Donald Trump says he and Vladimir Putin will discuss "dividing up certain assets" in Ukraine as part of peace talks that will include “land [and] power plants".
The US president and his Russian counterpart are due to talk on Tuesday.
"A lot of work's been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end,” the US president said while flying from Florida to Washington on Air Force One on Sunday night. "We're already talking about that, dividing up certain assets," he added.
The US president's comments came as a Russian official said Moscow will seek "ironclad" guarantees in any peace deal that Nato nations will exclude Kyiv from membership, and that Ukraine will remain "neutral".
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko also repeated the Kremlin’s position that Moscow is categorically against the deployment of Nato observers to Ukraine.
Elsewhere, Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of the general staff of the armed forces, as the war-hit nation said it was restructuring and strengthening its military. .
‘No ceasefire will work’: US medics on Ukraine’s front line scorn Trump’s peace talks
Revealed: Ukraine’s red lines for any peace deal with Putin
Putin’s troops say they’re close to retaking Kursk from Ukrainian forces – here’s why it matters
Putin ally in heated clash with radio host as he claims Ukrainians ‘thankful’ for Russian invasion
Key Points
- Trump says he will be speaking with Putin tomorrow
- Russia demands peace deal includes ban on Ukraine joining Nato
- Zelensky names new chief of general staff of armed forces
- Russia threatens Britain and France over Nato observers in Ukraine
- Ukrainian drone attack sparks fire in Russia's Astrakhan
Ukraine faces 174 drones from Russia
07:39 , Chris StevensonThe Ukrainian Air Force has said Russia launched 174 drones against it in an early morning assault, following earlier reports of damage in Kyiv and Nikopol.
It shot down 90 drones and 70 others were successfully diverted, the air force added
The strikes hit the Odesa, Kharkiv, Dnipro, Kirovohrad, Sumy, Chernihiv and Kyiv regions, the post on messaging app Telegram said.
Russia says it destroyed 72 Ukrainian drones, including 36 over Kursk region
06:57 , Arpan RaiRussian forces destroyed 72 Ukrainian drones over Russian regions, including 36 over the Kursk region, Russia's defence ministry said this morning.
The drones also targeted an energy facility in Astrakhan, as well as Oryol, Volgograd, Bryansk and Rostov, the defence ministry said.
Redrawing borders along current frontline would make Ukraine much harder to defend, warns ISW
06:12 , Arpan RaiThe US and Europe would likely need to provide military aid to Ukraine more rapidly, in much larger volumes, and at higher cost the closer the ultimate ceasefire lines are to the current frontline, The Institute for the Study of War said.
“Ukraine would likely need an even larger military with greater capabilities to play its critical role in deterring and, if necessary, defeating future aggression along current frontline (both within Ukraine and along Ukraine’s international border with Russia) that is over 2,100 kilometres long,” the US-based think tank said in its latest assessment.
The ISW has said that Russian forces are just across the Dnipro River from Kherson City, roughly 25 kilometres from Zaporizhzhia City, and 30 kilometres from Kharkiv City and a renewed offensive from Russia could threaten Ukraine’s key cities.
“Helping Ukraine regain strategically critical territory, as Trump has suggested he intends to do, could significantly reduce the cost and difficulty of securing a future peace,” the think tank has said.
It added: “A ceasefire along more defensible positions would also place Russian forces in a more disadvantaged position for renewed offensive operations, making future Russian aggression less likely.”
In tomorrow's call with Putin, Trump says he will discuss land and power plants
05:44 , Arpan RaiPresident Donald Trump says he will speak to Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow in his push to force a quick end to the war in Ukraine.
Mr Trump said land and "power plants" are part of the conversation around bringing the war to a close.
"A lot of work's been done over the weekend. We want to see if we can bring that war to an end,” the US president said while flying from Florida to Washington on Air Force One last night.
"We will be talking about land. We will be talking about power plants," he said. Mr Trump described it as "dividing up certain assets”.
Keith Kellogg’s return to Ukraine diplomacy shows Trump’s unpredictable foreign policy
05:35 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump’s whirligig presidency continues with sudden reversals of foreign policy and key diplomatic appointments.
Retired lieutenant general, Keith Kellogg, had appeared “out” of Ukrainian affairs only a few days ago.
Eight weeks ago, the government in Kyiv and many friends of Ukraine abroad had celebrated his appointment as the president’s special envoy for Ukraine and Russia as a victory for a hardline stance against Vladimir Putin’s aggression.
Mark Almond writes:
Keith Kellogg’s return to Ukraine diplomacy shows Trump’s unpredictability
Ukrainian drone attack sparks fire in Russia's Astrakhan
05:14 , Arpan RaiAn overnight Ukrainian drone attack targeted energy facilities and other objects in Russia's Astrakhan region, injuring one person and sparking a fire, the regional governor said this morning.
