Last news • War in Ukraine
Most battles within the Pokrovsk route: map of hostilities from the Normal Workers
140 fight clashes have been recorded over the previous day. Many of the preventing passed off within the Pokrovsk route, and the enemy was additionally lively within the Toretsk and Kursk areas.
A hospital in Ukraine's northeastern metropolis of Sumy and one other within the city of Krasnopillia had been hit by drones throughout a collection of assaults on Ukraine, prompting President Volodymyr Zelensky to accuse Vladimir Putin of "successfully rejecting" a ceasefire.
No casualties had been reported following the Sumy Oblast strikes on the time of publication. First responders have been dispatched to the websites of the assaults.
This got here after a name between U.S. President Donald Trump and the Russian president, through which Putin had agreed to halt strikes on Ukraine's vitality infrastructure. The Kremlin had introduced that Putin had given rapid orders to stop such assaults.
Nevertheless, shortly after the decision, air raid sirens blared, and explosions rocked Ukraine.
Zelensky confirmed the strikes focused civilian infrastructure. Native experiences indicated that energy infrastructure in Donetsk Oblast's Slovyansk was broken, inflicting partial blackouts.
The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova
Based on Zelensky, over 40 Russian drones had been launched within the assault.
"It’s exactly such evening assaults by Russia that destroy our vitality techniques, our infrastructure, the traditional lifetime of Ukrainians. And the truth that this evening was no exception reveals that stress should proceed on Russia for the sake of peace," he stated.
"At this time, Putin de facto rejected the proposal for a whole ceasefire. It might be proper for the world to reject in response any makes an attempt by Putin to tug out the struggle,” the president stated.
Sumy Oblast borders Russia's Bryansk, Kursk, and Belgorod oblasts. Residents of the susceptible border communities expertise a number of assaults per day.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
Difficulties of translation: what Trump and Putin imply by "moratorium" on power strikes – ISW
US President Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin have agreed on a short lived moratorium on long-range strikes towards power infrastructure. The US and Russia will maintain talks on the small print of the ceasefire on March 23.
The Kremlin has demanded an entire cessation of overseas navy assist and intelligence to Ukraine as a "key situation for avoiding an escalation of the warfare," in accordance with its assertion launched on March 18.
The Kremlin's assertion follows a 1.5-hours telephone name between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump, throughout which they mentioned ending the warfare in Ukraine and the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to permit for additional peace talks.
Along with halting overseas navy assist and intelligence, the Kremlin additionally referred to as for Ukraine to stop the mobilization and rearmament of its navy.
In the course of the name, Putin introduced that on March 19, Ukraine and Russia would conduct a 175-for-175 prisoner alternate. Moscow additionally pledged to launch greater than 23 severely wounded Ukrainian troopers to Kyiv.
The 2 events agreed to arrange Russian and American skilled teams to "resolve the warfare bilaterally."
Putin additionally praised Trump for "striving to advertise the noble objective of ending hostilities and the lack of life."
Forward of the decision, Trump spoke with U.Ok. Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who advised him that Ukraine have to be within the "strongest doable place" to safe a "simply and lasting peace," Sky Information reported.
The telephone dialogue follows the U.S. and Ukraine agreeing on a 30-day ceasefire throughout talks in Jeddah on March 11, offered that Russia abides by it. Washington subsequently resumed navy and intelligence help for Ukraine after suspending it the earlier week.
To debate the proposal, U.S. Particular Consultant Steve Witkoff traveled to Moscow on March 13.
Later that day, Putin signaled that Russia was additionally open to the ceasefire however demanded ensures that Ukraine wouldn’t mobilize troops, conduct coaching, or obtain navy help throughout the truce, doubtlessly leaving Kyiv weak to renewed Russian offensives.
After taking workplace in January, Trump has initiated direct negotiations with Russia, marking the primary such talks between the U.S. and Moscow because the begin of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
American and Russian delegations met in Riyadh on Feb. 18 and in Istanbul on Feb. 27 to debate a path towards ending the warfare and restoring diplomatic ties between the U.S. and Russia.
Trump has made securing a swift settlement to the warfare a precedence, however his administration's method has sparked fears that Washington is sidelining Kyiv and its European companions.
