UNESCO supports Ukraine's bid to include Odesa on its World Heritage List

2:58 AM

Lithuania backs EU plan for $43.5 billion in military aid to Ukraine, Reuters reports.

Lithuania ranks among Europe's top defense spenders, allocating 2.85% of its GDP to defense in 2024, according to NATO estimates.

12:51 AM

Kremlin dismisses ceasefire as tactic to buy time for Ukraine’s military.

"The Russian army is advancing on all fronts, and under these circumstances, the ceasefire could be viewed as a way to allow Ukraine to strengthen its position," Yuri Ushakov, a close adviser to Vladimir Putin, told media on March 16.

11:27 PM

Zelensky announces upcoming Ramstein summit in Brussels.

"We are preparing for Brussels," Zelensky said. According to the president, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov is currently organizing the next meeting of the Ukrainian Defense Contact Group (UDCG).

10:57 PM

New Canadian PM discusses security guarantees, bilateral cooperation in call with Zelensky.

Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney discussed increasing pressure on Moscow, particularly by imposing additional sanctions against Russia's banking sector and its so-called "shadow fleet" of oil tankers.

2:19 PM  (Updated:  March 16, 2025 9:58 pm)

KI Insights

Ukraine calendar: Events to look out for this week

9:57 PM

No more lost territory, return of deported children — Kyiv names red lines for peace deal, Independent reports.

"It is not reasonable to demand that, for example, Zaporizhzhia or Kherson be fully handed over — that sounds like a f*** off to us," a high-level Ukrainian official said.

9:12 PM

West can send troops to Ukraine without Russia's permission, Macron says.

"Ukraine is sovereign – if it requests allied forces to be on its territory, it is not up to Russia to accept or reject it," French President Emmanuel Macron said in an interview with Le Parisien.

8:15 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast

7:45 PM

UK proposes Western peacekeeping mission of 10,000 troops in Ukraine.

The proposed contingent would include around 10,000 troops, mostly provided by the U.K. and France, U.K. military sources told the Sunday Times. Thirty-five countries would assist with weapons, logistics, and intelligence support.

7:03 PM

Suspect pleads guilty to murder of Odesa activist Demyan Hanul.

Serhii Shalaiev, the man detained and charged with the killing of Ukrainian activist Demyan Hanul, pled guilty to the murder in a closed court hearing on March 16.

6:23 PM

Ukraine appoints Andrii Hnatov as new chief of General Staff.

Hnatov, who was formerly appointed as the deputy chief of the General Staff in February, will be replacing Anatolii Barhylevych, who took the role in February 2024.

5:32 PM

Air Force says 47 Russian drones shot down overnight.

Russian troops attacked Ukraine with 90 drones, targeting Kyiv, Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Cherkasy, Zhytomyr, Dnipropetrovsk, Donetsk, and Odesa oblasts, according to the Air Force's report.

4:15 PM

Trump-Putin phone call expected this week, US hopes for ceasefire within weeks, envoy says.

“I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we’re also continuing to engage and have a conversation with the Ukrainians,” Witkoff told CNN after meeting Putin in Moscow on March 13, as cited by Reuters.

3:42 PM

Video

Fierce battles in Kursk amid ceasefire talks | Ukraine This Week.

The Kyiv Independent’s Anna Belokur covers the top stories impacting Ukraine this week. First in everyone’s concerns is the ongoing ceasefire negotiations and the latest developments in Ukraine’s Kursk operation.

2:41 PM

US launches airstrikes on Iranian-backed rebels as Trump orders 'decisive' military action.

"Today, I have ordered the United States Military to launch decisive and powerful military action against the Houthi terrorists in Yemen," Trump said in a post on Truth Socials.

12:22 PM

Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast

Without confirming the withdrawal with a statement, the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces posted the latest battlefield maps on social media, which showed a complete retreat from Sudzha.

11:07 AM

Trump denies reports on his envoy waiting for Putin, calls media 'sick degenerates'.

"The fake news, as usual, is at it again!" Trump said in a post on Truth Social. "Why can't they be honest, just for once?"

10:05 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 894,240 troops in Ukraine since Feb 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,400 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:26 AM

Canada contributes additional $35 million toward restoring energy infrastructure in Ukraine.

"As Russia continues its ruthless attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity, water, and heat, Canada is proud... to continue the important work it is doing to help Ukraine repair its critical infrastructure," Canadian Foreign Minister Melanie Joly said in a statement.

4:16 AM

Italy does not plan to send peacekeepers to Ukraine, remains committed to 'effective security guarantees.'

Italy does not plan to participate in a peacekeeping force on the ground in eastern Ukraine to guarantee a potential ceasefire, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni's office said on March 15.

3:09 AM

Rubio discusses 'next steps' in phone call with Russia's Lavrov.

U.S. State Secretary Marco Rubio held a phone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on March 15 as Washington attempts to persuade Moscow to accept a 30-day ceasefire deal.

2:01 AM

Duda denounces Russia for 'imperial greed,' reiterates calls to deploy US nuclear weapons in Poland.

"Ukraine must be sovereign and independent, because otherwise there will be no peace, it will only be the end of the war due to the occupation of Ukraine by Russia," Polish President Andrzej Duda said in a wide-ranging interview with the BBC published on March 15.

1:13 AM

Journalism

'Everyone is really shocked and upset' — Trump administration puts Voice of America journalists on leave, cuts funding to Radio Free Europe

11:18 PM

Sanctions

‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for Moscow

10:15 PM

Trump appoints Kellogg as Special Envoy to Ukraine, removes him from dealings with Russia.

Initially appointed as Trump’s Special Envoy for Ukraine and Russia, General Keith Kellogg was to be involved in direct peace talk efforts between the two countries. However, recent media reports indicate that he was excluded from high-level peace at the Kremlin's request as Moscow perceived Kellogg as being too sympathetic to Ukraine.