Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 03-14-2025

Russia’s Ministry of Industry and Trade sent forms to companies, asking which sanctions cause them the most trouble.

The Kremlin reportedly gathered proposals from businesses about which sanctions should be lifted in preparation for ceasefire talks with Washington.

US President Donald Trump pledged to lift some sanctions if Russia agrees to a ceasefire, warning of harsher measures if negotiations fail.

Dismissed by JD Vance as a “propaganda tour,” Kyiv Post visited Bucha and Irpin, two sites that fell under Russian occupation

Ukraine has already figured that out

The US has switched sides.

Ukraine has already figured that out.

The US president made his claims following a meeting between Putin and US envoy Steve Witkoff

US President Donald Trump claimed that following discussions between US envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian leader Vladimir Putin, an end to the war is within reach.

Posting on Truth Social, Trump wrote: “We had very good and productive discussions with President Vladimir Putin of Russia yesterday, and there is a very good chance that this horrible, bloody war can finally come to an end.”

Demyan Hanul, a well-known activist from Odesa who championed Ukraine’s cause and led numerous military fundraising efforts, was shot dead.

[Updated]: Interior Minister Klymenko announced on Telegram that the suspect in the activist’s killing had been detained.

“A weapon was found in the apartment where he was hiding, likely used in the crime,” he wrote.

The deal marks a significant shift from decades of fiscal restraint in Berlin, aiming to boost defense spending amid growing security concerns in Europe and jumpstart Germany’s economy.

Germany’s conservative Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz has reached a breakthrough with the Greens on a sweeping spending plan that could unleash hundreds of billions of euros for defense and infrastructure.

According to Politico sources, the details of the deal remain somewhat unclear, but a broad agreement on the package has been reached.

The 31-year-old Hanul was a well-known and controversial figure in the port city.

On March 14, at around 10:30 in the morning, in one of most popular boulevards in the city center of Odesa, passerby attended the public killing of the Ukrainian activist Demyan Hanul.

The cameras captured the scene of a murder, where a killer fired the final blow to the head of Hanul, who was already lying on the ground.

Among other things, the exhibition will feature video footage and audio from performing-arts projects in Ukraine.

Two independent artists living in Ukraine, Benjamin Stewart (US) and Madeleine Bongard (Switzerland/France), in collaboration with Ukrainian NGO Repair Together, are hosting a multi-space exhibition at an arts venue in Kyiv on Sunday, March 16 (Ivana Franka 12) which is meant to reflect on Ukraine’s resilient spirit and highlight the performing arts as a vital tool for civilian recovery during wartime

The exhibition will feature video footage and audio from their performing-arts projects in Ukraine during the summer of 2024.

NATO Chief Mark Rutte also praised US President Donald Trump for his initiatives to push for European defenses but finessed his way out of a question on Kyiv’s security guarantee demands.

NATO Chief Mark Rutte said he believes relations between Europe and Russia would be normalized eventually after the war in Ukraine before cautioning that now is the time to pressure Russia into negotiations.

During an interview with Bloomberg published on Friday, Rutte was asked if he thinks Europe is ready to conduct business with Russia at some point, to which Rutte said now’s not the time.

Vladimir Putin: Psychiatrist Ken Dekleva, after five years in Moscow studying him, reveals new insights on his leadership, potential moves, and White House strategies – with Trump’s role in the mix.

President Trump’s latest ‘art of the deal’ with Russia is a high-risk, high-reward proposition.

President Trump’s desire for a stable, long-term peace agreement in Ukraine is bold and  righteous, for he desires, as do America’s allies in Europe and Ukraine, the ceasing of hostilities and an end to three years of bloodshed in a war of genocidal proportions, which has caused hundreds of thousands of casualties on both sides, in addition to migration flows where several million Ukrainian citizens have fled their homeland.  But negotiating with Russians – particularly with Russia’s President Putin – raises numerous negotiating challenges for even the most experienced of negotiators, such as President Trump and his national security team.

By now, after 25 years in power, and given his prior service as a KGB officer, politician, and now, world leader (and indicted war criminal), Putin’s personal characteristics, formidable political skills, strategic thinking, tactical maneuvering, and negotiating style are well-known to all.  Putin possesses leadership personality characteristics known as the ‘three Rs’ – rationality, ruthlessness, and resilience; one could also add revanchism, in which he sees himself as a world leader intent on restoring Russia’s sense of greatness and importance on the world stage as a nuclear power and member of the UN’s Permanent Five.

