces in the region are surrounded.
The country’s top army commander said troops will continue its operation in Kursk for „as long as appropriate and necessary“ and added that fighting has continued in and around the town of Sudzha.
He also accused Russia of trying to oust Kyiv from the Kursk region and shift fighting into Ukrainian border territories.
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Ukraine war latest: Camo-clad Putin visits Russian frontline as Trump ramps up ceasefire pressure – Sky News
