Trump asks Putin to spare the lives of thousands of Ukraine troops that have been encircled estimated to be 10K+.
Putin did say they can surrender or get killed. Remember Ukraine troops went into mainland Russia Kursk to achieve two things to force Russia to redeploy troops from Ukraine regions and also use it as a bargaining chip.
Unfortunately for Ukraine, this incursion alone costed 60K troops KIA while Russia just used their Chechen forces to hold the line and also used NK troops. While the main Russian forces continued their advance along the full ukraine contact line.
Currently Putin decides how this war ends. He has all the cards.