"The situation is under control," said Igor Babushkin, the governor of the region in southern Russia, on his Telegram channel.
He did not say what facility was on fire but added that the injured person was hospitalised.
‘No ceasefire will work’: US medics on Ukraine’s frontline scorn Trump’s peace talks
05:05 , Arpan Rai“Getting blown up was not so traumatic compared to the situation that we were in with no comms. No comms, you know, in a grey zone, no communications, no navigational reference,” says Rebekah, 31, a permanent frontline medic volunteer from Colorado in Ukraine since March 2022.
Yet even more traumatic was hearing her own president turn on Ukraine’s president and switch sides, to backing the Kremlin. She heard him do that while watching a drone feed of another of her teams under fire trying to rescue wounded soldiers on the front line near Toretsk, north of Donetsk.
‘No ceasefire will work’: Medics on Ukraine’s frontline scorn Trump’s peace talks
Trump says he will be speaking with Putin tomorrow
04:46 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump said he plans to speak to Russian president Vladimir Putin tomorrow.
"I'll be speaking to President Putin on Tuesday. A lot of work's been done over the weekend," Mr Trump told reporters on Air Force One during a late flight back to the Washington area from Florida.
"We want to see if we can bring that war to an end. Maybe we can, maybe we can't, but I think we have a very good chance," Mr Trump said.
French-British blueprint doesn't foresee deploying a 'mass' of soldiers in Ukraine, says Macron
04:34 , Arpan RaiFrench president Emmanuel Macron has suggested some possible missions that could be undertaken by a military support force for Ukraine that Paris and London are working to put together with other nations.
Speaking to French media ahead of an online summit that the UK hosted on Saturday, Macron said the French-British blueprint doesn't aim to deploy a "mass" of soldiers in Ukraine and instead envisages stationing troop contingents in key locations.
Two newspapers – La Dépêche du Midi and Le Parisien – reported that the French president spoke of participating nations each deploying several thousand troops to "key points" in Ukraine.
Their missions could include providing training and supporting Ukrainian defences in order to demonstrate long-term support for Kyiv, the reports quoted Mr Macron as saying.
Le Parisien cited Macron as saying that Moscow's agreement wasn't needed for such deployment. "Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for Allied forces to be on its territory, it's not up to Russia to accept or not," he said.
Mr Macron added that the proposed contingents from countries that are members of the Nato alliance would serve as "a guarantee of security" for Ukraine and that "several European nations, and also non-European, have expressed their willingness to join such an effort when it is confirmed, reported La Dépêche du Midi.
Trump and Putin to speak this week, says US envoy Witkoff
03:55 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump is set to speak with Vladimir Putin this week to further discuss a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, US envoy Steve Witkoff said the leaders will speak over the phone after what he described as a "positive" meeting with Putin in Moscow.
"I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we're also continuing to engage and have conversation with the Ukrainians," said Witkoff, who met with Putin on Thursday night, adding that he thought the talk between Trump and Putin would be "really good and positive."
Zelensky names new chief of general staff of armed forces
03:44 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has appointed Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces as the war-hit nation looks to restructure and strengthen its military.
The change comes at a time when Ukrainian troops are struggling to hold on to their foothold in Russia's Kursk region and facing increasing pressure in Donetsk.
Hnatov replaces Anatoliy Barhylevych, who held the position since February 2024. The appointment was announced by the general staff via its Telegram channel yesterday.
"We are systematically transforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enhance their combat effectiveness," defence minister Rustem Umerov said.
The outgoing army chief Barhylevych will now serve as the general inspector of Ukraine's defence ministry.
Mr Umerov emphasised that Barhylevych would "remain part of the team," overseeing military standards and strengthening discipline in the army.
Oleksandr Syrskyi remains in place as commander-in-chief of Ukraine's armed forces.
Russia launches drone attack on Kyiv
03:26 , Arpan RaiRussia launched an overnight drone attack on Kyiv, said mayor Vitali Klitschko early this morning.
Mr Klitschko said that Ukrainian air defence units were trying to repel the attack.
Witnesses heard blasts in parts of the city in what sounded like air defence systems in operation, reported Reuters.
Russia threatens Britain and France over Nato observers in Ukraine: 'Just hot air'
03:01 , Arpan RaiRussia’s deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko has reiterated the Kremlin’s position that Moscow is categorically against the deployment of Nato observers to Ukraine.
Britain and France both have said that they were willing to send a peacekeeping force to monitor any ceasefire in Ukraine. Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said his country was also open to requests.
"It does not matter under what label Nato contingents were to be deployed on Ukrainian territory: be it the European Union, Nato, or in a national capacity," Mr Grushko said.
"If they appear there, it means that they are deployed in the conflict zone with all the consequences for these contingents as parties to the conflict," he said.
