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.
Olena Goncharova
Articles
'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.
Ukrainian forces push 3-4 km inside Belgorod region, Reuters reports
The Ukrainian operation appears to be aimed at diverting Russian forces as Moscow intensifies efforts to push Kyiv’s troops out of Kursk.
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.
Russia's attack on Dnipro kills 4, injures 24
Over 20 drones targeted the city late on March 28, though most were shot down, according to regional Governor Serhii Lysak.
Russia rejects calls to return Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant
Russia’s Foreign Ministry announced on March 25 that the Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant is a Russian facility and cannot be transferred to Ukraine or any other country.
Partial ceasefire in Ukraine should start on March 25, Zelensky says
"We believe that, after Washington makes two official statements... the ceasefire in the sea and the energy ceasefire must come into effect, in (the Americans') opinion," Zelensky said. "Undoubtedly this depends on orders given by the presidents to their military forces."
3 Russian state media employees killed in occupied Luhansk Oblast
Leonid Pasechnik, the Russia-installed head of the occupied Luhansk Oblast, claimed the attack occurred in the Kreminna district, also killing three civilians.
US senators push Trump administration to seize Russian assets for Ukraine, Reuters reports
In a letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio seen by Reuters on March 24, senators questioned the administration’s willingness to use all available financial tools to pressure Russia into ending its war against Ukraine.
Russia seeks full control of partially occupied Ukrainian regions in talks with US, media reports
A Kremlin-linked official told the Moscow Times that Vladimir Putin cannot afford to lose these territories politically, and Russia intends to solidify its grip on them at any cost.
Russian missile strike on Sumy injures more than 90, including 23 children
Russian forces launched the attack against residential areas and infrastructure facilities, including children's hospital, said acting Mayor Artem Kobzar.
Russia aims to make 'some progress' during upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia
Russian senator Grigory Karasin, who will lead Moscow’s delegation, told local Zvezda TV that he and FSB advisor Sergey Beseda would enter the negotiations with a "combative and constructive" approach.
Russia uses propaganda narratives to undermine peace talks, shift blame to Ukraine, ISW says
The Kremlin has revived familiar narratives portraying Ukraine as the aggressor and acting under Western influence, according to the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).
Russia blames ‘unfriendly state’ for 2024 Crocus Hall terrorist attack
Svetlana Petrenko, a representative of the Russian Investigative Committee, claimed the attack aimed to "destabilize the situation in Russia."
Trump's envoy Witkoff claims Ukraine will hold presidential elections
Ukraine has not held elections during Russia's full-scale war because they are prohibited under martial law, which was declared on Feb. 24, 2022.
Incoming IOC president plans talks on Russia’s possible Olympic reinstatement, media reports
In an interview with Sky News, Kirsty Coventry, the newly elected president of the International Olympic Committee, questioned why Russia remains singled out while conflicts continue in other regions.
Russian attack on Zaporizhzhia kills 3, injures 16
Russia attacked the city of Zaporizhzhia on the evening of March 21, killing three people, regional governor Ivan Fedorov reported. The rescue operation concluded at around 1:00 a.m. local time.
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.
Trump administration weighs recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, Semafor reports
The potential move comes as U.S. President Donald Trump prepares for a call with Vladimir Putin on March 18, with a proposed 30-day ceasefire on the table.
European nations urge UN action against Russian satellite sabotage, media reports
The disruptions have targeted Eutelsat and SES, Europe’s main satellite providers, which support television, radio, and aviation navigation systems.
Updated: 'We had to get Ukraine to do the right thing,' Trump says
U.S. President Donald Trump said on March 17 that the U.S. had to push Ukraine "to do the right thing" regarding efforts to end the war while recalling his public clash with President Volodymyr Zelensky in the Oval Office last month.
Ukraine ceasefire faces battlefield challenges, envoy says
"There is a nuclear reactor that supplies quite a bit of electricity to the country of Ukraine. That’s got to be dealt with," Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, said on March 16.
Lviv airport could reopen by late spring, general director says
If there is a positive outcome regarding the end of the war, Lviv's international airport could resume flights as early as April or May this year.
Erdogan tells Trump that Turkey supports US efforts to end Russia's war
Turkey has positioned itself as a potential mediator in Russia's war against Ukraine, now in its fourth year, by maintaining diplomatic and economic ties with both nations while supporting Ukraine's sovereignty.
'Plan A is get the shooting to stop' — Rubio says as US pushes for ceasefire in Ukraine
Speaking on CBS’s "Face the Nation" on March 16, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that the primary goal is to secure a ceasefire before moving forward with broader negotiations for a permanent resolution.
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.
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.
G7 ministers affirm support for Ukraine amid US tensions with allies
The group’s communiqué, released on March 14, affirmed Ukraine’s "territorial integrity and right to exist," while condemning Russian "acts of aggression." However, its language was softer than the G7 leaders' statement from November 2024.
US 'cautiously optimistic' on ceasefire progress after Putin meeting
"There is reason to be cautiously optimistic, but by the same token, we continue to recognize this is a difficult and complex situation," U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on March 14.