A new poll reveals a significant shift in Russian public opinion, with 51% expressing support for Donald Trump, believing he could restore ties with Russia, while 79% disapprove of Joe Biden.

Against the backdrop of US-Russia negotiations, attitudes toward the United States have significantly improved in Russia.

According to a survey by the independent Russian polling organization Levada Center, for the first time, perceptions of the US and the EU have notably diverged, with the US now viewed more favorably.

The talks on Tuesday come as the Europeans scramble to come up with a united position after a US policy shift on the three-year conflict under President Donald Trump.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz will next week host French President Emmanuel Macron for talks on Ukraine ahead of an EU summit, the German government said Friday.

The talks on Tuesday come as the Europeans scramble to come up with a united position after a US policy shift on the three-year conflict under President Donald Trump.

The world in focus, as seen by Canadian leading global affairs analyst Michael Bociurkiw in a quick review of the biggest news in international media today.

China is rapidly expanding ocean exploration in waters far beyond its shores, sending out a fleet of vessels whose research offers Beijing valuable military intelligence as it expands its naval reach and menaces U.S. allies. China’s fleet has triggered protests from Japan, India and others, but that hasn’t stopped Beijing from launching long missions to map the sea floor. The data they obtain has numerous applications, from science to the emerging industry of deep-sea mining, but it is the Chinese government’s commandeering of civilian research for military use that threatens American allies - WSJ

Russia says there is “cautious optimism” over a ceasefire deal with Ukraine, but there is “a lot ahead to be done.” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov reiterates that Vladimir Putin still needs answers, after the Russian president raised several questions about how a US-brokered truce would work. US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Putin on Thursday, the Kremlin confirms - and is now on his way back to the US with information to pass to President Donald Trump. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin’s response was “manipulative” and called for more sanctions on Russia to force a deal. Both Russia and Ukraine reported new enemy drone attacks late on Thursday and overnight - with several injured in Kharkiv and an oil facility hit in Russia’s south - BBC

Latest from the British Defence Intelligence.

• At least 160 public hospitals were reportedly closed in Russia in 2024, including 18 maternity facilities and at least 10 children’s clinics. Russian civilians in small towns and villages have frequently been left with reduced or unavailable medical care as a result of the closures, including now limited pre-hospital services.
• Russia’s prioritisation of funding the war in Ukraine has highly likely resulted in insufficient funding for healthcare. This has led to shortages of medical staff, expertise and equipment in the Russian medical system.
• It is almost certain the scale of Russian casualties lover
• 500,000 Russian service personnel wounded so far)
• continues to strain the Russian Military Medical System at all levels of medical care, causing significant logistic problems and resulting in a shortage of military medical personnel. This negatively impacts care delivery and has likely led to the diversion of medical resource from the domestic civilian population to the military, further contributing to the large-scale impact to civilian hospitals.
• The numbers of healthcare professionals in Russian hospitals serving the domestic civilian population will likely continue to decrease throughout 2025.

Budapest -- the friendliest country to Russia in the EU -- agreed to renew the sanctions for a further six months after four people were removed from the list, officials said.

EU member states agreed Friday to prolong sanctions on more than 2,400 individuals and entities over Russia’s war on Ukraine after a delay from Hungary.

Budapest -- the friendliest country to Russia in the EU -- agreed to renew the sanctions for a further six months after four people were removed from the list, officials said.

Tehran’s announcement to bolster military ties with Minsk coincided with a remark by the Belarusian leader that drone production would soon be set up in Belarus.

Defense officials from Iran and Belarus met on Thursday, March 13, to discuss deepening military cooperation – potentially on drone production.

The meeting took place at an unspecified location the same day Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko said the country would set up drone production during a joint press conference in Moscow alongside Russian leader Vladimir Putin – albeit with no specified timeframes.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Gazprom is likely the Russian company hit hardest by international sanctions.

The collapse of Gazprom’s exports to Europe – down over 90% -- is forcing the Russian gas giant to slash jobs and sell off assets.

Since Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine three years ago, Gazprom is likely the Russian company hit hardest by international sanctions.

A preliminary comment on Putin’s evasive response to the idea of a ceasefire.

Putin has said yes to Trump’s plan for an immediate ceasefire but then attached lots of conditions.

As I’ve noted earlier - Putin sees this idea of a ceasefire as an opportunity to negotiate further concessions.

Witkoff has reportedly provided additional information to the Russian side, while Putin sent back messages and “additional signals” for Trump.

