Media: Explosions reported in Kharkiv

12:26 PM  (Updated:  March 19, 2025 1:24 pm)

Zelensky announces talk with Trump on March 19; says Russia attacked Ukraine's power grid despite claimed pause.

"Today, I will contact President Trump. We will discuss the details of the next steps," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

1:09 PM

Russia claims it downed 7 own drones to uphold energy ceasefire; Kyiv says Moscow launched 145.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Russian drones targeted energy facilities, hospitals, and civilian infrastructure. Outages were reported in the Donetsk Oblast city of Sloviansk.

12:40 PM

US reportedly assures EU about role in Ukraine peace talks as Russia seeks sanctions relief.

The move may reassure European leaders, who have expressed concerns that the U.S. would attempt to broker a deal without their involvement.

9:10 AM  (Updated:  March 19, 2025 11:59 am)

Updated: 2 killed, 19 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched two Iskander-M ballistic missiles, four S-300 anti-aircraft missiles, and 145 attack and decoy drones against Ukraine overnight, the Air Force reported. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 72 drones over 12 oblasts, while 56 decoy drones disappeared from radars without causing damage, according to the statement.

11:46 AM

Nordics, Baltics urge concrete steps toward Ukraine's EU membership.

In a joint letter, the foreign ministers of Sweden, Finland, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia called on Brussels to put forward "concrete proposals on how to decisively advance Ukraine's accession process."

11:34 AM

US scales down efforts in countering Russian sabotage, Reuters reports.

Under former U.S. President Joe Biden, the National Security Council coordinated the effort of at least seven security agencies, who worked with European partners to disrupt Russia's escalating hybrid activities across the European continent.

10:57 AM

46% of Americans think US support for Ukraine is insufficient, poll finds.

According to the poll, 46% of Americans believe Washington is not providing sufficient assistance to Ukraine — 16% more than in December.

10:36 AM

Poroshenko attacks Zelensky over sanctions; says Ukraine must stay on defensive.

Former President Petro Poroshenko called sanctions imposed against him by the Ukrainian government an "attack on freedom and democracy" in an interview with the German tabloid Bild published on March 18.

10:18 AM

US may relinquish leadership of NATO's European command, NBC reports.

For nearly 75 years, a four-star U.S. general has held the position of Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR), overseeing NATO's military strategy and operations.

9:28 AM

Ukrainian drone strike halts operations at Russia's Krasnodar Krai oil station, authorities claim.

The attack reportedly resulted in damage to a pipeline connecting storage tanks, sparking a fire that covered an area of about 20 square meters.

8:52 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 898,070 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,060 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:46 AM

Trump administration cuts funding for initiative tracking Russian abductions of Ukrainian children, WP reports.

Researchers reportedly lost access to the database last month after U.S. officials terminated the contract, cutting off critical evidence from investigators pursuing war crimes cases.

6:12 AM

2 Sumy Oblast hospitals hit by drones hours after Putin agrees to halt energy grid attacks.

A hospital in Ukraine's northeastern city of Sumy and another in the town of Krasnopillia were hit by drones during a series of attacks on Ukraine, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to accuse Vladimir Putin of de facto rejecting a ceasefire.

5:22 AM

China signals willingness to aid Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction.

"We are ready to continue to provide assistance within our capacity according to the wishes of parties involved, which, of course, includes post-war reconstruction," a spokesperson for the China International Development Cooperation Agency said.

3:58 AM

US-Russia ceasefire talks set for March 23 in Jeddah, US envoy Witkoff says.

"I would commend President Putin for all he did today on that call to move his country close to a final peace deal," Steve Witkoff said after the 1.5-hour phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin.

2:18 AM

Putin didn't mention military aid in phone call, Trump says.

Trump also said it was "a great call" and that the U.S. hopes to expand trade with Russia, including deals on "very big forms of rare earth."

1:25 AM

'I don't want us to be on Putin's menu' — Zelensky says negotiations must include Ukraine.

"We are an independent state. Without us, I think it's wrong to negotiate," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 18.

12:30 AM

Kyiv supports energy sector ceasefire, expects military aid to continue, Zelensky says.

"We will support such a proposal, but we're very interested in the details," Zelensky said, in reference to a proposed 30-day ceasefire on energy infrastructure attacks.

11:25 PM

Trump, Putin open to 'mutually beneficial cooperation' in key sectors, Kremlin says.

"A number of ideas were discussed that are moving towards the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy sector," the Kremlin said in a readout of the March 18 phone call between Putin and Trump.

10:23 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Putin, Trump hold 1.5-hour call, discuss ceasefire in Ukraine

10:22 PM

Zelensky confirms prisoner exchange, says he has not yet spoken with Trump after Putin call.

"I expect that we will have a conversation with President Trump, we will understand the details," Zelensky told Suspilne on March 18. "We have always supported the position of not attacking the energy sector with any weapons."

10:17 PM

Ukrainian forces attempted to enter Belgorod Oblast, repelled by Russian forces, Russia claims.

The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 18 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to enter Russia's Belgorod Oblast but were repelled by the Russian military.

9:40 PM

US announces another round of negotiations in Middle East on war in Ukraine.

"This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts," the White House's statement read.

9:17 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 18

8:01 PM

Trump-Putin call: Russia agrees to 30-day pause of energy infrastructure strikes.

"Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the appropriate command to the Russian military," the Kremlin said.