VLADIMIR Putin has visited the Kursk region for the first time since his forces regained control of the territory from Ukraine in an extensive and expensive effort to save face.

Zelensky’s forces bravely booted Moscow’s troops out of the Russian territory last summer, playing Putin at his own game.

Russia had to engage in a fierce battle for months to recover the territory, with Putin three weeks ago announcing its return to Russian control — concluding the largest intrusion into his nation since World War II.

Vlad met with volunteer organisations on Tuesday, the Kremlin said, and marched around a nuclear power plant wearing a silly white helmet.

He also said the Kremlin supported the idea of continuing monthly payments to displaced Russian families that still could not return to their homes.

Disgruntled local residents have complained about a lack of compensation – and took the rare step of publicly protesting against Vlad’s government.

Kursk has seen some of the fiercest fighting of the war, with the Russians enraged by the humiliation of losing their own land.

Ukrainian forces first took the area with a surprise incursion in August 2024, in their largest cross-border raid of the war.

It was a savvy move from Zelensky, as any Russian territory his forces hold could prove to be a valuable bargaining chip in negotiations.

They repelled repeated counter-attacks by Russia – and even fought off 12,000 North Korean troops Putin funnelled in.

In October 2024, it became apparent that North Korean troops were fighting for Russia on the battlefield.

Kim Jong Un is an ally of Putin and sent over his men to support Russia in its illegal war.

The North Koreans were trained back from the frontline before being deployed – and saw most of their action in the Kursk region.

Nonetheless, it revealed that Koreans fighting in a foreign territory were terrified and inadequately prepared for combat, especially against the sophisticated drones employed by Ukraine.

Russia slowly chipped away at Ukraine’s grip over the territory with wave after wave of attacks, losing thousands of troops to the meat-grinder.

At the end of April, nine months after Kursk was first seized, Putin declared that the area had been fully “liberated”.

However, following Putin’s boast to have reclaimed the land, Kyiv insisted that fighting in the area continued.

Putin said last month: “The Kyiv regime’s adventure has completely failed.”

But Oleh Shyriaiev, a Ukrainian army commander, fired back: “Russia has not yet liberated the Kursk region by 100%. We are working, fighting.

“These are not territorial successes… But successes in destroying enemy armoured vehicles and personnel.”

Ukraine is still yet to declare it has been fully pushed out of the area, and just two weeks ago launched a fresh offensive in Kursk, smashing through Russia’s border once again.

Putin’s victory lap to Kursk comes as he continues to frustrate the peace process – just last week snubbing the opportunity for face-to-face peace talks with Zelensky in Turkey.

His representatives proceeded to make a series of totally unrealistic demands – and even threatened Ukraine with the idea of an “eternal war”.

President Trump had a two-hour phone call with the tyrant on Monday, described by Putin as “frank and very useful”, in a third direct effort to force him into negotiations.

Following the conversation, Trump said the Vatican could play host to direct peace talks between the warring nations.

Vlad told state media: “A ceasefire in Ukraine for a certain period of time is possible if appropriate agreements are reached.”

Zelensky and Trump spoke beforehand for a few minutes.

Trump posted to Truth Social: “I believe it went very well. Russia and Ukraine will immediately start negotiations toward a ceasefire.

“The Vatican, as represented by the Pope, has stated it would be very interested in hosting negotiations.”

Meanwhile, a despicable plan to turn decimated Ukrainian cities into ghastly museums of death for tourists to visit has emerged out of Moscow.

The bloody invasion has seen civilians forced out of their homes on a mass scale while towns have endured relentless blitzing.

A senior mouthpiece for the tyrant has now suggested Russia should leave these ruins as they are as a sick reminder of Vlad’s war efforts.