The Russian official said that a deployment of unarmed post-conflict observers can be discussed only once a peace agreement is worked out.
"We can talk about unarmed observers, a civilian mission that would monitor the implementation of individual aspects of this agreement, or guarantee mechanisms," Mr Grushko said. "In the meantime, it's just hot air."
Russia demands peace deal includes ban on Ukraine joining Nato
02:47 , Arpan RaiRussia will seek "ironclad" guarantees in any peace deal on Ukraine that Nato nations will exclude Kyiv from membership and that Ukraine will remain "neutral", a Russian deputy foreign minister said in remarks published today.
Russia’s deputy foreign minister Alexander Grushko said that any long-lasting peace treaty on Ukraine must meet Moscow's demands in a broad-ranging interview with the Russian media outlet Izvestia that made no reference to the US ceasefire proposal.
"We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement," Izvestia cited Mr Grushko as saying.
"Part of these guarantees should be the neutral status of Ukraine, the refusal of Nato countries to accept it into the alliance,” he said.
The ‘nyet’ factor: Will Putin accept a ceasefire in Ukraine?
02:00 , Jabed Ahmed
The ‘nyet’ factor: Will Putin accept a ceasefire in Ukraine?
Steve Witkoff: Who is the real estate mogul Trump picked to broker Ukraine peace with Putin?
01:00 , Jabed Ahmed
Steve Witkoff: Who is the real estate mogul Trump picked to broker peace with Putin?
Watch | Putin ally clashes with LBC host as he claims Ukrainians are 'thankful' for Russian invasion
Sunday 16 March 2025 23:59 , Jabed AhmedRussia launches drone attack on Ukraine's capital of Kyiv, mayor says
Sunday 16 March 2025 23:49 , Holly EvansRussia launched an overnight drone attack on Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, mayor of the Ukrainian capital said early on Monday.
Klitschko, in a post on the Telegram messaging app, said that Ukrainian air defence units were trying to repel the attack.
Reuters' witnesses heard blasts in parts of the city in what sounded like air defence systems in operation.
Comment | Putin has given Trump a clear message – he still wants to win
Sunday 16 March 2025 23:00 , Jabed Ahmed.jpeg?trim=0,309,48,0&width=1200&height=800&crop=1200:800)
Putin has given Trump a clear message – he still wants to win
Russia seeks NATO exclusion in Ukraine's peace treaty
Sunday 16 March 2025 22:49 , Holly EvansRussia will seek guarantees that NATO countries will exclude Ukraine from membership and Ukraine will remain neutral in any peace deal, a Russian deputy foreign minister said in remarks published on Monday.
"We will demand that ironclad security guarantees become part of this agreement," Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko told the Russian media outlet Izvestia.
"Part of these guarantees should be the neutral status of Ukraine, the refusal of NATO countries to accept it into the alliance."
Pictured | Russian drone strike in Chernihiv
Sunday 16 March 2025 22:00 , Jabed Ahmed
Watch | Meet the American medic serving on Ukraine's frontline
Sunday 16 March 2025 21:01 , Jabed AhmedLithuania backs plan to double EU military aid for Ukraine
Sunday 16 March 2025 20:43 , Holly EvansLithuania on Sunday backed an EU proposal to pledge up to 40 billion euros ($43.5 billion) in military aid for Ukraine this year and said a similar amount would also be needed in future years to deter any future Russian attack.
"If we can sustain this amount ... for a longer period of time, that would be the amount that would allow Ukrainians to keep their armed forces at current strength," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys told Reuters on Sunday.
Budrys spoke on the eve of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels that will discuss the proposal, put forward by the bloc's diplomatic service, headed by former Estonian Prime Minister Kaja Kallas.
The meeting comes at a time of uncertainty about the outcome of U.S. negotiations with Russia, the future of U.S. assistance to Ukraine and Washington's commitment to European security.
EU diplomats suggested doubling military aid to Ukraine to as much as 40 billion euros, according to a document seen by Reuters on Friday.
Putin’s troops say they’re close to retaking Kursk from Ukrainian forces – here’s why it matters
Sunday 16 March 2025 20:01 , Jabed Ahmed
Putin’s troops say they’re close to retaking Kursk – here’s why it matters
The Independent View | Keir Starmer’s steady leadership offers the best chance of forcing Putin to make peace
Sunday 16 March 2025 19:01 , Jabed AhmedRead The Independent’s editorial below:
Keir Starmer’s steady leadership offers the chance of forcing Putin to make peace
What has the US said regarding a ceasefire?
Sunday 16 March 2025 18:01 , Jabed AhmedPresident Trump, who said he was willing to talk to the Russian leader by phone, called Mr Putin's statement "very promising" and said he hoped Moscow would "do the right thing".
