Kremlin says it remains open to US talks despite Trump's reported anger at Putin
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov downplayed the reports, claiming Trump's comments were paraphrased rather than direct quotes.
United States
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
'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.
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.
Ukraine war latest: Putin will have nothing to say at peace negotiations, Zelensky says
Key developments on March 29-30: * Putin will have nothing to say at peace negotiations, Zelensky says. * Russia preparing new offensive in 'coming weeks' to strengthen negotiating position, AP reports. * Russian negotiator suggests ceasefire may not be reached in 2025. * Trump says he's 'pissed off' and 'very angry' at Putin in
NYT: 2023 southern counteroffensive was undermined by Syrskyi's desire to take back Bakhmut
Bakhmut fell to Russian forces in late spring 2023. It would go on to be described as one of the bloodiest battles of the full-scale war.
Trump fires nearly all staff at US peace institute, WP reports
The institute plays an active role in mediating conflicts and assisting with peace negotiations in war-torn countries, including Ukraine.
'We'll get Greenland,' Trump says as Denmark ramps up Arctic defense
"I don't really think about that. I don't really care," Trump said when asked what message an American takeover of Greenland would send to Russia. "Greenland's a very separate subject, very different."
Finland's Stubb plays golf with Trump, discusses war in Ukraine
Following the "unofficial" visit, Trump announced he would buy Finnish icebreaker vessels — critical to U.S. efforts to expand its power in the Arctic.
Ukraine to request changes to new minerals deal, Bloomberg reports
Ukraine will be seeking for the U.S. to commit to more U.S. investment and clarify how a reconstruction fund would operate, a person familiar with the matter said.
Ukraine expects 'strong response' from allies after continued Russian strikes, Zelensky says
"We expect a response – a serious one. We are working toward a response. A strong response is urgently needed – above all from the U.S., from Europe, from everyone in the world who has placed their bets on diplomacy. Russia must be forced into peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 29.
Russian negotiator suggests ceasefire may not be reached in 2025
"It would be naive to expect any breakthrough results at the very first meeting," Grigory Karasin said in an interview with the state-owned TV channel Rossiya-24.
US judge temporarily halts dismantling of Voice of America
District Judge J. Paul Oetken granted a temporary restraining order following a lawsuit filed by VoA staff, unions, and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and unions last week.
Vance suggests energy ceasefire in effect while Ukraine accuses Russia of violations
"We've obviously got this energy infrastructure ceasefire. We've got a Black Sea commercial ceasefire that I think is almost done," U.S. Vice President JD Vance told reporters during a visit to Greenland.
State Department officially informs Congress of plans to dissolve USAID, CNN reports
The agency, which has been central to U.S. foreign aid efforts, will be disbanded by July 1.
With peace talks underway, Ukrainian political veterans align themselves with Trump
Ukrainian political veterans long out of power have emerged as a new source of pressure on Ukraine's political leadership. Following the clash in the Oval Office between President Volodymyr Zelensky and his U.S. counterpart, Donald Trump, the White House began to look for ways to subdue Zelensky. Trump's halt
Ukraine won't sign minerals deal with US if it threatens EU membership, Zelensky says
The Financial Times reported on March 27 that the latest version of the agreement proposed by the U.S. includes terms that would grant Washington unprecedented control over Ukraine's natural resources through a joint investment fund.
Russia makes excuses to break ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes
"The Russian side reserves the right, in case the Kyiv regime does not comply with this moratorium, of course, not to comply with it either," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said.
Russia offers Elon Musk a nuclear plant for Mars mission
Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian Direct Investment Fund praised Musk as a "great visionary."
Higher-level ceasefire talks with Russia premature, Rubio says, as US reviews Moscow's stance
"I think you have to make more progress on a technical level," Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
White House dismisses Putin's proposal for temporary government in Ukraine
Putin suggested a transitional administration, overseen by the U.N. and several countries, could be formed in Ukraine to organize elections.
US funding for abducted Ukrainian children program restored temporarily, White House still terminating initiative
At least 19,500 Ukrainian children have been confirmed as abducted by Russia since the start of its full-scale invasion, with only about 1,200 returned.
USAGM withdraws termination of RFE/RL grant, funding back in effect
The U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) has reversed its decision to terminate grant funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) for the fiscal year 2025, RFE/RL reported on March 26.
Trump serious about his Greenland ambitions, Putin says
"This may only at first glance surprise some. It is a big mistake to believe that this is some extravagant talks by the new U.S. administration," Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
Ukraine believes Black Sea ceasefire is in effect, Foreign Ministry says
Kyiv believes that the Black Sea ceasefire applies to civilian shipping and Ukrainian ports, and does not apply to Russian warships, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said.
Why exporting defense tech could be the answer to Ukraine's security
It took the world 11 years of Russia's war with Ukraine, including over three years of the full-scale invasion, to finally say it out loud: "We are not doing enough." As NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte recently told U.S. President Donald Trump at the White House, "We need to
‘With or without the US’ — France, UK harden line over Ukraine at ‘Coalition of the Willing’ summit
Several European countries agreed to send troops to Ukraine as part of a "reassurance force" in case of the ceasefire with Russia, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 27 at a summit of European leaders in Paris, which was also attended by Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.
Letter to the editor: A part of America I long for I found in Ukraine
I know Ukraine. I’ve been to Ukraine. Ukraine is not perfect — neither is the United States. But in many ways, Ukraine is the United States I long for. Not because of its suffering. Not because of its war. But because of its clarity. Because of the unshakable belief that
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