The U.S. president beforehand held a name with Putin on Feb. 12, after which he introduced that negotiations to finish the warfare would start "instantly."
A doable in-person assembly between the 2 presidents will depend upon whether or not "we are able to make any progress" on ending the warfare, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio mentioned on Feb. 20.
The Kyiv IndependentShlomo Ben-Ami
In Russia, studies of an assault on an oil depot within the Krasnodar Territory
Russian Telegram channels report a drone assault on the town of Kropotkin. UAVs allegedly attacked the native oil depot, a minimum of 3 explosions had been heard, there’s a fireplace.
Ukraine is keen to conform to a 30-day pause on assaults on vitality infrastructure, however wants extra particulars of the settlement, President Volodymyr Zelensky instructed reporters in a web-based press briefing on March 18.
Zelensky's remarks got here after U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin mentioned a doable ceasefire in a cellphone name earlier that day. Throughout the name, Putin stated he would conform to a 30-day pause on energy infrastructure attacks.
"We are going to assist such a proposal, however we're very within the particulars," Zelensky said through teleconference from Finland.
"What’s the actual proposal, what did the events agree on? … After we get the main points from the American president, from the American facet, we are going to put together our reply and the staff shall be prepared for technical talks."
Russia has been bombing Ukraine's civilian vitality infrastructure since 2022. In latest months, Moscow has intensified aerial campaignswith bombardments by swarms of Shahed drones a nightly prevalence. Zelensky famous throughout his briefing that there was an lively air raid alert in Ukraine at that very second.
Following Putin's name with Trump, the Kremlin issued a press release demanding that Ukraine stop receiving all military aid and international intelligence as a "key situation for avoiding an escalation of the warfare."
Zelensky stated he believed Ukraine's allies wouldn’t settle for these circumstances and that he anticipated Kyiv to proceed receiving international weapons.
"I believe that companions, critical companions, is not going to go for it … This isn’t a recreation that’s dictated solely by Putin," Zelensky stated.
"And I believe that the help will proceed. We’ve got the help of the US of America, we’ve the help of our European colleagues. We’re in fixed contact. I’m certain that there shall be no betrayal from our companions."
Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's longstanding assist for peace and its need to finish assaults towards vitality infrastructure, seaports, and meals corridors.
"We are going to assist any proposals that result in a good peace," he stated.
The president additionally confirmed that Ukraine and Russia will every exchange 175 prisoners on March 19.
Zelensky spoke to reporters just about, as he and First Girl Olena Zelenska are currently in Helsinki, Finland for an official go to.
The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk
Trump denied negotiations with Putin on ending assist to Ukraine
Donald Trump said that he didn’t talk about ending assist to Ukraine with Vladimir Putin. In accordance with Trump, the dialog with Putin went nicely and contributed to bringing positions nearer concerning financial relations after the tip of the warfare in Ukraine.
Key developments on March 18:
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a 30-day pause of power infrastructure strikes throughout a name with U.S. President Donald Trump, in line with a readout of the decision issued by the Kremlin on March 18.
"In the course of the dialog, Donald Trump proposed a mutual refusal of the events to the battle to strike for 30 days on power infrastructure amenities," the assertion stated.
"Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and instantly gave the suitable command to the Russian army."
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Russia has been bombing Ukraine's civilian power infrastructure since 2022 and has been steadily increasing its air campaigns in latest months, with bombardments by swarms of Shahed drones a nightly incidence.
Ukraine has just lately had some success in counterattacks. On the evening of March 10, over 330 Ukrainian drones focused Moscow. Subsequent strikes have hit Russia's fossil gasoline infrastructure.
The Kremlin additionally stated Putin "responded constructively to Donald Trump's thought of implementing a well known initiative in regards to the security of navigation within the Black Sea."
"It was agreed to start negotiations to additional elaborate particular particulars of such an settlement," the assertion added.
The assertion adopted a 1.5-hours cellphone name between Putin and Trump, throughout which they mentioned ending the battle in Ukraine and the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to permit for additional peace talks.
The Kremlin additionally demanded a whole cessation of international army help and intelligence to Ukraine as a "key situation for avoiding an escalation of the battle."
