Ukraine Breaking News Today Live on 03-21-2025

US negotiators will meet separately with Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Saudi Arabia on Monday

Ukraine hopes to secure at least a partial ceasefire at upcoming talks in Saudi Arabia, during which US officials will meet separately with Russian and Ukrainian delegations, a senior Ukrainian source told AFP on Friday.

Momentum has been building in recent weeks towards a ceasefire in the three-year war as US officials hold talks with both sides, though their efforts have so far failed to yield a breakthrough.

The money is earmarked for defense equipment for the country fighting Russian forces, including munitions, drones, armored vehicles, and air defense systems.

Germany on Friday approved €3 billion ($3.25 billion) in new military aid for Ukraine, just days before planned US-brokered talks with Moscow and Kyiv on a limited truce.

The money is earmarked for defense equipment for the country fighting Russian forces, including munitions, drones, armored vehicles, and air defense systems.

Hennadii Butkevych, the founder of Ukraine’s largest supermarket chain ATB, adds Aeroc, a former Russian-owned company to his portfolio.

The Anti-Monopoly Committee of Ukraine (AMCU) allowed a company owned by Ukrainian entrepreneur Hennadii Butkevych to acquire a stake in the concrete and building materials factory Aeroc. 

The permission was granted to Trident Geoinvest Ukraine LLC, owned by Hennadii Butkevych, the co-owner of one of Ukraine’s largest grocery stores – ATB and founder of the investment company – BGV Group Management.

Macron and Starmer have reportedly been exploring alternatives to deploying European “boots on the ground” in Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed the idea that a UN peacekeeping mission could serve as a viable deterrent against future Russian aggression.

“With all due respect, the UN will not protect us from occupation or [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s desire to come again,” Zelensky said during a press conference with Czech President Petr Pavel in Kyiv.

As Odesa bore the brunt of a massive Shahed drone attack, the Czech President met with Ukrainian officials there. Later he condemned the assault and urged stronger pressure on Moscow for peace talks.

[Updated at 18:07]: Conducting large-scale attacks, including strikes on civilian targets, while negotiations on a ceasefire and a possible peace agreement are beginning does not indicate that Russia is serious about the talks, Czech President Petr Pavel said at a press conference in Kyiv.

Pavel stated that he had only received preliminary data so far, according to which this was the largest attack on Odesa, and that “somewhat different air strike tactics” had been used.

With Trump pulling back from Ukraine, Europe’s leaders must now step up. Does Europe have the ability to stand in? Expert Andreas Umland weighs in on what’s next for European security.

Last week’s increase in UAH bond interest rates boosted demand for primary placements. Bond Market Insight for March 19

Last week’s increase in UAH bond interest rates boosted demand for primary placements, allowing Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance to double proceeds from UAH military bills.

The greatest demand was for 15-month bills in 55 bids, which amounted to over UAH9.5bn. Most bids had yields not higher than 16.35%, which was last week’s cut-off rate. Therefore, Ukraine’s Ministry of Finance rejected six bids and partially satisfied some bids. The cut-off rate remained unchanged, while the weighted-average rate rose by 4bp to 16.35%.

Germany confiscated a Russian-linked tanker carrying 100,000 tons of oil worth €40M, as part of EU sanctions targeting Moscow’s shadow fleet.

Germany has seized a tanker believed to be part of Russia’s shadow fleet, used to bypass oil sanctions, after it was found drifting off the country’s northern coast in January.

According to Spiegel, citing security sources, German maritime authorities took custody of the Panamanian-flagged Eventin near the Baltic island of Rügen.

According to the eyewitnesses, firefighters are struggling to contain the blaze, and the oil depot has been completely destroyed by the fire.

A massive fire has engulfed the Naftatrans oil depot in the village of Kavkazskaya in Russia’s Krasnodar Krai following a drone attack, eyewitnesses told Russian independent ASTRA Telegram channel.

The fire broke out after a Ukrainian drone attack on Wednesday, March 19, according to the regional operational headquarters. Initial reports indicated that the fire covered about 20 square meters, damaging a pipeline between storage tanks.

As the Mine Action Trust Kosovo celebrates its 25th anniversary now seems a good time to acknowledge the support it is providing to Ukraine’s fight against explosive remnants of war contamination.

In June 1999 Ben Remfrey’s Praedium Consulting Malta (PCM) and its wholly owned subsidiary Mines Awareness Trust (MAT) Kosovo began its work focusing on mine risk education and Technical Survey support in Kosovo following the 1998-99 conflict with Serbia.

