Putin demands the surrender of the encircled Ukrainian troops and proposes a temporary ceasefire for front observation.

Russian President Vladimir Putin urged Ukrainian leaders to contact the encircled battalions in Kupiansk and Pokrovsk to surrender, similar to the capitulation at Azovstal in 2022. During a meeting with wounded soldiers, Putin stated that he is willing to declare a temporary ceasefire to allow journalists to observe the situation on the front. The Russian Ministry of Defense reported the first surrenders of Ukrainian soldiers and progress in the offensive in Donbas.

Putin called for measures to facilitate the surrender of Ukrainian soldiers who wish to lay down their arms, while the head of the Russian General Staff reported the encirclement of approximately 50 Ukrainian battalions. Despite the optimism from Moscow, military bloggers and experts have questioned these claims. Separately, Putin's special envoy stated that the war in Ukraine could end within a year, emphasizing the importance of international cooperation to avoid escalating the conflict.