But, he added: “Now we’re going to see whether or not Russia is there, and if they’re not, it’ll be a very disappointing moment for the world.”
He said Steve Witkoff, his special envoy, was engaged in serious talks with the Russians in Moscow on the US proposal, which Kyiv has already agreed to.
Mr Trump claims he has received “positive messages” about the ceasefire from Moscow and reiterated on Wednesday that he would “do things financially that would be very bad for Russia” if they did not accept it.
He said that a ceasefire would make sense for Moscow but said there was “a lot of downside for Russia too”, without elaborating.
“We have a very complex situation solved on one side, pretty much solved. We've also discussed land and other things that go with it,” he said.
“We know the areas of land we're talking about, whether it's pull back or not pull back.”
He acknowledged that positive signals from the Russians meant “nothing” until a deal had been signed. Much of Europe and Ukraine believe Mr Putin’s positive signals will continue to mean nothing even after a peace agreement is signed; history is filled with examples of Russia, under Mr Putin’s leadership, breaking ceasefire agreements, they say.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio, who led the delegation in Saudi Arabia, said after the talks that the US would take the offer to Russia, and the ball is in Moscow's court. "Our hope is that the Russians will answer 'yes' as quickly as possible, so we can get to the second phase of this, which is real negotiations," he told reporters.
‘No ceasefire will work’: Medics on Ukraine’s frontline scorn Trump’s peace talks
Sunday 16 March 2025 17:39 , Jabed AhmedOur World Affairs Editor Sam Kiley reports:
‘No ceasefire will work’: Medics on Ukraine’s frontline scorn Trump’s peace talks
Zelensky appoints new chief of general staff to speed up reforms
Sunday 16 March 2025 17:29 , Jabed AhmedPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has appointed Major-General Andriy Hnatov as Ukraine's chief of the general staff as Kyiv seeks to speed up army reform.
A decree published on the presidential website said General Hnatov, a deputy chief of staff, would replace Lieutenant-General Anatoliy Barhilevych.
"We are consistently changing the armed forces to make them even more combat ready. To achieve it, we are changing the management system and introducing clear standards," Defence Minister Rustem Umerov said in a statement.
Hnatov has 27 years of military experience, having risen through the ranks from marines brigade commander to leading troops in the eastern Donetsk region.
Barhilevych would now oversee military standards and strengthen discipline in the army, the minister said.
What are Vladimir Putin’s demands?
Sunday 16 March 2025 17:01 , Jabed AhmedDuring a press conference in the Kremlin on Thursday, Vladimir Putin said he agreed with the ceasefire but added there were “nuances” that had to be discussed.
He would agree to a truce based on the assumption it would lead to “a long-term peace”, he claimed, adding that any such agreement had to eliminate the “root causes” of the conflict.
The Russian president said Russian forces were moving forward along the entire front line and that the ceasefire would have to ensure that Ukraine did not seek to use it simply to regroup.
While Russian forces have staged a successful counteroffensive in the border region of Kursk in the last week, their attacks in the eastern Ukrainian region of Donetsk have slowed to a halt. Ukrainians have begun launching counterattacks along that eastern line, particularly in Toretsk.
The overwhelming concern among Ukrainians and their European allies is that it is Russia that would use a pause in fighting to regroup and attack Ukraine again.
Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk would have to “surrender or die”, Mr Putin warned. He questioned what would happen to troops currently in Kursk during any truce.
Previously, he has ruled out territorial concessions and said Ukraine must withdraw fully from four Ukrainian regions claimed and partly controlled by Russia. He has also insisted any ceasefire could proceed only if the West gave a guarantee that Ukraine would not join Nato.
More information on expected call between Trump and Putin
Sunday 16 March 2025 15:53Donald Trump is set to speak with Vladimir Putin in the next week to further discuss a ceasefire deal with Ukraine.
Speaking to CNN on Sunday, US envoy Steve Witkoff said the leaders will speak over the phone after what he described as a "positive" meeting with Putin in Moscow.
"I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we're also continuing to engage and have conversation with the Ukrainians," said Witkoff, who met with Putin on Thursday night, adding that he thought the talk between Trump and Putin would be "really good and positive."
Moscow closes in on recapturing Kursk
Sunday 16 March 2025 15:34 , Athena StavrouSeven months after Ukraine launched an incursion into the western Russian region of Kursk, Moscow are close to driving them out completely.
Kyiv’s forces are rapidly losing land in the region which they hoped could be a crucial bargaining chip in peace negotiations.
Moscow claims that recent advances from its forces have left Ukrainian troops with less 200 square km (77 square miles) in Kursk, down from 1,300 square km (500 square miles) at the peak of the incursion.
A battleground map shared by Kyiv on Sunday also confirmed they had retreated from Sudzha, the biggest town Ukraine controlled in Kursk.
