Tuesday, March 18
Russia’s war against Ukraine
Volunteers of East SOS Charity Foundation help an elderly woman to walk as she is evacuated from her house, as the result of constant air attacks, in Kostyantynivka, Donetsk Oblast on March 17, 2025. (Roman Pilipey/AFP via Getty Images)
Trump plans to call Putin on March 18 to discuss war in Ukraine. “I’ll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work’s been done over the weekend,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters.
EU plan to send over $40 billion in military aid has ‘broad political support,’ Kallas says. The initiative to provide Ukraine with 40 billion euros ($43.6 billion) in military aid has “broad political support” among EU member states, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on March 17 before the Council of Foreign Ministers meeting in Brussels.
EU approves third $3.8 billion tranche for Kyiv under Ukraine Facility program. With this disbursement, Ukraine will have received nearly 20 billion euros ($21,7 billion) under the Ukraine Facility since the program was launched in early 2024.
Germany delivers Gepard air defenses, shells, drones, other aid to Ukraine. Germany has provided three Gepard anti-aircraft systems with 10,000 rounds of ammunition, 24 mine protection vehicles, and other defense aid to Ukraine in its latest round of delivery announced on March 17.
Territorial integrity, military size, alliances — FM Sybiha sets 3 ‘fundamentals’ for potential peace talks. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha stressed that Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty are non-negotiable, reaffirming that Kyiv will never recognize Russian-occupied territories as part of Russia.
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Russia open to civilian observers in Ukraine under possible peace deal. “A peace treaty may provide for unarmed observers in Ukraine, a civilian mission to monitor the implementation of certain aspects of the agreement, or guarantee mechanisms,” Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said.
Ukrainian drones attack fuel facility in Russia’s Astrakhan Oblast, governor claims. “Overnight, the Ukrainian Armed Forces again attempted a massive drone attack on facilities located in the region, including a fuel and energy complex,” Astrakhan Oblast Igor Babushkin claimed on March 17.
Russia sanctions could be eventually eased in exchange for security, justice for Ukraine, Ukrainian official suggests. Western sanctions against Russia could be eventually eased if the step ensures security and justice for Ukraine, top Ukrainian sanctions official Vladyslav Vlasiuk told Politico in an interview published on March 17.
Russia claims capture of Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast, Ukraine denies. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Russian forces captured the Ukrainian village of Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on March 17. Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn denied the statement.
Ukrainian long-range drone successfully completes 3,000-kilometer test, Zelensky says. President Volodymyr Zelensky announced on March 17 in his evening address that a Ukrainian long-range drone has successfully completed testing, demonstrating its ability to fly 3,000 kilometers (1,864 miles).
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Ukraine war latest: Ukrainian military refutes claim that Russia captured Zaporizhzhia Oblast village
The Russian Defense Ministry claimed Russian forces captured the Ukrainian village of Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast on March 17. Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson Vladyslav Voloshyn denied the statement.
Photo: Roman Pilipey / AFP via Getty Images
‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia
Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin.
Photo: Sean Gallup/Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
3 killed, 12 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day. Ukrainian air defenses shot down 90 of the 174 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Seventy other decoy drones reportedly disappeared from radars without causing damage.
International response
US to withdraw from group investigating Russian leadership for crimes against Ukraine, NYT reports. The Hague-based International Center for the Prosecution of the Crime of Aggression against Ukraine is a judicial hub supporting national investigations into the crime of aggression committed by the Russian leadership, including President Vladimir Putin, and Moscow’s allies against Ukraine.
‘We won’t be dragged into this’ — Hungary opposes $22 billion EU aid package for Ukraine. “We won’t be dragged into this; we will not allow Hungarian taxpayers’ money to be used to finance arms shipments to Ukraine,” Hungary’s Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto said.
Rubio asked Hungary not to block EU sanctions, Politico reports. Budapest had initially planned to veto the sanctions renewal, citing U.S. President Donald Trump’s return to the White House and the possibility of a shift in U.S. policy toward Russia.
Serbia needs ‘protecting’ from repeat of Ukraine’s EuroMaidan, Vucic claims. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic on March 16 drew comparisons between the anti-government protests in Serbia and Ukraine’s 2014 EuroMaidan revolution, vowing to “protect and defend” the country from such an event.
Seoul, Kyiv discuss transfer of North Korean POWs to South Korea. South Korean Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul and his Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha discussed the potential transfer of two North Korean POWs in a phone call.
Lithuania suspects Russia behind arson attacks in Vilnius and Warsaw last year. The Lithuanian prosecutor’s office alleges that Russia’s military intelligence formed a special group to carry out arson attacks across Lithuania, Poland, and Latvia.
EU foreign ministers to discuss US withdrawal of funding for RFE/RL. EU foreign ministers are set to discuss the termination of the U.S. grant that funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) during a meeting in Brussels on March 17, according to a Kyiv Independent reporter in Brussels.
New Canadian prime minister invites Zelensky to attend G7 summit in June. Newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney has invited President Volodymyr Zelensky to attend the Group of Seven (G7) summit in June, Le Journal de Quebec reported on March 17, citing a Canadian Foreign Ministry spokesperson.
‘We’ve never been closer to a peace deal,’ White House says ahead of Trump-Putin call. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said on March 17 that the Trump administration believes they have “never been closer” to closing a ceasefire deal in Ukraine, ahead of a call scheduled between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin for March 18.
Putin should drop ‘absurd demands’ in peace talks with Trump, Polish Foreign Minister says. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on March 17 that it was his hope that U.S. President Donald Trump will get Russian President Vladimir Putin to abandon “some absurd demands” toward establishing a peace deal in Ukraine.
Opinions and insights
Critical Ukraine coverage at risk as Trump slashes Radio Free Europe funding
The U.S. decision to cut off funding for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty came as a surprise for the outlet’s newsroom, a source in the RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service told the Kyiv Independent.
Photo: Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images
Who is to gain more from a ceasefire — Russia or Ukraine?
According to experts, a month-long ceasefire would benefit both sides, allowing the warring parties to replenish and regroup their forces.
Photo: Roman Chop/Global Images Ukraine via Getty Images
In other news
Zelensky signs law permitting Ukrainian troops to operate abroad during martial law. The legislation permits Ukrainian military formations, units, and subdivisions to be deployed to other countries for national security purposes, including repelling armed aggression, protecting sovereignty and territorial integrity, and exercising the right to self-defense.
Ukraine’s Supreme Court rules illegal mobilization not grounds for dismissal from military. The conscription of a person liable for military service during mobilization is irreversible, Ukraine’s Supreme Court ruled on March 17, following a lawsuit by a serviceman who claimed he had been drafted illegally.
Georgia sentences ex-President Saakashvili to additional 4.5 years over illegal border crossing. The latest ruling follows a nine-year prison sentence issued last week over Saakashvili’s alleged large-scale embezzlement of state funds, adding up to almost 12 additional years in prison.
Kyiv reportedly extradites German suspected of rape who fought for Ukraine. Ukraine has extradited a German citizen who fought in Ukraine’s Defense Forces and is suspected of rape and other crimes, the BBC and Suspilne reported on March 17, citing sources in the Prosecutor General’s Office.
Anna Maksymenko wins Ukraine’s first Grand Prix fencing gold since 2020. This marks Ukraine’s first Grand Prix victory in fencing since 2020, when Olha Kharlan won gold in saber in Montreal.
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