In a post on the social media platform, President Donald Trump stated: "Based on the fact that Russia is 'violently attacking' Ukraine on the battlefield, I am considering imposing large scale banking sanctions, trade sanctions, and tariffs on Russia until such time as a ceasefire and final peace agreement is achieved."

He also called on: "Russia and Ukraine, please sit down at the negotiating table now, before it's too late. Thank you!!!".

Russian troops have now virtually surrounded thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Russia’s Kursk region. Open-source maps show that Russia has virtually split Ukrainian forces in two and cut off the main supply line in the area.

"The situation (in Ukraine at Kursk) is dire," said Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group.

President Zelenskiy said he would travel to Saudi Arabia next Monday (March 11) to meet Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, ahead of talks between US and Ukrainian officials there later in the week.

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff has held extensive talks with Russian officials, confirming that a meeting with Ukraine is scheduled for next week in Saudi Arabia to discuss the framework of a peace deal to end the three-year war.

Cao Phong (according to CNN, AJ, CNBC)