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.
Ukraine
Zelensky announces talk with Trump on March 19
"Today, I will contact President Trump. We will discuss the details of the next steps," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
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."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
'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.
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.
Ukraine war latest: Putin, Trump hold 1.5-hour call, discuss ceasefire in Ukraine
Key developments on March 18: * Trump-Putin call: Russia agrees to 30-day pause of energy infrastructure strikes * US announces another round of negotiations in Middle East on war in Ukraine * Ukrainian forces attempted to enter Belgorod Oblast, repelled by Russian forces, Russia claims * Ukraine withdraws from one front-line sector in Donetsk
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."
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.
Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 18
Editor’s note: This is issue 18 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from March 10–16, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks and
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.
Kremlin demands halt to foreign military aid, intelligence to Ukraine as condition for avoiding war escalation
The Kremlin has demanded a complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence to Ukraine as a "key condition for avoiding an escalation of the war," according to a statement released on March 18.
Zelensky arrives in Finland for official visit to discuss security and strengthen ties
President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Finland for an official visit on March 18. The plane carrying the couple landed at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the afternoon.
Meet the Ukrainian fashion brand that's making heritage trendy
Editor’s note: This article is part of a series of profiles highlighting successful Ukrainian startups and businesses. The series is funded by the regional investment fund Ukraine-Moldova American Enterprise Fund (UMAEF) and created in partnership with Spend With Ukraine, a non-profit organization that launched a platform to showcase businesses
Polish right takes hard line on Ukraine ahead of presidential vote
With the Polish presidential elections just two months away, two of the country's leading right-wing candidates have become increasingly antagonistic toward Ukraine and its leadership. Kyiv can ill afford another hostile head of state among its key partners, as U.S. President Donald Trump's foreign policy shift has already thrown
Notorious judge dismissed amid accusations of criminal activity, power grab
Judge Pavlo Vovk was held responsible for "committing a significant disciplinary offense, gross or systematic neglect of duties that is incompatible with the status of a judge or revealed his incompatibility with the position he holds."
UK reportedly hopes US drones, satellites will help monitor Ukraine ceasefire
The U.S. military has 247 military satellites and thousands of commercial satellites, providing an "unrivaled picture" of eastern Ukraine that European forces would struggle to replicate, the Times wrote.
Russia sees US aid halt during Ukraine truce as its 'minimum' goal, Bloomberg reports
The Kremlin wants all Western arms supplies to Ukraine to stop during a proposed truce but prioritizes a pause on U.S. arms as its "minimum aim," Bloomberg reported on March 18, citing two undisclosed sources in Moscow.
Ukraine withdraws from one front-line sector in Donetsk Oblast, commander says
"This allowed us not only to save our soldiers, but also to improve our defense. (Russia) is suffering losses, and we can act more effectively," Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev said.
Trump's aid cuts threaten supply of HIV treatments to Ukraine, 7 more countries, WHO warns
World Health Organization warned that Kenya, Haiti, Lesotho, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, South Sudan, and Ukraine could run out of critical antiretroviral drugs in the coming months.
Italy, Spain hesitant on EU's $43 billion military aid to Ukraine plan
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said the proposal needed further discussion and that Italy was awaiting the outcome of the upcoming call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Trump boasts of saving 'surrounded' Ukrainian soldiers despite Kyiv denying encirclement in Kursk Oblast
U.S. President Donald Trump claimed on March 17 that he took an unspecified action to save "surrounded" Ukrainian soldiers, apparently referring to his earlier and unsubstantiated claims of Kyiv's troops being encircled in Russia's Kursk Oblast.
2 killed, 13 injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over past day
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 63 of the 137 Russian attack and decoy drones overnight over 12 oblasts, the Air Force said. Sixty-four decoy drones reportedly disappeared from radars without causing damage.
Russia 'not losing hope' ahead of planned Putin-Trump call, top Putin aide says
Russia is not "losing hope" ahead of a planned call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, Putin's aide Yuri Ushakov told pro-Kremlin news outlet Kommersant on March 18.
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