The organization has evolved from those relatively humble beginnings such that today they are recognized as the world’s leading explosive ordnance and improvised explosive device disposal (EOD & IEDD) trainers providing instruction that is fully compliant with International Mne Action Standards (IMAS) – providing individuals and organizations with the expertise needed to safely clear explosive remnants of war and help rebuild communities.

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.

Heathrow airport has shut down after a fire at a nearby electrical substation caused a mass power outage overnight. At least 1,351 flights going to and from the airport will be impacted by the closure, with major disruption set to trigger chaos at airports around the world. Inbound planes have been diverted to other airports, including Shannon in Ireland and Charles de Gaulle in Paris, with aviation experts saying the impact of disruption is “similar to 9/11”. A Heathrow airport spokesman said the site will be closed all day and will not reopen until midnight tonight. Some 100,000 homes in west London were without power overnight as 70 firefighters and 10 fire engines battled the blaze on Nestles Avenue in Hayes. London Fire Brigade said the fire is now under control and London Ambulance Service confirmed that there were no casualties. The cause of the blaze is yet to be determined but Ed Miliband, the Energy Secretary, said there was no suggestion of “foul play” - Telegraph

A British government official has said there is no suggestion at present that the fire was caused by sabotage. Asked by the Financial Times whether there was any evidence of foul play behind the incident on Friday, the official said: “There isn’t, no.” Shares of airlines fell in early trading on Friday following Heathrow’s closure. International Airlines Group, the parent of British Airways, was down more than 3 per cent, the FT reported. Lufthansa dropped 2.4 per cent, easyJet slipped 2 per cent and Air France-KLM fell 3 per cent.

What is now apparent is that Trump’s notion of quick fixes — involving immutable conflicts — does not work and is naive, along with his negotiating techniques and tactics.

Two truce talks involving Donald Trump have failed in recent days. Vladimir Putin snubbed Trump’s push for a full 30-day ceasefire even after Ukraine agreed.

Instead, Putin offered to refrain from striking Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days, then broke the truce hours later.

Sikorski suggested that if Russia is so “concerned” about foreign military aid, it should start by refusing weapons from North Korea and Iran.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski responded with irony to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s demand that Ukraine stop mobilization and halt Western arms supplies in exchange for a ceasefire.

Putin made the comments in a highly anticipated phone call with President Donald Trump, telling the US leader that the conflict in Ukraine could only be resolved if the West halts military and intelligence support for Ukraine.

The teenager is under house arrest and faces up to 10 years in prison with property confiscation for collaborating with Russian intelligence.

A 14-year-old girl in the western Ukrainian city of Ternopil was recruited by Russian special services and blackmailed with explicit photos into preparing a terrorist attack, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported.

According to the SBU, the girl was detained before carrying out the attack.

Prices have been rising quickly across the Russian economy for months, pushed up by massive government spending on the Ukraine conflict and deep labour shortages.

Russia’s central bank kept its key rate at 21 percent on Friday, locking in two-decade-high borrowing costs as it battles rampant inflation.

Prices have been rising quickly across the Russian economy for months, pushed up by massive government spending on the Ukraine conflict and deep labour shortages.

Ukraine’s largest agro-industrial company is expanding its presence in the EU market, signing a share purchase agreement with Spanish UVESA.

The Ukrainian agro-industrial company MHP is buying 41% of the shares of poultry and meat producer UVESA, one of the leaders in the Spanish market, MHP reported in a press release.

On March 20, MHP signed a share purchase agreement with UVESA. Under the terms of the agreement, the price per share is fixed at €225 ($243.61).

The commander of the operation, identified by the callsign “Morpekh,” told TASS on Friday that his troops were disguised as Ukrainian soldiers during the early March operation.

The commander of what he described as a “combined assault detachment” gave an account of the early March operation in Russia’s Kursk region that seemed intended to put a positive spin on what was generally considered a failure.

Described as a veteran airborne battalion commander, referred to only by his callsign Morpekh, he said the operation was called Operation Potok or Operation Stream-3.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday that Moscow was continuing to hit energy facilities anyway and that nothing had changed, “despite Putin’s words”.

The Kremlin said on Friday that President Vladimir Putin’s order not to strike energy targets in Ukraine was still in force, despite Kyiv accusing Moscow of breaking it several times.

A Russian energy facility near the border with Ukraine that used to pump gas to Europe was set ablaze overnight in an attack both Moscow and Kyiv blamed on each other.

Europe’s media examine the fundamental requirements for a new security model and the problems it poses.

