General Staff: Nearly 5000 Ukrainian soldiers have completed training in UK.

4:56 PM

Belgorod Oblast

Ukraine denies Russian claims of thwarted attempt to invade Belgorod Oblast — here’s what we know.

On March 18, Russia’s Defense Ministry said it had stopped a significant Ukrainian ground assault from entering Russia’s Belgorod Oblast, a claim that Ukraine swiftly denied as a propaganda effort.

8:29 PM  (Updated:  March 19, 2025 4:52 pm)

War analysis

Who is to gain more from a ceasefire — Russia or Ukraine?

4:24 PM

Ukraine brings home 175 prisoners of war in swap with Russia.

Ukraine has brought home 175 Ukrainian soldiers in a one-for-one prisoner exchange with Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 19.

4:19 PM

'Putin is playing a game here' — Germany's Pistorius criticizes Trump's ceasefire call with Moscow.

"After this supposedly groundbreaking, great phone call, the Russian attacks have not decreased," Boris Pistorius said.

4:14 PM

Ukraine ceasefire could be reached 'in a couple of weeks,' Witkoff says.

“I actually think in a couple of weeks we’re going to get to it (a ceasefire). So, lots of good things. Now it’s for the technical teams to dot the I’s and cross the T’s. And everybody is committed to that process," said U.S. President Donald Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, Steve Witkoff.

3:48 PM

Germany agrees on additional $3.3 billion in military aid for Ukraine.

The outgoing German government agreed to release an additional 3 billion euros ($3.3 billion) in military assistance for Ukraine, a German Finance Ministry spokesperson confirmed for the Kyiv Independent on March 19.

3:19 PM

US court blocks cuts to USAID, says Musk's DOGE likely violated Constitution.

The court order requires the Trump administration to restore email and computer access to all USAID employees, including those on administrative leave. However, it does not reinstate the agency in full or reverse staff firings.

3:10 PM

Trump Jr., Witkoff, Carlson involved in secret talks with Zelensky's rivals, Politico reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump's son, Donald Jr., news host Tucker Carlson, Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, and special envoy Steve Witkoff were involved in backchannel talks with President Volodymyr Zelensky's political rivals, Politico reported on March 18, citing undisclosed sources.

2:50 PM

Opinion

Trump’s push for regime change in Ukraine has only boosted Zelensky

2:41 PM

Ukraine to compile list of energy sites Russia must stop attacking, Zelensky says.

"And if the Russians don't hit our facilities, we won't hit their facilities," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

2:02 PM

RFE/RL sues Trump administration over funding cuts.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) sued the United States Agency for Global Media (USAGM) on March 18 over the termination of grant funding, calling the action unconstitutional.

2:00 PM

Company news

EU, UNDP unveil interactive online exhibition about Ukraine’s rescuers and police officers

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.