Putin dons military fatigues for frontline visit - as Trump threatens to destroy Russian economy in bid for peace deal

13 March 2025, 00:03 | Updated: 13 March 2025, 07:48

Russian President Vladimir Putin accompanied by Russian Chief of General Staff Gen.
Russian President Vladimir Putin accompanied by Russian Chief of General Staff Gen. Picture: Alamy

By Flaminia Luck

Vladimir Putin has visited the Russian frontline dressed in military uniform ahead of a potential ceasefire.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Donald Trump claims a team of officials are on their way to Russia "right now" - as Moscow considers an American-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine.

Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s accepted the 30-day truce - but the Kremlin says it is awaiting details.

Earlier, a senior official in the Trump administration exclusively told LBC he's confident Russia will agree to a peace deal.

Sebastian Gorka, a deputy assistant to the US president, told Andrew Marr the extent of Russian losses during its three-year invasion of Ukraine made continuing the war politically difficult.

Putin was pictured visiting the frontline of the Kursk region, which Ukraine has invaded, while dressed in camouflage
Putin was pictured visiting the frontline of the Kursk region, which Ukraine has invaded, while dressed in camouflage. Picture: Getty

The Kremlin has so far said that it wants to speak to the US directly before making a decision on the ceasefire offer.

Mr Trump warned of "devastating" consequences to Russia if they didn't agree to the peace deal.

G7 foreign ministers are to meet in Canada as Russia considers the proposal.

The meeting will be attended by US secretary of state Marco Rubio who stated "the ball is truly in [Russia's] court".

Read more: 'Positive messages' from Russia on Ukraine peace deal, Trump says, as US diplomats head to Moscow

Read more: Russian missiles strike Kyiv hours after Ukraine agrees to ceasefire deal

Trump official: ‘There will be serious consequences’ if Russia reject peace

On Wednesday evening, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Moscow was still awaiting "detailed information" on the proposal.

The G7 meeting is the latest in a round of diplomacy as the world scrambles to respond to Donald Trump's push for an end to the war in Ukraine.

Earlier in the week, military chiefs from Europe and beyond met in Paris to discuss plans for a peacekeeping force that could be deployed to Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.

The Defence ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain are meeting to discuss support for Ukraine
The Defence ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain are meeting to discuss support for Ukraine. Picture: Getty

Relations between Ukraine and the US appeared to be faltering after an explosive meeting between Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskyy nearly two weeks ago.

But after Ukraine agreed to the ceasefire offer on Tuesday Mr Trump invited Mr Zelenskyy back to the White House.

Mr Zelenskyy had also written a letter seeking to build diplomatic bridges after the meltdown.

Asked if relations had improved in the past two weeks, Mr Gorka said: "Without a doubt. We've seen the apology come from Kyiv. We've seen their desire to come back to the negotiating table. So without a doubt, I think that the wrong individuals were listened to on one side of the table 12 days ago.

"I think that has changed the dynamic and it's just a recognition of empirical fact. There is no leader in the world today, not a nation head, not a prime minister, not a president, not a Secretary general who can bring peace to Ukraine and to the European continent - except President Trump.

Ukraine accepts 30-day ceasefire deal: Ukrainian adviser reacts

"That is the only person who can bring the fighting to an end. And I think that has been realised by Kyiv, as it has also by Moscow."

Speaking earlier on Wednesday, Mr Trump said that his administration had heard "positive messages" from Russia about the ceasefire deal.

Mr Trump told reporters on Wednesday: "Hopefully we can get a ceasefire", adding that "it is up to Russia now".

He added: "We have people going to Russia right now".

Asked what the US could do to pressure Russia into signing the peace deal, he said: "There are things that wouldn't be pleasant in a financial sense. I can do things financially that would be very bad for Russia.

"I don't want to do that because I want to get peace."

He added: "In a financial sense, yes, we could do things that would be very bad for Russia, that would be devastating for Russia. But I don't want to do that."

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday that Washington will put the proposals to Moscow directly, adding that "the ball is truly in their court" and rejection of the plan would "make their intentions clear".

Sebastian Gorka on the Ukraine ceasefire deal

Latest World News

See more Latest World News

Hamdan Ballal holds his Oscar for Best Documentary Feature for "No Other Land" during the 97th Annual Academy Awards.

Oscar-winning Palestinian director attacked by mob of Jewish settlers and arrested by Israeli military

Marco Rubio, US secretary of state, from left, US President Donald Trump, and Pete Hegseth, US secretary of defense.

Trump's team make MAGA mistake after revealing secret war plans to journalist accidentally added to group chat

University students march across Galata bridge during a protest after Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu was arrested and jailed

More than 1,000 arrested as protests continue to sweep Istanbul after Erdogan rival detained on corruption charges

Emergency services at the scene after an explosion at a building thought to be a gas leak, in Via Pio Foà and Via Vitellia, in Rome, Sunday, March 23, 2025.

Scottish tourist hospitalised with severe burns after explosion destroys three-storey building in Rome

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speak during joint press conference with Czech Rebublic's President Petr Pavel in Kyiv, Ukraine, Friday, March 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky).

Zelenskyy claims US officials influenced by Russia - as Kremlin confirms Putin portrait gift to Trump

ROMANIA-US-CRIME-INTERNET-CELEBRITY-SEXISM

Tate brothers return to Romania to 'prove their innocence' amid rape and trafficking accusations

Anti-Trump protestors take to Greenland streets as Ursula Vance and US delegation's visit branded a 'provocation'

Greenland PM brands Usha Vance and US delegation's visit a 'provocation' as anti-Trump protestors swarm streets

Tamim Iqbal was rushed to hospital after suffering a heart attack

Cricket star on life support after heart attack during match

5 police officers injured during the intervention unauthorised demonstration in the Turkish capital Ankara.

Huge protests in Turkey as crowds hit by rubber bullets and tear gas after Erdogan arrests main rival

A B&B in Rome was destroyed in explosion, leaving a British man seriously injured.

British tourist 'fighting for his life' with burns to 70% of body after Rome B&B explosion

Prime Minister Mark Carney speaks to media at Rideau Hall

Canadian PM Mark Carney calls snap election as he says Donald Trump 'wants to break us' with trade war

LEWIS HAMILTON at the Shanghai Audi International Circuit, Shanghai, China on 23 March 2025 Credit: /Every Second Media

Lewis Hamilton disqualified from Chinese Grand Prix after breaking F1 rule by just four millimetres

Pope Francis waves as he appears at a window of the Agostino Gemelli Polyclinic in Rome

Pope arrives back at Vatican as he makes first public appearance after five-week stay in hosptial

Residents examine the rubble of a destroyed building following an Israeli military strike on the Nuseirat Refugee Camp, five kilometers north-east of Deir al-Balah in central Gaza, on March 23, 2025.

Senior Hamas leader killed as Gaza death toll passes 50,000, with largest hospital struck

Istanbul Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu

Turkish president Erdogan's main political rival arrested and jailed ahead of trial

Pope Francis Delivers His Weekly Audience At The Vatican

Pope Francis to make first public appearance today as he returns to Vatican after five weeks in hospital