But Ukraine is still holding on to a sliver of land in the region, and Kyiv denies claims that its troops are surrounded.
Yuri Podolyaka, a Ukrainian-born, pro-Russian military blogger, claimed Russia has pushed back Ukrainian forces to the border in some areas, though intense battles are still underway and Kyiv’s forces were fighting back as they retreated.
Watch: Putin ally in heated clash with radio host as he claims Ukrainians ‘thankful’ for Russian invasion
Sunday 16 March 2025 15:23Vladimir Putin's former advisor has suggested that Ukrainians should be "thankful" for Russia invading their country, prompting a heated clash with a UK radio host.
On Sunday, 16 February, Lewis Goodall spoke to Sergei Markov, former advisor to the Russian president and representative to the Council of Europe.
When discussing the possibility of peace, Mr Markov claimed Ukrainians should be "thankful" as Russia's bombs will liberate them from a "Neo-Nazi" regime, in what escalated into a heated clash between the Putin ally and the LBC host.
Putin ally in heated clash with LBC host as he claims Ukrainians ‘thankful’ for war
Britons could be conscripted if war broke out with Russia, Lib Dem MP says
Sunday 16 March 2025 15:11 , Athena StavrouA Liberal Democrat MP has warned Britons could be conscripted if a war broke out between Russia and the UK.
Mike Martin, an Afghanistan veteran and MP for Tunbridge Wells told the Express: “There’s a significant chance that it [war with Russia] might happen so we must be prepared.
"Obviously, if we get involved in a general war with Russia, we’ll be conscripting the population - there’s no question about that,"
However, he said that it is unlikely tensions will escalate that far as added: "[It is] quite unlikely that we get to that situation of sort of generalised war. I think you can see a space in between here and there, where we are increasing the size of the military quite rapidly.”
Turkish president backs Trump's steps to end war in Ukraine
Sunday 16 March 2025 14:48 , Athena StavrouThe Turkish president has backed Donald Trump’s steps to end the war in Ukraine after the pair spoke on the phone.
A statement released by Tayyip Erdogan’s office on Sunday said that the Turkish leader “supports President Trump's decisive and direct initiatives to end the war between Russia and Ukraine.”
The statement also says he “emphasised that Turkey has been striving for a just and lasting peace since the beginning of the war and will continue to do so.”
President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan spoke by phone with President Donald Trump of the U.S.
— Republic of Türkiye Directorate of Communications (@Communications) March 16, 2025
The call addressed bilateral relations between Türkiye and the U.S., as well as regional and global matters.
President Erdoğan expressed his belief that Türkiye and the U.S., as two allies,…
Revealed: Ukraine’s red lines for any peace deal with Putin
Sunday 16 March 2025 14:28 , Jabed Ahmed
What is Starmer's 'coalition of the willing'?
Sunday 16 March 2025 14:09 , Jabed AhmedSir Keir Starmer held a virtual meeting with 29 other world leaders to discuss peace in Ukraine.
The countries in the “coalition of the willing”, which include Britain, France, Australia and Canada, will discuss how to help Kyiv deter future Russian aggression in the event of any peace deal.
The leaders discussed how countries plan to contribute to the coalition of the willing, ahead of a military planning session next week.
Trump and Putin to speak this week
Sunday 16 March 2025 13:32Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are expected to speak this week amid pressure for Russia to accept a ceasefire deal.
Envoy Steve Witkoff said on Sunday that he expects the two leaders to speak after what he called positive talks with Putin in Moscow.
Ukraine confirm withdrawal from key Kursk town
Sunday 16 March 2025 13:08 , Athena StavrouUkraine has confirmed its troops have withdrawn from the town of Sudzha in the Kursk region.
In recent days, Moscow recaptured the town which was originally taken by Kyiv during their military operation in the Kursk region last last year.
On Sunday, Ukraine’s general staff posted a map of the region, depicting a full withdrawal of its forces from the town.
Kyiv has denied reports that is has retreated from the Kursk region entirely.
Pictured: Firefighters work at the site of an apartment building hit by a Russian drone strike in Chernihiv
Sunday 16 March 2025 12:30 , Athena Stavrou
Ukraine will decide on peacekeepers, says Macron
Sunday 16 March 2025 12:00 , Athena StavrouEmmanuel Macron has said Ukraine will have the power to decide whether Western troops are deployed as a peacekeeping force.
The French president said Russia will not have a say in whether the plan goes ahead, as plans for troop deployment become more concrete.
"Ukraine is sovereign. If it asks for allied forces to be on its territory, it's not something for Russia to accept or not," he told French media.
Putin’s troops say they’re close to retaking Kursk from Ukrainian forces – here’s why it matters
Sunday 16 March 2025 11:24 , Athena StavrouUkrainian forces are rapidly losing ground in the Kursk region amid a major Russian offensive to recapture land which Kyiv hoped could be a crucial bargaining chip in peace negotiations.