Along with halting international army help and intelligence, Russia additionally known as for Ukraine to stop the mobilization and rearmament of its army.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov
US broadcasts one other spherical of negotiations in Center East on battle in UkraineWashington introduced on March 18 that one other spherical of talks on the Russian battle in Ukraine would "start instantly" within the Center East.
The announcement follows a name between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, throughout which they mentioned a 30-day ceasefire proposal and steps to finish the battle.
"This battle ought to by no means have began and will have been ended way back with honest and good religion peace efforts," the White Home's assertion learn.
Putin and Trump agreed that the battle wants to finish with "an enduring peace," and the primary steps in direction of this will likely be an power and infrastructure ceasefire and technical negotiations on implementing a maritime ceasefire within the Black Sea.
The negotiations on these issues will "start instantly" within the Center East, in line with the assertion.
Putin and Trump additionally agreed that there’s a want for improved bilateral relations between the U.S. and Russia, saying this cooperation has "an enormous upside," together with "monumental financial offers and geopolitical stability when peace has been achieved."
Trump known as the dialog with Putin "an excellent and productive" one.
"Many parts of a contract for peace had been mentioned, together with the truth that hundreds of troopers are being killed, and each President Putin and President Zelensky wish to see it finish," the U.S. president wrote on Reality Social.
"That course of is now in full pressure and impact, and we’ll, hopefully, for the sake of humanity, get the job carried out!" he added.
Trump additionally supported an thought proposed by Putin to prepare US-Russia hockey matches.
"Donald Trump supported Vladimir Putin’s thought to prepare hockey matches within the USA and Russia between Russian and American gamers taking part in within the NHL and KHL," the Kremlin stated in a readout.
The Kyiv IndependentOleg SukhovUkrainian forces tried to enter Belgorod Oblast, repelled by Russian forces, Russia claimsThe Russian Protection Ministry claimed on March 18 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces tried to enter Russia's Belgorod Oblast however had been repelled by the Russian army.
The information of an alleged Ukrainian offensive in Belgorod Oblast surfaced in Russian media simply forward of the cellphone name between Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump.
Andrii Kovalenko, head of Ukraine's Heart for Countering Disinformation, denied the claims.
Ukraine allegedly launched an offensive on Belgorod Oblast to "discredit Trump's peace initiatives," the Russian Protection Ministry claimed.
In response to the ministry, Ukraine carried out 5 assaults towards the settlements of Demidovka and Prilesye.
"All assaults had been repulsed by the actions of the state border safety models of the 'North' forces group, artillery hearth and the usage of FPV (first-person-view) drones. No crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation was allowed," the ministry's assertion learn.
Ukrainian authorities didn’t touch upon the assertion of the Russian Protection Ministry.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm these claims.
Belgorod Oblast borders Ukraine's Sumy, Kharkiv, and Luhansk oblasts and is recurrently utilized by Russia to launch strikes towards Ukrainian territory.
Belgorod Oblast authorities have repeatedly accused Ukraine of launching assaults towards the area and Belgorod correct all through the full-scale battle.
Just lately, a number of clashes have been reported within the area amid Ukraine's ongoing cross-border incursion targeted on neighboring Kursk Oblast.
Ukraine withdraws from one front-line sector in Donetsk Oblast, commander saysUkrainian forces have withdrawn from one front-line sector in Donetsk Oblast to protect troops and enhance defensive operations, Lieutenant Common Serhii Naiev, the commander of a tactical group within the area, reported on March 18.
"This allowed us not solely to avoid wasting our troopers but additionally to enhance our protection. (Russia) is struggling losses, and we are able to act extra successfully," Naiev wrote on Fb. It stays unclear which part of the entrance line the commander was referring to.
Naiev, the previous commander of Ukraine's Joint Forces, famous that his management of the tactical group in Donetsk Oblast has now entered its second month.
The overall emphasised that over the previous month, coordinated efforts by scouts, drone operators, artillery, mortar models, tanks, and infantry have destroyed greater than 30 Russian armored automobiles and brought out 2,000 Russian troopers.
“This has considerably decreased the variety of Russian assaults in our course,” he stated.
In response to Interfax Ukraine's undisclosed supply, Naiev has been appointed to command the Velyka Novosilka tactical group. The occupied village of Velyka Novosilka lies some 20 kilometers (12 miles) east of the executive border between the Zaporizhzhia and Donetsk oblasts.
