Zelensky's 'victory plan' and Biden's long-range strike dilemma | Ukraine This Week

6:46 AM

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.

6:12 AM

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.

5:22 AM

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.

3:58 AM

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.

2:18 AM

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."

1:25 AM

'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.

12:30 AM

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.

11:25 PM

Trump, Putin open to 'mutually beneficial cooperation' in key sectors, Kremlin says.

"A number of ideas were discussed that are moving towards the development of mutually beneficial cooperation in the economy and energy sector," the Kremlin said in a readout of the March 18 phone call between Putin and Trump.

10:23 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Putin, Trump hold 1.5-hour call, discuss ceasefire in Ukraine

10:22 PM

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."

10:17 PM

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.

9:40 PM

US announces another round of negotiations in Middle East on war in Ukraine.

"This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts," the White House's statement read.

9:17 PM

Ukraine Reforms Tracker Weekly — Issue 18

8:01 PM

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.

8:00 PM

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.

7:04 PM

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.

6:47 PM

Putin, Trump end talks after 1.5-hour call.

U.S. President Donald Trump has completed a 1.5-hour phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, NBC reported on March 18, citing an unnamed White House source.

6:07 PM

Fashion

Meet the Ukrainian fashion brand that's making heritage trendy

5:17 PM  (Updated:  March 18, 2025 5:56 pm)

Trump, Putin call 'going well,' White House official says.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been speaking with Russian President Vladimir Putin since 10:00 a.m. EDT, White House Deputy Chief of Staff Dan Scavino said on X.

5:49 PM

France to deploy fighter jets with nuclear warheads on German border by 2035, Macron says.

France will deploy Rafale fighter jets equipped with supersonic nuclear warheads along its border with Germany in 2035, French President Emmanuel Macron announced on March 18 at the Luxeuil-Saint-Sauveur Airbase, according to BFMTV.

4:24 PM

Poland

Polish right takes hard line on Ukraine ahead of presidential vote

3:10 PM

Russian negotiator says he expects talks with Musk on space, tech.

Kirill Dmitriev, the CEO of the Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), said he expects Russia to hold talks with U.S. billionaire and President Donald Trump's ally, Elon Musk, in the near future, the pro-state news agency RBK reported on March 18.

2:28 PM

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."

2:10 PM

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.

1:45 PM

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.