Drones target Russia's Tula region, local media says

8:32 PM

Baltics

Unless you act, 'it's just rhetoric' — Baltic states skeptical of Western European leadership

8:22 PM

Putin signs largest conscription campaign in 14 years, drafting 160,000 men.

Although Russian conscripts are typically not deployed in active combat, Moscow has relied on financial incentives and pardons to recruit civilians for the war in Ukraine.

8:17 PM

US Army confirms deaths of 3 missing servicemen in Lithuania, 1 still missing.

The soldiers and their tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 during an exercise at a training ground near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade hosts Camp Herkus, a U.S. military facility.

7:24 PM

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.

5:59 PM

Moldova expels 3 Russian diplomats for aiding fugitive MP's escape to Transnistria.

The move follows reports that Moldovan lawmaker Alexandr Nesterovschi, sentenced to 12 years in prison for illegally financing the banned pro-Russian Shor Party, escaped to Russian-controlled Transnistria with help from Russian diplomats, according to Moldovan media Newsmaker.

5:15 PM

Video

Alexander Vindman: Trump repeats past US mistakes with Russia.

Alexander Vindman served as the director of European affairs for the United States National Security Council in 2018-2020, during U.S. President Donald Trump's first administration. The Kyiv Independent's Kate Tsurkan sits down with Vindman to discuss how Washington has historically misjudged Russia, "succumbing to hopes and fears," and why there is no real prospect of peace between Ukraine and Russia now.

1:34 PM  (Updated:  March 31, 2025 5:12 pm)

Marine Le Pen barred from running for public office after embezzlement verdict.

A French court on March 31 found Marine Le Pen, one of the leaders of the far-right National Rally party (RN), guilty of embezzling EU funds and banned her from running for public office "with immediate effect."

5:06 PM

Russia again focusing on Pokrovsk sector, yet 'stalling,' Syrskyi says.

Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukraine's main tasks are holding defensive lines and stabilizing threats, which have been partially achieved, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction.

4:12 PM

SBU detains group suspected of directing Russian missile attacks on Kyiv.

Three men were detained, including a Russian sleeper agent, the SBU said in a statement.

3:57 PM

Moscow Metro website displays appeal from recently hacked Ukrainian Railways.

The Moscow metro website became unavailable on March 31, displaying only a banner with a message on the technical failure from the recently hacked Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia).

3:37 PM

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.

3:20 PM

Sweden unveils its largest military aid package for Ukraine worth nearly $1.6 billion.

"The package includes, among other things, support for Ukraine’s air defense, artillery, satellite communications, and maritime capacity," Swedish Defense Minister Pal Jonson announced.

10:00 PM  (Updated:  March 31, 2025 3:03 pm)

War analysis

A ‘very bloody war:' What is the death toll of Russia’s war in Ukraine?

3:02 PM

Netherlands pledges over $2 billion for Ukraine in 2025, including $540 million for drones.

This support will include 500 million euros ($540 million) for Ukraine's Drone Line project, Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans said.

2:40 PM

Kyiv hosting parliamentary leaders 'from across Europe.'

The visit comes on the third anniversary of the liberation of Bucha, a Kyiv Oblast town where Russian forces massacred hundreds of civilians during the occupation in early 2022.

2:11 PM

Russia trying to bypass Ukraine's positions in Toretsk by going underground, military says.

"Since this is also a priority sector, the Russians are trying to use every chance to bypass Ukrainian troops," said Victor Tregubov, a spokesperson for Ukraine's Khortytsia group of forces.

2:06 PM

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.

12:59 PM

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.

12:24 PM

Ukraine receives $400 million tranche from IMF.

The funds represent the latest tranche of the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) program, which will provide Kyiv with $15.6 billion in budget support over four years. With the additional $400 million in funding, the program has now distributed $10.1 billion in financing to Ukraine.

12:03 PM

Germany's incoming government wants EU to get tough on Hungary, Politico reports.

The incoming German government wants the EU to adopt harsher measures to punish countries violating the bloc's core principles, an apparent reference to Hungary, Politico reported on March 31, citing an obtained coalition agreement.

11:31 AM

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.

10:43 AM

CNN gives airtime to Russian ultranationalist ideologue who called for genocide in Ukraine.

In an interview with CNN, ultranationalist Russian ideologue Alexander Dugin praised U.S. President Donald Trump, saying he represented an ideology that "changes the balance in the world."

10:10 AM

There's 'psychological deadline' for Putin to agree to Ukraine ceasefire, Trump says.

"If I think they're (Russia) tapping us along, I will not be happy about it," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One, voicing his belief that the Kremlin's chief "wants to make a deal."

9:31 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 2, injure 17 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 57 out of 131 Shahed-type drones and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Another 45 drones disappeared from radars, according to the statement.

9:10 AM

Ukraine ceasefire could raise security risks for Baltic states, Estonian defense minister says.

"We all understand that when the war in Ukraine will be stopped, Russia will redistribute its forces very quickly. That means also the threat level will increase significantly very quickly," said Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur.