Key developments on March 21:
- Zelensky, Pavel meet in Kyiv to debate safety ensures for Ukraine
- Ukraine has introduced again over 4,000 prisoners of conflict from Russian captivity since begin of full-scale invasion, Zelensky says
- Russia's Kavkazskaya oil facility nonetheless burning after two days, extra explosions reported
- Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag assault on Sudzha gasoline metering station in Kursk Oblast
- Trump says 'dividing up lands' inside negotiations between Russia, Ukraine 'is being negotiated as we converse'
- UK discussing deploying fighter jets to Ukraine below potential peace deal, Telegraph stories
President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned the conflict with Russia and European efforts to offer safety ensures for Ukraine in the course of the assembly together with his Czech counterpart Petr Pavel in Kyiv on March 21.
Pavel arrived in Kyiv earlier within the day. The day prior, the Czech president met with Ukrainian officers in Odesa.
Throughout Pavel's go to to Odesa, Russia launched Shahed-type drones on the metropolis. Three folks had been injured in the course of the assault, and civilian infrastructure was broken.
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Pavel and Zelensky mentioned the scenario on the entrance line, European efforts to realize safety ensures for Ukraine, and cooperation in protection manufacturing.
The Ukrainian president additionally thanked Pavel for the Czech contribution to the UK-led "coalition of the keen."
The events additionally agreed to open a Unity Heart for Ukrainians in Prague.
"Thanks to your go to and cooperation. At this time, we signed a joint assertion on strategic partnership between our international locations. This displays the true stage of our relationships. Thanks for this. Thanks for the Czech initiative and for all the assistance you’ve got given to our folks," Zelensky mentioned.
The Czech Republic has been one of the vital dedicated supporters of Ukraine because the starting of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022.
In July 2024, Ukraine and Czechia signed a 10-year bilateral safety deal.
In response to the settlement, Czechia and Ukraine are anticipated to spice up cooperation within the army tech sphere, together with the manufacturing of ammunition, small arms, drones, digital warfare, and heavy gear.
The 2 international locations additionally plan to arrange joint enterprises and proceed annual coaching of as much as 4,000 Ukrainian army personnel.
Ukraine has introduced again over 4,000 prisoners of conflict from Russian captivity since begin of full-scale invasion, Zelensky says
Ukraine has returned 4,306 prisoners of conflict (POWs) from Russian captivity because the begin of the full-scale invasion, President Volodymyr Zelensky introduced on March 21.
The Ukrainian authorities has been participating with international companions and worldwide organizations to return Ukrainian residents residence. In 2024, Ukraine managed to return 1,358 folks from Russian captivity.
"Now, once we speak to the American aspect and our different companions about methods to finish the conflict, we speak in regards to the launch of prisoners as one of many first steps," Zelensky mentioned.
The president emphasised that each one the mandatory providers are working to carry Ukrainians again from Russian captivity.
Zelensky's assertion got here shortly after Ukraine introduced residence 197 Ukrainian troopers. 100 seventy-five of them had been returned as a part of the one-for-one change with Russia, and one other 22 Ukrainian service members had been returned by negotiations outdoors of the swap.
The swap was negotiated by U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18.
Following a name with Trump, the Kremlin introduced that it could conduct a one-for-one prisoner change with Ukraine. Moscow additionally claimed that it could launch 23 severely wounded Ukrainian troopers, however solely transferred 22.
The Kyiv IndependentOlena Yermakova
Russia's Kavkazskaya oil facility nonetheless burning after two days, extra explosions reported
A Russian oil pumping station Krasnodar Krai remains to be on hearth after reportedly being struck by Ukrainian drones on March 19, with additional explosions reported in a single day.
"Throughout the extinguishing course of, on account of depressurisation of the burning tank, there was an explosion of oil merchandise and launch of burning oil," regional officers mentioned in a submit on Telegram on March 21.
Ukrainian drones attacked the Kavkazskaya oil pumping station, damaging infrastructure and inflicting a fireplace, pro-Kremlin information outlet Shot and regional authorities beforehand claimed.
The assault reportedly broken a pipeline connecting storage tanks, initially sparking a fireplace that lined an space of about 20 sq. meters.
The fireplace now covers an space of 10,000 sq. meters and two firefighters have been injured whereas tackling the blaze.
The regional operational headquarters mentioned on March 19 that 30 on-duty personnel had been evacuated and that the ability had suspended operations.
The Kavkazskaya oil transshipment level is essential in Russia's power exports, connecting a railroad oil terminal and the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station. It’s a part of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium system, which pumps as much as 6 million metric tons of oil yearly.
The Ukrainian army has not commented on the reported assaults. Russia has tried to make use of the assault as proof that Ukraine has already damaged a partial ceasefire agreed upon by Russian President Vladimit Putin in a name with U.S. President Donald Trump on March 18.
"We consider that the Kyiv regime has already damaged the ceasefire proposed by the U.S. president," Russian International Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova mentioned on March 20, in feedback reported by Reuters.
Regardless of Zakharova's feedback, Russia has not relented in its assaults on civilian targets in Ukraine, and continues to launch tons of of kamikaze drones at cities throughout the nation every night time.
