President Donald Trump has said US officials are headed to Russia to discuss a potential ceasefire with Ukraine following Vladimir Putin's visit to Kursk.
The Russian president made the surprise visit to Kursk yesterday, where parts of the region have been under Ukraine's control since last year.
The Kremlin says the leader has been told forces are in the final stage of the operation to drive Ukraine from territory it seized across the border in Kursk.
Russia's Chief of the General Staff, Valery Gerasimov, says more than 1,100 sq km of territory taken by Ukraine in the region has now been recaptured.
But, according to the Russian media, Putin has ordered the military to "fully liberate" the region.
The news comes after Ukranian officials agreed to a 30-day ceasefire on Tuesday where President Volodymyr Zelensky said it was now up to the US to convince Russia to agree to the "positive" proposal.
The Kremlin has said it was studying the ceasefire deal, and that a phone call between Trump and Putin is possible.
Donald Trump says he has received "positive messages" about the possibility of a ceasefire, but Putin has yet to comment on the offer.