Russian President Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, has ordered the swift defeat of Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region, just after the U.S. urged him to consider a 30-day ceasefire.

Axar.az, citing The Straits Times, Ukrainian troops had crossed into Russia on August 6, seizing territory as a diversionary tactic, but recent Russian advances have reduced Ukraine's foothold to less than 200 square kilometers from its peak of 1,300 square kilometers.

Putin, in a televised address, emphasized the urgency of decisively defeating Ukrainian forces and establishing a security zone along the border. Russian General Valery Gerasimov reported that Russian troops had reclaimed over 86% of the occupied territory, including 24 settlements and 259 square kilometers in the past five days, capturing over 400 Ukrainian soldiers.

Russia’s operation to eliminate Ukrainian forces from Kursk is in its final stage, according to Kremlin sources. Meanwhile, Ukraine's commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, stated that Ukrainian forces would continue their operations in Kursk as long as necessary.

The U.S. has resumed arms and intelligence support for Ukraine following discussions in Saudi Arabia, where Kyiv signaled readiness for a ceasefire. The Kremlin is currently reviewing the results of those talks.