In an attempt to divert Russian forces from the brutal frontlines in eastern Ukraine – and embarrass Vladimir Putin – Ukraine smashed across the border into the Kursk region in August, the biggest attack on Russian territory since the Nazi invasion of 1941.
Putin visited the western region for the first time since its seizure on Wednesday, in a sign of the confidence Moscow has that they will retake complete control of the region.
Below my colleague Alex Croft details what is happening in Kursk:
Putin’s troops say they’re close to retaking Kursk – here’s why it matters
Ukraine still operating in Kursk - ISW
Sunday 16 March 2025 11:12 , Athena StavrouKyiv’s forces have not been completely pushed out of the Kursk region, The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) has said.
Analysis by the US think tank says Russian forces continued offensive operations in the area, but have not recaptured it entirely.
It comes after Moscow’s troops recaptured the town of Sudzha and some surrounding villages - which were taken by Ukraine in August last year.
On Saturday, Zelensky denied reports that Ukraine had completely withdrawn from the region.
'Putin doesn't want a ceasefire' - Finland PM
Sunday 16 March 2025 10:42 , Athena StavrouPresident of Finland Alexander Stubb has said the chances of Vladimir Putin entering peace negotiations are “abysmal”.
Asked about the Russian president’s willingness to enter peace talks, he told the BBC’s Sunday With Laura Kuenssberg: “I think the chances are abysmal. I don’t think Putin doesn’t want a ceasefire. Putin doesn’t want peace.
“His original aim was basically to destroy the independent sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. Basically to have Ukraine ceasing to exist. He hasn’t changed his aim and this is what all of us around the table have to understand.
“That’s why we have to maximise the pressure on Putin which means more sanctions which means using the frozen assets and which actually means militarising Ukraine to the teeth.”
Recap: What is happening on Sumy border?
Sunday 16 March 2025 10:10 , Athena StavrouUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Putin could be planning an attack into Ukraine’s Sumy region.
On Saturday, Zelensky said Moscow had accumulated troops on the eastern border of Ukraine, indicating an “intention to attack our Sumy region”.
“We are also observing directions along our eastern border of Ukraine, where the Russian army is building up forces,” Zelensky wrote on X.
“This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region. We are aware of this, and will counter it. I would like all partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring.”
Former UK national security adviser says peacekeeping force 'considerable risk'
Sunday 16 March 2025 09:59 , Athena StavrouFormer UK national security adviser Lord Peter Ricketts has said that a European force in Ukraine is a "considerable risk" without US support.
He told Sky News's Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: "To be credible, a deterrent force has to be willing to fight, so are we actually saying that this force might one day have to fight the Russians in Ukraine? I think it's a genuine question.
"And the way to avoid it, of course, is to have a cast iron American guarantee that if the force got into trouble, the Americans would come in and support. That's what the backstop means.
"I just don't think Trump is going to give that kind of commitment, so while I admire the work going into this, and maybe there are ways that European forces can help in Ukraine... I think a formed fighting force is a considerable risk without an American clear guarantee."
Wes Streeting responds to possibility of clashes between Russia and peacekeeping troops
Sunday 16 March 2025 09:46A confrontation between Russian and British troops in Ukraine would be an “extraordinary escalation” by Moscow, the Health Secretary has said.
Asked what deterrence a peacekeeping force could present to Russia, Wes Streeting told Sky News’s Sunday Morning With Trevor Phillips: “I think it would be an extraordinary escalation for Russian troops to find themselves in conflict with British troops.
“What Thursday is about, where the Prime Minister and the UK are convening military leaders from across allied countries, is about having a serious plan, a serious military strategy to secure a peace.
“And of course there’s a huge amount of effort that the Prime Minister is heavily involved in to negotiate the peace.
“So there are lots of moving parts at the moment, it’s moving incredibly quickly, and what the Prime Minister has tried to do at every stage is to make sure that we come up with a credible plan involving the Ukrainians that guarantees their peace and security, and Europe’s at large because our own security is intertwined with Ukraine’s.”
Minenhunter ships ready to be deployed as part of peacekeeping force
Sunday 16 March 2025 09:02 , Athena StavrouMore details about the support the ‘coalition of the willing’ is planning to provide have been revealed.
According to The Times, two minehunter ships which were transferred from the Royal Navy to Ukraine last year are ready to be deployed as part of the potential peacekeeping force.
The paper reported that the ships are taking part in training exercises to prepare for deployment to the Black Sea - which they have been unable to enter due to the war shutting the Bosphorus Strait.
10,000 troops could be deployed for peacekeeping force - reports
Sunday 16 March 2025 08:43 , Athena StavrouOver 10,000 troops could be deployed as part of the ‘coalition of the willing’ peacekeeping force in Ukraine, reports have suggested.