The strike on the Kavkazskaya oil pumping station follows Ukraine's Feb. 17 drone assault on the Kropotkinskaya oil pumping station, additionally in Krasnodar Krai, the place seven drones reportedly hit key infrastructure.
Kyiv has intensified its marketing campaign in opposition to Russia's power and army infrastructure to disrupt Moscow's conflict effort. On March 17, Ukrainian drones struck a gasoline and power facility in Russia's Astrakhan Oblast, igniting a fireplace, regional Governor Igor Babushkin claimed.
The Kyiv IndependentKarol Luczka
Ukraine accuses Russia of false flag assault on Sudzha gasoline metering station in Kursk Oblast
Ukraine on March 21 accused Russia of intentionally attacking the Sudzha gasoline metering station in Kursk Oblast in an try to pin the blame on Kyiv.
Russian media earlier claimed Ukrainian forces had struck the important thing gasoline transit facility, which performs an important function in Russian gasoline exports to Europe.
The Russian Protection Ministry claimed that Ukraine allegedly deliberate to explode the station, accusing Kyiv of orchestrating a "provocation."
In a submit on Fb, the Normal Employees mentioned the accusations had been "baseless," and a part of a "discrediting marketing campaign in opposition to Ukraine."
"The talked about station was repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves," it added.
In response to the Ukrainian army, Russia had beforehand struck the identical station with guided aerial bombs, together with an assault three days in the past.
The Normal Employees additionally claimed that Russian forces had used the principle gasoline pipeline close to the ability to hide troop actions.
"The Russians proceed to supply quite a few fakes and search to mislead the worldwide neighborhood. We ask you to belief solely official sources, confirm the data, and never succumb to manipulation," the assertion added.
Earlier this month Ukraine launched video of what it mentioned had been Russian sabotage and assault teams utilizing a gasoline pipeline to realize a foothold on the outskirts of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast.
The newest incident comes as Ukraine confirmed its retreat from the city of Sudzha following a fast Russian advance.
Kyiv initially launched a cross-border incursion into Kursk Oblast in August 2024 however has reportedly misplaced a lot of the territory in latest weeks.
Trump says 'dividing up lands' inside negotiations between Russia, Ukraine 'is being negotiated as we converse'
U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned on March 21 that as a part of the negotiations to finish the conflict, the events could have an settlement on territorial division.
Trump's assertion comes forward of the U.S. separate talks with Russia and Ukraine scheduled for March 24 in Saudi Arabia.
"Fairly quickly, we'll have a full ceasefire, after which we're going to have a contract," Trump mentioned throughout a press briefing, including that the longer term deal consists of "dividing up the lands."
"It's being negotiated as we converse," Trump mentioned with out specifying the format of the talks.
Throughout the briefing, Trump additionally dodged a query about imposing new sanctions on Russia because it continues to assault Ukraine.
"Properly, they're combating in opposition to one another," Trump mentioned.
Russia occupied and illegally annexed Crimea initially of its conflict in opposition to Ukraine in 2014. After the outbreak of the full-scale invasion in 2022, Moscow additionally illegally declared annexation of partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.
President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected recognizing Russian occupation of Ukrainian territories in any peace talks, calling it a "purple line" that Kyiv is not going to cross. Ukraine's Structure states that the "territory of Ukraine inside its current border is indivisible and inviolable."
The Semafor outlet reported earlier this week that the Trump administration is contemplating recognizing Crimea as a part of a peace deal. Washington has not confirmed this declare.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
UK discussing deploying fighter jets to Ukraine below potential peace deal, Telegraph stories
British army leaders have mentioned deploying Royal Air Power (RAF) fighter jets to Ukraine as a part of a possible peace settlement, the Telegraph reported on March 20, citing unnamed sources aware of the matter.
In response to the report, the dialogue passed off on the Everlasting Joint Headquarters, which oversees all of Britain's abroad army operations.
The plan is a part of a broader "coalition of the keen" initiative led by the U.Ok. and France, aimed toward offering safety ensures to Kyiv.
The peacekeeping initiative was first launched by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer throughout a March 2 summit in London, the place leaders from European nations and Canada mentioned army help for Ukraine.
Starmer participated in extra talks at Northwood Headquarters, hosted by Lt. Gen. Nick Perry, the chief of joint operations, alongside representatives from over 30 international locations.
A senior RAF supply advised the Telegraph that offering "overhead cowl" was a key subject of dialogue, notably in eventualities the place British troops would possibly enter Ukraine.
The RAF may reportedly deploy both Hurricane or U.S.-made F-35 fighter jets to conduct air patrols, given their superior air-to-air capabilities.
Starmer has pledged that British forces could be concerned in securing a peace deal if U.S. President Donald Trump efficiently negotiates one with Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Washington has backed the thought of European-led peacekeeping forces monitoring a possible ceasefire however has not provided concrete safety ensures to Ukraine.
Greater than 30 international locations have expressed willingness to contribute to a peacekeeping power, with the U.Ok. and France main the initiative.
Canada and Australia have additionally indicated their openness to collaborating, in accordance with Starmer's workplace. Trump beforehand claimed on Feb. 24 that Putin would permit European peacekeepers to function in Ukraine as a part of a settlement, although Russian International Minister Sergey Lavrov publicly rejected the thought.
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