Russian forces have recaptured Sudzha, the largest town that Ukraine once occupied in the Kursk region, according to Moscow, threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining chip amid pressure to negotiate an end to the war.

The Kremlin said there are reasons to be optimistic about a settlement to the conflict but that more work needs to be done.

The idea of a ceasefire “is correct and we will certainly support it,” Putin said, “but there are issues that need to be discussed.”

Russian forces have recaptured Sudzha, the largest town that Ukraine once occupied in the Kursk region, according to Moscow, threatening Kyiv’s sole territorial bargaining chip amid pressure to negotiate an end to the war.