Pope urges to spend less on Christmas, send difference to Ukrainians

4:01 PM

Russia's withdrawal from Ukraine condition for easing EU sanctions, commission says.

Russia's "unconditional withdrawal" from Ukraine is one of the main preconditions for changing or lifting EU sanctions, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper told Ukrainian media outlet Suspilne on March 26.

3:48 PM

EBRD approves $290 million loan for Ukraine's gas.

The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) on March 26 approved a loan of 270 million euros ($290 million) for Ukraine's Naftogaz to purchase gas for the next two winters, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.

3:11 PM

Ukraine approves Bird of Prey drone system for combat.

The system was developed based on battlefield experience, optimizing its effectiveness against enemy vehicles and fortified positions, Ukraine's Defense Ministry said.

2:36 PM

Poland can withstand invasion for 2 weeks before NATO steps in, security chief says.

"I think, depending on how this fight goes, this defense can be carried out within a week or two at today's inventory levels," Dariusz Lukowski, head of Poland's National Security Bureau, said.

2:16 PM

Update: 108 injured in Russian strike on Sumy on March 24, including 24 children.

"At the moment, we have 108 (victims), including 24 children. So the number has increased," First Deputy Mayor Artem Kuznetsov said.

2:05 PM

Russia sentences 23 Azov members to prison, including 11 in absentia.

Eleven were sentenced in absentia as they had been released in prisoner exchanges, while 12 prisoners of war (POW) still held in Russia have been jailed to between 13 and 23 years in prison.

11:45 PM  (Updated:  March 26, 2025 1:34 pm)

Trump & Ukraine

Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in focus of Ukraine peace talks. What's at stake?

1:04 PM

'117 proofs in our skies' — Zelensky says overnight drone strike shows Moscow not ready for peace.

"Last night, there were another 117 proofs in our skies of how Russia continues to drag out this war – 117 strike drones, most of them Shaheds," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

12:25 PM

Moldova detains regional leader accused of taking money from Russia.

Evghenia Gutul, the head of Moldova's Gagauzia region, is implicated in the illegal financing case of the banned pro-Russian Shor Party.

12:13 PM

Russian state TV journalist killed by mine near Ukraine's border.

"Channel One military correspondent Anna Prokofyeva died while performing her professional duties," the statement said.

11:26 AM

Russia has struck Ukraine's energy sites 8 times since March 18, Zelensky's advisor says.

Ukraine has recorded eight confirmed hits against its energy facilities by Russian forces since March 18, when the Kremlin claimed to have ordered a pause on such attacks, presidential advisor Dmytro Lytvyn said on March 25.

11:06 AM

'There is talk of Nord Stream' — Lavrov eyes Russia-US energy cooperation.

"There is talk about Nord Stream. It will probably be interesting if the Americans use their influence on Europe and force it not to give up Russian gas," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said.

10:27 AM

Armenia's parliament passes bill on EU accession.

The Armenian parliament passed a bill "On starting the process of accession of the Republic of Armenia to the European Union" in its second and final reading on March 26, the News.am news agency reported.

10:21 AM

4 killed, 6 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.

Ukraine's air defenses intercepted 56 of the 117 Russian drones launched overnight, including Shahed-type attack drones.

9:27 AM

US judge temporarily blocks Trump administration from shutting down RFE/RL.

Judge Royce Lamberth issued a temporary restraining order, ruling that the administration's attempt to defund the organization was "unsupported by any facts or reasoning" and likely violated federal law.

9:20 AM

Trump's envoy draws criticism after saying nuclear arms in Ukraine were 'Russia's.'

U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Richard Grenell said on March 25 that the Soviet-era nuclear arsenal stationed in Ukraine after the Soviet Union collapsed belonged to Russia, calling it an "uncomfortable fact."

8:48 AM

Ukraine will resist 'with their bare hands' if forced into unjust peace, CIA chief says.

"I want to say that with regard to the Ukrainian resistance, the Ukrainian people and the Ukrainian military have been underestimated for a period of several years now," CIA Director John Ratcliffe said.

8:32 AM

Russia may be 'dragging their feet' on Ukraine peace deal, Trump says.

Asked by a reporter whether he believes Russia "wants to see an end" to the full-scale war, U.S. President Donald Trump said, "I don't know. I mean, I'll let you know at a certain point. But I think that Russia wants to see an end to it, but it could be they're dragging their feet."

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 907,220 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,280 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:38 AM

Ukraine, Russia may prolong war instead of finalizing bad peace deal, US intelligence assessment finds.

Ukraine and Russia may see a greater incentive to prolong war instead of settling for an unfavourable peace deal, an unclassified U.S. intelligence assessment published March 25 found.

5:03 AM

Zelensky accuses Russia of manipulating conditions for Black Sea ceasefire.

"We see how the Russians have already started to manipulate. They are already trying to distort the agreements and actually deceive our mediators and the whole world," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 25.

3:58 AM

US considering lifting some sanctions to secure Black Sea ceasefire, Trump says.

The United States is "looking at" lifting additional sanctions on Russia in order to secure a Black Sea ceasefire agreement, U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 25.

1:50 AM

Russia rejects calls to return Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on March 25 that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is a Russian facility and cannot be transferred to Ukraine or any other country.

12:19 AM

Ukraine to dissolve gambling regulator, create new agency to oversee industry.

A new state agency, PlayCity, will aim to digitize gambling business licensing and strengthen oversight of the industry.

11:23 PM

Business

‘Not what Ukraine needs’ — Black Sea ceasefire favors Russia more than Ukraine, say experts