Sir Keir Starmer reportedly won over a number of countries in his virtual summit on Saturday, which discussed plans for Western troops to be deployed to enforce a ceasefire deal between Ukraine and Russia.
A senior government source told The Times that Starmer has now received support from “considerably more” than the three countries that initially backed sending troops on the ground.
Around 35 countries have agreed to supply weapons, logistical and intelligence support, as military source told the paper that the force could be “comfortably north of 10,000”.
Italy rules out deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine - despite joining meeting
Sunday 16 March 2025 08:30 , Athena StavrouItaly has no plans to deploy peacekeeping forces on the ground in Ukraine to support a potential ceasefire, prime minister Giorgia Meloni's office announced on Saturday.
Despite joining Starmer’s ‘coalition of the willing’ meeting on Saturday, where members discussed sending troops in the event of a deal, Italy have ruled out sending their own forces.
“The Prime Minister confirmed that Italy intends to continue working with European and Western partners and with the United States to define credible and effective security guarantees, reiterating that national participation in a possible military force on the ground is not envisaged,” the statement said.
It was not certain whether Meloni would join Saturday’s meeting, as she had been critical of plans to deploy a peacekeeping force in the past.
Trump narrows envoy role to just Ukraine
Sunday 16 March 2025 08:12 , Athena StavrouDonald Trump has narrowed General Keith Kellogg's role from special envoy for Ukraine and Russia to only Ukraine.
The decision comes after Russian officials had sought to exclude him from talks aiming to end the war.
"General Kellogg, a Highly Respected Military Expert, will deal directly with President Zelensky, and Ukrainian leadership," Trump said in a post on Truth Social.
"He knows them well, and they have a very good working relationship together."
Russia launches dozens of drones overnight
Sunday 16 March 2025 07:42 , Athena StavrouRussia launched 90 drones in an overnight attack on Ukraine overnight, Kyiv has said.
Ukraine’s air defence units said it shot down 47 of the 90 drones and that 33 drones were lost “in reference to the Ukrainian military using electronic warfare to redirect them”.
Damage was reported in four regions in the north, centre and south of the country, the air force said without providing details.
What are Putin and Zelensky’s demands for agreeing 30-day truce?
Sunday 16 March 2025 07:30 , Shahana YasminRussia has presented the US with a list of demands for a deal to end its invasion of Ukraine and reset relations with Washington, it has been reported.
The demands were submitted to Washington after Ukraine accepted a 30-day proposal discussed with the US during peace talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday.
It is unclear what was included in that letter, but former senior British officials who focus on Russia have suggested to The Independent that Moscow will try to extract maximal demands from Washington in exchange for a ceasefire.
What are Putin and Zelensky’s demands to agree 30-day Ukraine ceasefire?
Canada pledges almost £27 m to Ukraine energy fund
Sunday 16 March 2025 07:10 , Shahana YasminCanada has contributed an additional CA$50m (£26.8m) to the Ukraine Energy Support Fund, Ukraine’s energy ministry announced on Saturday, according to The Kyiv Independent.
This follows Ukraine’s receipt of the first tranche of a $1.7bn loan, secured through frozen Russian assets from Canada, as confirmed by Ukraine’s finance ministry on 13 March.
“As Russia continues its ruthless attacks on Ukrainian infrastructure, leaving millions without electricity, water, and heat, Canada is proud... to continue the important work it is doing to help Ukraine repair its critical infrastructure,” said Canadian foreign minister Mélanie Joly in a statement.
“Contributions to the Energy Support Fund are directed toward purchasing equipment necessary for restoring energy facilities after enemy attacks and ensuring the stable operation of Ukraine’s energy system,” said Ukraine’s minister of energy Herman Halushchenko.
Watch in full: Starmer gives Ukraine update after urging world leaders to keep pressure on Russia
Sunday 16 March 2025 06:50 , Shahana YasminWatch as Sir Keir Starmer held a press conference after hosting a meeting with world leaders to discuss peace in Ukraine on Saturday, 15 March.
The prime minister urged countries in his “coalition of the willing” to keep pressure on Moscow after he warned Vladimir Putin not to “play games” over a ceasefire deal.
Around 25 world leaders joined Sir Keir for a virtual call on Saturday, including Emmanuel Macron, Volodymyr Zelensky and Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.
How Trump’s ‘America First’ MAGA movement turned the Republican Party into an ‘arm of the Kremlin’
Sunday 16 March 2025 06:30 , Shahana YasminDonald Trump’s Oval Office attack on Ukraine’s president last month appeared to mark a very public realignment of America’s sympathies - away from Europe and towards Russia in a manner that few could have imagined during the Cold War years.