The Kremlin spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, confirmed on Friday that Vladimir Putin and Donald Trump are expected to talk about a US-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine. However, US envoy Steve Witkoff must first share Putin’s response with Trump.

Witkoff met with Putin on Thursday night to explain the details of the US plan.

The new shipment comes as reports suggest that Ukraine has run out of ATACMS missiles, which have a similar range.

The United States is preparing to restart deliveries of GLSDB (Ground Launched Small Diameter Bomb) guided aerial bombs to Ukraine, after they were upgraded to “better counter Russian jamming.”

The new shipment comes as AP reported that Ukraine has run out of ATACMS missiles, which have a similar range.

SBU drones struck two natural gas compressor stations and an S-300/S-400 missile storage site in Russia, causing powerful explosions and financial losses, Kyiv Post sources report.

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) drones struck two natural gas compressor stations and a missile storage site for S-300/S-400 systems on Russian territory, Kyiv Post sources in the security service reported.

Long-range SBU drones targeted the Davydovskaya natural gas compressor station in the Tambov region and the Novopetrovskaya station in the Saratov region. Videos released online show direct hits on industrial equipment followed by powerful explosions. The exact date of the attack was not specified, with the source stating it happened “in recent days.” Kyiv Post was not able to independently verify the date and time or geo-location of the video.

A high-level US delegation arrived in Moscow to negotiate a deal on Thursday.  Europe’s press takes stock of the situation.

As Russia’s war in Ukraine enters its fourth year, all eyes are on how it will react to the joint peace proposal presented by Washington and Kyiv. A high-level US delegation arrived in Moscow to negotiate a deal on Thursday.  Meanwhile, on Wednesday, Putin visited the front in Kursk, where Russian troops are reclaiming territory occupied by Ukraine. Europe’s press takes stock of the situation.

Ball is in Trump’s court

Russia launched a now-Kremlin-standard double-tap drone strike on a hospital in Zolochiv, Kharkiv region, first igniting a 1,500 sq. meter fire, then targeting rescuers and firefighters.

In the early hours of Friday, March 14, Russian forces attacked a hospital in the village of Zolochiv, Kharkiv region, using drones, causing a fire on the roof. As a result of the strike, a paramedic was injured, according to Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv Regional Military Administration.

“The drone strike ignited the roof. Forty minutes later, Russia launched a second attack with two more drones,” Syniehubov said.

Vojislav Torden, a commander of the Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, is accused of committing five war crimes in Ukraine in 2014, resulting in the deaths of 22 Ukrainian soldiers.

A Finnish court is due to rule Friday on a Russian citizen accused of war crimes in Ukraine in 2014, including disfiguring a wounded Ukrainian soldier.

Vojislav Torden, a commander of the Russian neo-Nazi paramilitary group Rusich, was arrested by Finnish police at the Helsinki airport in July 2023.

The oft-struck Tuapse oil refinery in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai is engulfed in a massive fire after reported explosions, with speculation of a drone or missile attack.

Following last night’s explosions in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai, a massive fire broke out and spread across more than a thousand square meters at the Tuapse oil complex, a strategically important refinery for southwestern Russia, according to regional governor Veniamin Kondratyev.

He stated that one of the gasoline storage tanks caught fire, and more than a hundred emergency service workers are battling the blaze. According to preliminary reports, there were no casualties.

Finland and Ukraine have signed a bilateral defense cooperation agreement worth €200 million, the Finnish Ministry of Defence said on Thursday.

The two countries have agreed to deepen their defense cooperation, including in armaments, exchange of intelligence and production of ammunition, the ministry said in a statement. 

As part of the deal, Finland will provide a military aid package to Ukraine worth around €200 million, including artillery ammunition to help in the war with Russia.  

The call took place shortly after Putin on Thursday said he had “serious questions” about Washington’s plan for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine but added that Moscow was ready to discuss it with Trump.

Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the kingdom supports “all initiatives” to end the Ukraine war, a statement said on Friday, after US-Ukraine talks in Jeddah proposed a 30-day ceasefire.

Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reaffirmed Saudi Arabia’s “commitment to facilitating dialogue and supporting all initiatives aimed at achieving a political resolution” in a phone call with Putin, a foreign ministry statement said.

Russian air defense forces intercepted four drones flying toward the capital. Wreckage from downed UAVs fell in multiple locations, sparking fires and damaging property.

Ukrainian drones targeted Moscow and the surrounding region early Friday morning, March 14, damaging several residential buildings. No injuries have been confirmed.

