President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has denied claims by President Trump and President Vladimir V. Putin that Ukrainian forces in Kursk were surrounded.

Russia battled on Sunday to drive the last Ukrainian soldiers from western Russia, Russian officials said, after a seven-month incursion by Ukraine that aimed to distract Moscow's forces, gain a bargaining chip and rile President Vladimir Putin.

"Ukraine is sovereign – if it requests allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or reject it," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with Le Parisien.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukrainian troops have not been encircled by Russian forces in Kursk region, accusing Russian leader Vladimir Putin of “lying” about the situation on the ground.

Kyiv troops withdraw from Kursk town as Moscow closes in on recapturing region - Ukraine is rapidly losing ground in the Kursk region amid a major Russian offensive to recapture land

Russian President Vladimir Putin has called on Ukrainian troops in the Russian region of Kursk to surrender, as diplomatic back-and-forth continues over a potential US-brokered ceasefire with Ukraine.

Ukrainian troops are still fending off Russian and North Korean forces in the Kursk region but face a potential new attack on Ukraine's northeast Sumy region, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Saturday.

Amid the U.S. push for a ceasefire, Russia claims it has surrounded Ukrainian forces and recaptured territory in the Kursk region.

Russia says it retakes villages near Sudzha, evacuates 300 residents Zelenskiy warns of potential Russian attack on Sumy region Ukraine stabilizes situation near Pokrovsk March 15 (Reuters) - Ukrainian troops are still fending off Russian and North Korean forces in Russia's Kursk region but face a potential new attack on Ukraine's northeast Sumy region,