Article #3548

Putin responds to Trump’s appeal to save ‘surrounded’ Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk though there is no evidence of encirclement

• Russia-Ukraine war – latest news updates

Vladimir Putin has praised Donald Trump for “doing everything” to improve relations between Moscow and Washington, after Trump said the US has had “very good and productive discussions” with Putin in recent days.

Putin told a meeting of his security chiefs that improved relations with the US were now on the agenda. “We know that the new administration headed by President Trump is doing everything to restore at least something of what was basically destroyed by the previous US administration,” he said.