According to Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin, Russian air defense forces intercepted four drones flying toward the capital. Wreckage from downed drones fell in multiple locations, sparking fires and damaging property.

Ukrainian banks provided $336 million of loans to help Ukrainians build an extra 549 MW to avoid blackouts, but the demand is six times higher.

To cushion against deficits caused by Russian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure, Ukrainian companies and citizens borrowed $336 million to create an extra 549 megawatts (MW) of power generation in the past nine months.

For context, 1 MW can power approximately 670 homes in the US simultaneously, though the results can differ depending on the usage.

The ceasefire proposal, originally suggested by the US, was supported by Ukraine. Putin, however, said that while he agreed to the idea in principle, there were “nuances.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin’s response to a proposed 30-day ceasefire, calling it “very predictable” and “very manipulative.”

Speaking in his evening address on Thursday, March 13, Zelensky accused Putin of trying to delay real peace efforts while avoiding direct rejection.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected the ceasefire proposal that the United States and Ukraine recently agreed upon in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia and offered an alternative proposal that undermines US President Donald Trump’s stated goal of securing a lasting peace in Ukraine.
• Putin is offering an alternative ceasefire agreement that is contrary to the intentions and goals of the US-Ukrainian ceasefire proposal.
• Putin’s envisioned ceasefire agreement would grant Russia greatly disproportionate advantages and set conditions for the Kremlin to renew hostilities on terms extremely favorable to Russia.
• Putin is holding the ceasefire proposal hostage and is attempting to extract preemptive concessions ahead of formal negotiations to end the war.
• Russian forces continue to clear Ukrainian forces from Sudzha and its environs as Russian troops advance closer to the border in Kursk Oblast slowed on March 13 compared to recent days.
• Russian milbloggers theorized on March 13 that Russian forces may launch an organized offensive operation into northern Sumy Oblast in the coming weeks and months and may also attack into Chernihiv Oblast — in line with Russian President Vladimir Putin’s March 12 statements.
• Kremlin officials continue to use narratives similar to those that the Kremlin has used to justify its invasions of Ukraine to set informational conditions to justify future aggression against NATO member states.
• Russian forces continue to execute Ukrainian prisoners of war (POW) in violation of international law.
• Russia will likely expand its permanent military basing in Belarus to enhance Russia’s force posture against NATO’s eastern flank.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Pokrovsk, and Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy Oblast and near Lyman, Siversk, and Toretsk.
• Russia continues its crypto-mobilization efforts against the backdrop of US efforts to start the negotiation process to end the war.

As his envoy, Steve Witkoff, arrives in Moscow, Trump says he’d “love to meet with Putin” in person if possible. “We have to get a ceasefire deal over with fast,” he said.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made “a very promising statement” on a possible Ukraine ceasefire, but added that “it wasn’t complete.”

Trump’s comments came after Putin said he backed the idea of a 30-day ceasefire but had serious questions about it that he wanted to discuss with his US counterpart.

The diplomatic Rutte praised the president for pushing European allies to up defense spending, but was not going to agree with him about Greenland issue.

NATO chief Mark Rutte spoke flatteringly of Donald Trump’s effort to end the war in Ukraine, and about the US President in general when the two met in Washington on Thursday.

“[On] Ukraine, you broke the deadlock, as you said; all the killing, the young people dying, cities getting destroyed,” Rutte said in his prepared remarks. “The fact that you did that, that you started the dialogue with the Russians and the successful talks in Saudi Arabia, now with the Ukrainians, I really want to commend you for this.”

The spokeswoman had also hit out at Mattarella a month ago after he drew comparisons between Russia and the Third Reich.

Italy’s Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday that he had summoned Russia’s ambassador after the “umpteenth verbal attack” by Moscow’s diplomatic corps against Italian President Sergio Mattarella.

“Strong condemnation of the umpteenth verbal attack against the President of the Republic, Sergio Mattarella. A man of peace and a symbol of national and European unity,” Tajani wrote on X. 

Rubio has called for the G7 to avoid “antagonistic” language toward Russia, saying it would hinder US diplomacy that could end the war that has killed tens of thousands of people.

Canada called Thursday on the Group of Seven powers to back Ukraine against Russia’s “aggression” as US President Donald Trump’s more conciliatory approach toward Moscow split the club of wealthy democracies.

Canada, the current G7 president, is gathering foreign ministers for three days of talks inside a rustic hotel in snow-dusted Charlevoix, on the banks of the St. Lawrence River in Quebec.