The withdrawal was carried out in February and anxious Ukrainian models within the space of the villages Dachne, Zelenivka, and Andriivka north of Velyka Novosilka, Ukrainska Pravda's undisclosed sources claimed. Kyiv's forces stationed there pulled again to keep away from encirclement within the so-called Kurakhove pocket, in line with the outlet.
The Kyiv Unbiased couldn’t confirm the claims. A Ukrainian army spokesperson has declined to remark.
The Ukrainian army reported that Russia has stepped up assaults within the southern Zaporizhzhia Oblast over the previous few weeks however denied Russian claims of capturing the village of Stepove.
All through the autumn of 2024, Russian forces made operational positive factors in Donetsk Oblast, together with areas close to Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Preventing stays intense within the japanese area, and Russian troops proceed to advance, albeit slowly, this 12 months.
Russia sees US help halt throughout Ukraine truce as its 'minimal' objective, Bloomberg experiencesThe Kremlin needs all Western arms provides to Ukraine to cease throughout a proposed truce however prioritizes a pause on U.S. arms as its "minimal purpose," Bloomberg reported on March 18, citing two undisclosed sources in Moscow.
Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on March 13 that Moscow is open to a 30-day ceasefire, agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine, however provided that Kyiv stops receiving international arms and conscripting and coaching its forces.
These situations have raised considerations that Ukraine can be left susceptible to renewed Russian offensives as no such limitations are being proposed in regard to Russia's Armed Forces.
Bloomberg's sources confirmed that the halt on Western arms provides — or on the very least, U.S. help — stays as Putin's situation.
Putin is scheduled to name with U.S. President Donald Trump in a while March 18 between 4 and 6 p.m. Moscow time, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. The 2 leaders are anticipated to debate the proposed ceasefire plan.
The U.S. quickly halted army provides for Ukraine earlier this month earlier than restarting it after Kyiv agreed to the truce plan throughout talks in Jeddah on March 11.
The continued provides are coated by the presidential drawdown authority (PDA) packages accredited by former President Joe Biden, who made the U.S. into Ukraine's main army donor.
Trump has not accredited any new packages and has made it clear he doesn’t search a protracted U.S. engagement in Ukraine.
The EU reportedly has no intention of halting army help to Ukraine throughout the proposed truce. European nations are looking for methods to bolster help for Kyiv as continued backing from the U.S. grows more and more unsure.
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The US has stopped a mission documenting Russian crimes of kid deportation – The Washington Put up
The Trump administration halted funding for an initiative that documented Russian conflict crimes, together with a database on the deportation of Ukrainian kids. The White Home has prohibited the switch of proof to prosecutors.
This can be a creating story and is being up to date.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has agreed to a 30-day pause of power infrastructure strikes throughout a name with U.S. President Donald Trump, in line with a readout of the decision issued by the Kremlin on March 18.
"Throughout the dialog, Donald Trump proposed a mutual refusal of the events to the battle to strike for 30 days on power infrastructure services," the assertion stated.
"Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and instantly gave the suitable command to the Russian navy."
Russia has been bombing Ukraine's civilian power infrastructure since 2022 and has been steadily increasing its air campaigns in latest months, with bombardments by swarms of Shahed drones a nightly prevalence.
Ukraine has lately had some success in counterattacks. On the evening of March 10, over 330 Ukrainian drones focused Moscow. Subsequent strikes have hit Russia's fossil gas infrastructure.
The Kremlin additionally stated Putin "responded constructively to Donald Trump's thought of implementing a well known initiative regarding the security of navigation within the Black Sea."
"It was agreed to start negotiations to additional elaborate particular particulars of such an settlement," the assertion added.
The assertion adopted a 1.5-hours cellphone name between Putin and Trump, throughout which they mentioned ending the warfare in Ukraine and the U.S. proposal for a 30-day ceasefire to permit for additional peace talks.
The Kremlin additionally demanded a whole cessation of international navy assist and intelligence to Ukraine as a "key situation for avoiding an escalation of the warfare."
Along with halting international navy assist and intelligence, Russia additionally referred to as for Ukraine to stop the mobilization and rearmament of its navy.
The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk