Kaluga Oblast

3:37 PM

Ukraine-US talks on minerals deal ongoing, not tied to NATO membership, source says.

Ukrainian and U.S. government and legal teams continue discussions on the mineral deal, a source in the Presidential Office told the Kyiv Independent on March 31 as U.S. President Donald Trump is escalating his rhetoric on the agreement.

3:20 PM

Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.6 billion.

"The package includes, among other things, support for Ukraine’s air defense, artillery, satellite communications, and maritime capacity," Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson announced.

10:00 PM  (Updated:  March 31, 2025 3:03 pm)

War analysis

A ‘very bloody war:' What is the death toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine?

3:02 PM

Netherlands pledges over $2 billion for Ukraine in 2025, including $540 million for drones.

This support will include 500 million euros ($540 million) for Ukraine's Drone Line project, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.

2:40 PM

Kyiv hosting parliamentary leaders 'from across Europe.'

The visit comes on the third anniversary of the liberation of Bucha, a Kyiv Oblast town where Russian forces massacred hundreds of civilians during the occupation in early 2022.

2:11 PM

Russia trying to bypass Ukraine's positions in Toretsk by going underground, military says.

"Since this is also a priority sector, the Russians are trying to use every chance to bypass Ukrainian troops," said Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces.

2:06 PM

Trump to visit Saudi Arabia in mid-May, Axios reports.

Earlier this month, Trump said his first trip during his second term would be to Saudi Arabia, as it had agreed to invest $1 trillion in the U.S. economy.

1:34 PM  (Updated:  March 31, 2025 2:00 pm)

Marine Le Pen barred from running for public office, sentenced to prison after embezzlement verdict.

A French court on March 31 found Marine Le Pen, one of the leaders of the far-right National Rally party (RN), guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned her from running for public office "with immediate effect."

12:59 PM

Trump's spiritual adviser visits Bucha, meets Ukraine's religious leaders.

"The war in Ukraine is bigger than Democrats or Republicans, the Left or the Right. Whether you dislike President Trump or President (Volodymyr) Zelensky, real people are dying here," Pastor Mark Burns said.

12:24 PM

Ukraine receives $400 million tranche from IMF.

The funds represent the latest tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, which will provide Kyiv with $15.6 billion in budget support over four years. With the additional $400 million in funding, the program has now distributed $10.1 billion in financing to Ukraine.

12:03 PM

Germany's incoming government wants EU to get tough on Hungary, Politico reports.

The incoming German government wants the EU to adopt harsher measures to punish countries violating the bloc's core principles, an apparent reference to Hungary, Politico reported on March 31, citing an obtained coalition agreement.

11:31 AM

Lithuania says vehicle carrying 4 US soldiers pulled from swamp; no news on the troops.

U.S. soldiers and a tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 in a training area near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, some 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the border with Belarus.

10:43 AM

CNN gives airtime to Russian ultranationalist ideologue who called for genocide in Ukraine.

In an interview with CNN, ultranationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he represented an ideology that "changes the balance in the world."

10:10 AM

There's 'psychological deadline' for Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire, Trump says.

"If I think they're (Russia) tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, voicing his belief that the Kremlin's chief "wants to make a deal."

9:31 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 17 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 57 out of 131 Shahed-type drones and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 45 drones disappeared from radars, according to the statement.

9:10 AM

Ukraine ceasefire could raise security risks for Baltic states, Estonian defense minister says.

"We all understand that when the war in Ukraine will be stopped, Russia will redistribute its forces very quickly. That means also the threat level will increase significantly very quickly," said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.

8:59 AM

Shooter opens fire on police in Russia's Murmansk.

The man began shooting from the roof of a building at Kolskiy Avenue 10 in the central part of the city, after which the authorities stormed the roof and "neutralized" the attacker, the regional Investigative Committee said.

8:36 AM

US, Russia begin talks on rare earth minerals projects, Moscow claims.

"Rare earth metals are an important area for cooperation, and, of course, we have begun discussions about various rare earth metals and projects in Russia," said Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 915,230 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,230 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:24 AM

Zelensky publishes declaration of 2024 family income.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and his family members declared $368,556 in income last year, an increase from the 2023 total.

5:36 AM

Doctors resume operating on patients at military hospital hit by Russian strike.

"Operations have resumed in the operating rooms, which were damaged by the blast wave. The hospital cannot stop providing assistance and treating patients for even a minute."

4:46 AM

'If he does that, he's got some big problems' — Trump claims Zelensky wants to back out of minerals deal.

"He's trying to back out of the rare earth deal and if he does that he's got some problems, big, big problems," Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on March 29.

3:47 AM

Starmer, Trump agree to keep up 'collective pressure' on Putin.

The comment followed Trump's phone call with NBC, during which he reportedly said he is "pissed off and very angry" about Putin's continued focus on President Volodymyr Zelensky.

2:51 AM

'Putin couldn’t care less about diplomacy' — Zelensky says as Russia steps up attacks on Ukraine.

"For several weeks, there has been a U.S. proposal for an unconditional ceasefire. And almost every day, in response to this proposal, there are Russian drones, bombs, artillery shelling, and ballistic strikes," Volodymyr Zelensky said.

11:43 PM

Finnish president pushes for April 20 ceasefire date in talks with Trump.

Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested that April 20 is a “good time for a complete ceasefire without any conditions” in Ukraine, Yle reported on March 30.