The Republican Party, now dominated by Trump’s “America First” MAGA movement, once considered the former Soviet Union “the evil empire” under Ronald Reagan and relished its collapse.
Today, the GOP stands accused of parroting Vladimir Putin’s rhetoric and some even refuse to admit the plain fact that Moscow began the war by invading its neighbor.
How ‘America First’ MAGA turned the Republican Party into an ‘arm of the Kremlin’
Putin’s troops say they’re close to retaking Kursk from Ukrainian forces – here’s why it matters
Sunday 16 March 2025 06:10 , Shahana YasminUkrainian forces are rapidly losing ground in the Kursk region amid a major Russian offensive to recapture land which Kyiv hoped could be a crucial bargaining chip in peace negotiations.
In an attempt to divert Russian forces from the brutal frontlines in eastern Ukraine – and embarrass Vladimir Putin – Ukraine smashed across the border into the Kursk region in August, the biggest attack on Russian territory since the Nazi invasion of 1941.
Putin visited the western region for the first time since its seizure on Wednesday, in a sign of the confidence Moscow has that they will retake complete control of the region.
Russia, Ukraine trade drone strikes as ceasefire prospects remain uncertain
Sunday 16 March 2025 05:50 , Shahana YasminThree people, including a 7-year-old, were injured in a Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Belgorod border region, regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said on Telegram, according to a Reuters report.
Two of the victims were hurt when a drone struck their house, sparking a fire in the Gubkinsky district, while the third was injured in an attack on the village of Dolgoye, Gladkov said.Alexander Gusev, governor of Voronezh and acting governor of Russia's southern Rostov region both said there were no immediate reports of injuries or damage in their regions.
Russia’s defence ministry reported on Sunday that its air defence units destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones—16 were downed over the southwestern Voronezh region, nine over Belgorod, and the remainder over the Rostov and Kursk regions.
Ukrainian authorities reported multiple Russian drone strikes, including an attack on the northern Chernihiv region, where firefighters were tackling a blaze at a high-rise building ignited by the assault, according to Ukraine's state emergency service.
In pictures: Russian drone attack sets apartment building in Ukraine on fire
Sunday 16 March 2025 05:30 , Shahana Yasmin
Keir Starmer’s steady leadership offers the best chance of forcing Putin to make peace
Sunday 16 March 2025 05:10 , Shahana YasminThe coalition of the willing is growing. The attendance list for Sir Keir Starmer’s video conference was impressive. The United Kingdom is now at the head of a roll call of 26 nations in support of Ukraine. These included all the larger countries in Europe, including Italy – even if Giorgia Meloni, the Italian prime minister, repeated her refusal to put troops into Ukraine under any circumstances.
The European Union itself was represented, even if not all its members were. So was Nato. And there were the leaders of four countries outside Europe: Canada, Turkey, Australia and New Zealand. The coalition is also backed, Sir Keir said, by Japan. Canada was represented by Mark Carney, its new prime minister, who understands that his nation must stand up to Donald Trump as well as to Vladimir Putin if either threatens it.
Keir Starmer’s steady leadership offers the chance of forcing Putin to make peace
Italy rules out deploying peacekeeping forces in Ukraine
Sunday 16 March 2025 04:50 , Shahana YasminItaly has no plans to deploy peacekeeping forces on the ground in Ukraine to support a potential ceasefire, prime minister Giorgia Meloni's office announced on Saturday.
The statement followed the ‘coalition of the willing’ hosted by Keir Starmer, where members discussed ways to bolster Ukraine’s security in the event of a peace agreement with Russia.
Meloni joined the virtual meeting alongside leaders from 24 other nations.
“The Prime Minister confirmed that Italy intends to continue working with European and Western partners and with the United States to define credible and effective security guarantees, reiterating that national participation in a possible military force on the ground is not envisaged,” the statement said.
Australia open to sending peacekeepers to Ukraine, says Albanese
Sunday 16 March 2025 04:30 , Shahana YasminAustralian prime minister Anthony Albanese said Australia could offer Ukraine a “small contribution” of peacekeepers if requested, though he emphasised it was too early to discuss specifics until Russia agreed to a ceasefire.
Albanese participated in the ‘coalition of the willing’ call chaired by Keir Starmer, and reaffirmed Australia's commitment to standing up to “bullies” like Vladimir Putin.
“Vladimir Putin’s a bully. You know what Australians do? They stand up to bullies. They don’t get intimidated by an authoritarian leader engaging in that sort of rhetoric.”
He added that Australia would “stand with Ukraine for as long as it takes” and expressed openness to considering new forms of support. However, he noted that any additional contributions would be based on Australia’s “capacity and comparative strengths.”
“It is the right thing to do and it is in Australia’s national interest. Because what happens in the Euro-Atlantic has serious implications for our region – the Indo-Pacific – and vice versa,” Albanese said in a statement.
