Russia considers the US aid halt during Ukraine truce as its minimal goal

The Kremlin is pushing for a complete halt to Western arms supplies to Ukraine during the proposed ceasefire, with a particular focus on stopping U.S. military aid as its "minimum aim," according to Bloomberg sources in Moscow. Russian President Vladimir Putin has conditioned his acceptance of the 30-day truce—agreed upon by the U.S. and Ukraine—on Kyiv ceasing to receive foreign arms, as well as halting conscription and military training. These demands have raised concerns that Ukraine would be left vulnerable while no such restrictions are being placed on Russia’s armed forces.

Putin is set to discuss the ceasefire with U.S. President Donald Trump in a scheduled call on March 18, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov confirmed. The U.S. had temporarily halted military supplies to Ukraine but resumed them after Kyiv agreed to the truce plan during talks in Jeddah on March 11. However, Trump has not approved any new aid packages and has signaled his reluctance to continue U.S. involvement in Ukraine. Meanwhile, the EU reportedly has no plans to pause military assistance, with European nations actively seeking ways to reinforce their support as uncertainty over U.S. backing grows.

Ukraine withdraws trops from one of the front-line parts in Donetsk Oblast

Ukrainian forces have strategically withdrawn from a front-line sector in Donetsk Oblast to preserve troops and strengthen defensive operations, according to Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev. While the exact location of the withdrawal remains unclear, reports suggest it involved Ukrainian positions near Dachne, Zelenivka, and Andriivka, north of Velyka Novosilka. The move was reportedly carried out in February to avoid encirclement in what has been called the Kurakhove pocket. Naiev emphasized that this decision has allowed Ukraine to inflict heavy losses on Russian forces, destroying over 30 armored vehicles and eliminating 2,000 Russian troops, which has significantly reduced Russian attacks in the area.

The general, now in his second month leading a tactical group in Donetsk Oblast, is believed to be commanding the Velyka Novosilka group. Russian forces continue their offensive operations in the region, particularly in southern Zaporizhzhia, though Ukraine denies Russian claims of capturing the village of Stepove. Fighting remains intense, with Russian troops making slow but steady advances in Donetsk Oblast, particularly around Toretsk and Chasiv Yar. Ukrainian military officials have declined to comment on the withdrawal, and independent verification of the details remains unavailable.

Russia attacked Ukraine with 137 drones

Russia launched a large-scale drone attack on Ukraine overnight, deploying 137 Shahed attack UAVs and various decoy drones. Ukrainian air defense forces successfully downed 63 drones, while 64 others disappeared from radar without causing reported damage. The attack targeted multiple oblasts, including Kharkiv, Sumy, Poltava, Dnipropetrovsk, and Cherkasy, with drones launched from Russian cities such as Shatalovo, Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

Ukraine's Air Force, along with electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups, worked to repel the assault. Anti-aircraft missile troops played a crucial role in intercepting the drones, preventing significant destruction. Despite the large number of drones deployed, the effectiveness of Ukraine’s defenses helped mitigate the impact of the attack.

Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin held a lengthy phone call

Today, March 18, 2025, U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a significant phone call focused on finding ways to end the ongoing war in Ukraine. The discussion lasted around 2.5 hours. Two leaders discussed possibilities for establishing a 30-day ceasefire as a step toward a permanent peace deal. The leaders also talked about broader topics, including U.S.-Russia relations, the Middle East, energy markets, artificial intelligence, and the strength of the U.S. dollar. Trump emphasized his desire to halt the conflict swiftly, referencing the high casualty toll—estimated between 1 and 2 million military casualties combined—and expressed optimism about the talks, building on prior conversations, including one on February 12, 2025. The call reflected Trump’s push for diplomacy, with both leaders agreeing to involve their teams in immediate follow-up negotiations.

Putin conveyed to Trump that any resolution must address Russia’s main demands, which include Ukraine having to cease its attempts to join Nato NATO and ceding control of territories Russia currently occupies—about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea and parts of four eastern provinces. Putin emphasized that Russia would accept the 30-day ceasefire only in case Ukraine stopped conducting mobilization and the West suspended arms supplies and intelligence sharing. He stressed the need to eliminate what he called the “root causes” of the conflict, such as perceived threats to Russian security from Western influence in Ukraine, and insisted on a “lasting peace” rather than a temporary truce. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, speaking before the call, noted a “certain understanding” between the leaders, suggesting Putin sought Trump’s acknowledgment of Russia’s territorial gains and a neutral, demilitarized Ukraine.

Putin also proposed a future in-person meeting, indicating openness to further dialogue but firmness on his conditions. Russian leader informed Trump about the prisoner swap that will take place tomorrow, and the sides will change 175 pows.

Putin supported Trump's idea of a mutual waiver between Russia and Ukraine for 30 days from strikes on energy infrastructure and gave such a command to the military. Thus, the partial ceasefire has been achieved, but it has to be endorsed by official Kyiv.

During the phone call, Putin informed Trump that Russia would hand over 23 seriously wounded Ukrainian servicemen to Kyiv as a goodwill gesture.

Trump and Putin agreed on the necessity of technical negotiations on the implementation of a naval truce in the Black Sea.

Russia and the USA agreed to form special expert groups to solve the Ukrainian question.

No final deal was reached on territorial divisions or Ukraine’s status.