These are important developments on the 1,115th day of Russia’s Ukrainian War.
This is the situation for Saturday, March 15th.
Fineting
Russian President Vladimir Putin called for the Ukrainian forces to “subjugate” in Russia’s Kursk region, saying, “If they place their arms and surrender, they will guarantee life and dignified treatment.” Putin’s remarks were broadcast on Russian television time after President Donald Trump said “thousands” of Ukrainian forces were surrounded by Russian troops in Kursk, adding that he “strongly demanded” Putin to save their lives. Ukrainian general staff once again denied that Kursk’s troops were surrounded by Moscow’s troops, saying that reports of their effects were “made by the Russians to apply political manipulation and pressure on Ukraine and its partners.” The Russian missiles struck a residential area in the central Ukrainian city of Krivii RIH, causing injury to 11 people, including two children, the region governor said. Kryvyi Rih is home to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and has been the target of repeated attacks in Russia’s three-year, full-scale neighbour invasion. The Russian guided bomb attacked a series of targets in Ukraine, including residential areas in Carson, in southern Ukraine, killing one person, the regional governor told Telegram. Near Odesa, Ukraine’s Black Sea city, Russian drones attacked the port of Chornomorsk, completely cutting electricity to local residents, the regional governor said. Russia’s air defense has resulted in four Ukrainian drones attacking the Russian capital, Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobianin said. One drone damaged the roof of an apartment building several kilometers from the Kremlin. Emergency officials said several other buildings were lightly damaged by drone fragments, but were not injured. Zelensky said on Telegram that a far-right anti-Russian activist was shot dead on the streets of Odesa and that the suspect was arrested. The suspect, a 46-year-old man, was described as a “detective” of the Ukrainian army. “We cannot rule out the possibility that this crime was committed on behalf of Russian secret services,” police said.
Ceasefire
Putin met with US envoy group Steve Witkov to discuss details of the US proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Moscow’s Ukrainian war. Trump said he was “a bit ironic” when he repeatedly insisted on solving the Russian-Ukraine war within 24 hours, and even before he took office. “Well, when I said that, I was a bit sarcasm,” Trump said in a clip released before a television interview that aired Sunday. In a speech to the US Department of Justice, Trump praised the relationship with Putin as ceasefire negotiations with Russia are underway, saying that Russian leaders “respect this country.” He once again blamed Ukraine for Russia’s 2022 invasion, saying, “I don’t want to choose someone much bigger than you.” British Prime Minister Kiel Starmer accused Putin of not making US-led attempts to seriously secure a ceasefire in Ukraine. In a post on X, French President Emmanuel Macron called on Moscow to stop “violence” in Ukraine. The G7 Foreign Minister warned Russia of new sanctions unless it accepts a ceasefire “on equal terms,” saying the sanctions could include “a cap on oil prices, as well as additional support for Ukraine, and other measures.”
Politics and diplomacy
Europe’s support for Ukraine will be discussed on Saturday during a video conference with Zelensky with around 25 European Union and other world leaders. EU foreign secretary Kaja Karas said new military aid to Ukraine would provide 27-country bloc supplies up to 40 billion euros ($43.5 billion), according to diplomatic sources. The UK’s priorities will encourage leaders from the so-called “coalition of will” that includes Europe, Australia, Canada and New Zealand, to support Ukraine and make concrete commitments to increase pressure on Russia during video conferences. Russian Deputy Minister Andrei Ludenko is visiting North Korea, according to a report from North Korean media. Russia and Venezuela have announced plans to increase energy cooperation after Washington ordered US oil giant Chevron to withdraw from the Caribbean country.
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