Newsletter 21/03/2025
A daily news digest covering important war, political, economic, and cultural topics in Ukraine
TOP
State Department: Ukraine, Russia 'just a breath away' from ceasefire
"We are just a breath away from a full ceasefire, and then we can begin to talk about not just peace for a week or six months, but an enduring peace that the people of Ukraine and Russia and the world can rely on, and that is what America has helped facilitate, and that's what we're continuing to do each day," Bruce said in an interview with "NewsNation Now" anchor Nichole Berlie.
Germany's Bundesrat approves EUR 3B in military aid for Ukraine
Germany's upper house of parliament, the Bundesrat, has approved constitutional amendments that will increase spending in three key areas, including unblocking an additional EUR 3 billion in military aid for Ukraine.
Zelensky: We don’t see UN as alternative to contingent or security guarantees
“As for the UN, with all due respect, the UN will not protect us from occupation or Putin’s intention to invade again. We do not see the UN as an alternative to a contingent or security guarantees. We maintain reasonable, logical relations with the United Nations, I mean with their representatives and the Secretary General, etc., but (…) the UN cannot serve as an alternative to security guarantees,” Zelensky said.
Kursk region most affected precisely by Russian shelling - MFA
Ukraine has always adhered to international humanitarian law in the combat zone, including during the raid into Russia’s Kursk region, and rejects any accusations from the Russian side of alleged "crimes" committed by the Ukrainian military.
The MFA spokesman reiterated the official position of the General Staff regarding the attack on the Sudzha gas metering station, and called on international partners not to succumb to Russian manipulation.
General Staff: Russia struck Sudzha gas metering station to discredit Ukraine
Russia continues its disinformation campaign against Ukraine, falsely accusing Ukrainian forces of striking the Sudzha gas metering station.
"These accusations are baseless. In reality, this station has been repeatedly shelled by the Russians themselves. Last summer, it was bombed with guided aerial bombs, and just three days ago, Russian forces targeted it again with guided aerial bombs," the General Staff said.
Today, Russia escalated its planned disinformation efforts with another provocation -- shelling the station with artillery.
According to the General Staff, Russian troops have previously used the main gas pipeline as cover for covert troop movements.
U.S. willing to lead Ukraine nuclear plant – energy secretary
The United States is ready to take over the management of a nuclear power plant in Ukraine if the political decision is made to do so.
Since the large-scale invasion, the Russian forces are believed to have suffered an estimated 900,800 casualties, including 1,330 killed or wounded in action in the past 24 hours alone.
Also, Ukraine’s Defense Forces have destroyed:
10,394 Russian main battle tanks (+17 in the past day);
21,589 (+28) armored fighting vehicles;
24,848 (+101) artillery systems, 1,324 (+2) multiple rocket launchers;
1,111 (+1) air defense systems;
370 warplanes;
331 helicopters;
30,080 (+185) UAVs;
3,121 cruise missiles;
28 warships/cutters, a submarine;
41,259 (+165) vehicles and fuel tankers;
3,782 (+2) units of specialized equipment.
War
Casualties, destruction in Odesa after Russian drone attack
Russian killer drones attacked Odesa overnight Thursday, causing fires in the suburbs, damaging infrastructure, and inflicting casualties.
Large-scale Russian attacks on Ukraine give no grounds to believe Moscow serious about ceasefire - Pavel
The Russian Federation's large-scale attacks on Ukraine, including strikes on civilian targets at a time when negotiations on a ceasefire and a possible peace agreement are starting, offer no indication that the Russian side is serious about this.
Lithuania ready to send troops to Ukraine after ceasefire – Nauseda
Kremlin upping pressure on residents of temporarily occupied territories
166 combat clashes on frontline in past day, most in Pokrovsk sector
Ukrainian defense forces shot down 114 enemy drones, 81 “decoys” vanish from radar
Russian shelling of Donetsk region leaves one dead, three injured
Defense
UK discussing deployment of Typhoon fighter jets to Ukraine – The Telegraph
The "coalition of the willing" discussed sending British Typhoons to Ukraine to provide air cover for troops when it met at Permanent Joint Headquarters on Thursday.
Politics
Zelensky announces "Coalition of the Willing" summit in Paris to discuss international congintent for Ukraine
President Volodymyr Zelensky said the "Coalition of the Willing" summit will be held in Paris next week, where the format and composition of the future international force that could be deployed in Ukraine and security guarantees for the country will be on the agenda.
Lawmakers may close public access to data on Ukraine’s defense companies
On March 21, the Parliament’s Legal Committee considered a bill on restricting public access to data on defense facilities that is available in the state registers run by the Ministry of Justice.
A working group had been created within the Committee, which included representatives from the Ministry of Justice, State Judicial Administration, Prosecutor General's Office, State Service for Special Communications, Security Service of Ukraine, as well as various associations of defense companies.
“The draft was developed based on the decisions of the working group, which advocated the closure of particularly sensitive data on the country's defense enterprises. We are talking about (restriction of access to data - ed.) in the State Land Cadastre (SLC), Register of Property Rights to Real Estate, Register of Legal Entities and Individual Entrepreneurs, Register of Inventions and Patents, and others,” said MP Ihor Fris.
Von der Leyen: Ukraine to gain access to new EU defense loan program
EU not to block aid to Ukraine because of Hungary's own opinion on this - Costa
Trump confirms intention to sign minerals deal with Ukraine
Society
Ex-prisoner Butkevych: pretending that ICRC functioning properly hypocritical
"What is happening now with the Red Cross’s access to Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia is not just a problem — it is a tragedy. The ICRC is the only non-governmental organization whose monitoring and access mandate is enshrined in the core documents of international humanitarian law. If it fails to fulfill its mission, this means it either lacks sufficient authority or the will to act," stated by human rights activist and former prisoner of war Maksym Butkevych.
The former Kremlin prisoner emphasized that "in either case, action is needed" — the ICRC must either be strengthened or made more independent and less susceptible to pressure, particularly from Russia.
"But pretending that nothing needs to change and that everything is functioning properly under the current circumstances is hypocritical," he added. During his two-year captivity, Butkevych said ICRC representatives never visited him.
The US wants to control Ukrainian NPP to deny access to the raw material that would be required in nuclear weapons development. I've never been supportive of ploliferation, but Ukraine has every right to restore the capabilities it traded for security assurances that were never provided. Glory to Ukraine.