Trump is negotiating with Putin on the war in Ukraine and Nato is in an existential crisis as a result of current US policy. Against this backdrop, EU leaders are meeting today in Brussels to discuss European rearmament plans, joint defence and continued support for Kyiv. Europe’s media examine the fundamental requirements for a new security model and the problems it poses.

Keep up cooperation with the US

EU leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine and urged faster arms deliveries, while the EU Commission was tasked with boosting financial aid.

In the conclusions of the European Council published on its official website, the heads of state and government of most EU countries – with the exception of one, Hungary – confirmed their readiness to continue providing economic and military support to Ukraine.

They also called on national governments to accelerate the delivery of ammunition and other military equipment, according to Ukrinform.

The reasons for the fire that has closed down the UK’s main airport have not yet been given

Britain’s Heathrow airport, Europe’s busiest, shut down early Friday after a major fire at an electricity substation cut power to the sprawling hub, disrupting hundreds of flights and thousands of travelers.

Airport authorities said they “expect significant disruption” over the coming days, while online flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said at least 1,351 flights to and from the airport would be affected.

During the latest phone call, Trump reportedly told Zelensky that “American ownership” of Ukraine’s nuclear power plants would be the “best protection” for them.

US President Donald Trump is considering revising the terms of a rare earth deal with Ukraine to gain access to the country’s key energy facilities  reports say.

The updated agreement, as penned by the White House, may include a provision granting Washington control over Ukrainian nuclear power plants, the Financial Times reported Thursday, citing Ukrainian officials.

At the European Council summit in Brussels, France and Italy wanted more technical and financial details before making any firm commitments to a prematurely floated figure.

At a European Council summit in Brussels on Thursday, March 20, EU leaders failed to reach an agreement on allocating €5 billion for the purchase of 2 million artillery shells for Ukraine this year. According to Bloomberg, several countries – including France and Italy – refused to commit to specific financial contributions.

France and Italy believe the initiative is still insufficiently developed and are requesting more technical and financial details.

Poland plans to restart domestic production of anti-personnel mines with a view to producing up to a million of the weapons to fortify its borders with Russia and Belarus.

Poland plans to restart domestic production of anti-personnel mines with a view to producing up to a million of the weapons to fortify its borders with Russia and Belarus, a deputy defense minister has said.

Paweł Bejda’s statement comes after Poland and the Baltic states announced plans to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention, which bans anti-personnel mines. 

Officials have not confirmed the cause, but pro-war Russian Telegram channels accuse Ukraine of an attack on the territory recently recaptured by Russia.

[UPDATES] As of 13:00 Kyiv time, Russia’s Defense Ministry accused Ukraine of deliberately blowing up the Sudzha gas measuring station in the Kursk region.

According to the ministry, Ukrainian forces destroyed the station around 12:20 a.m. Moscow time on March 21 while retreating from the area.

Ukraine’s labor shortage remains high due to mobilization and migration, although one in seven Ukrainians was unemployed in 2024.

One in seven Ukrainians was unemployed in 2024 according to a report by the Ukrainian Centre for Economic Strategy (CES).

Unemployment in Ukraine shrank by just over three percentage points in 2024 to 14.3%, down from 17.4% in 2023. In 2022 by comparison, unemployment was 4.2 percentage points higher, at 18.5%.

Latest from the Institute for the Study of War.

Key Takeaways from the ISW:

• Ukrainian forces conducted a drone strike against Engels Airbase in Saratov Oblast on the night of March 19 to 20.
• Russia, Ukraine, and the United States have not yet concluded the details of the moratorium against energy infrastructure strikes. The Ukrainian strike against Engels Airbase would not have been subject to this moratorium in any event because it is a military target.
• The Kremlin announced that Russia and the United States will hold another round of talks in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia on March 24, and it is unclear whether these talks will include Ukraine.
• Kremlin officials continue to amplify narratives indicating that Russian President Vladimir Putin remains committed to his long-standing goals of conquering Ukraine and is attempting to leverage upcoming ceasefire negotiations to secure preemptive concessions from Ukraine and the United States.
• Kremlin officials are also working to exacerbate tension between the United States and its European allies in order to break Western support for Ukraine and undermine the NATO alliance.
• Putin continues to condition domestic Russian audiences to prepare for a protracted war in Ukraine rather than a sustainable peace built on compromise.
• The Kremlin is intensifying efforts to change the demographic makeup of occupied Ukraine in order to legitimize Putin’s claim over occupied areas.
• The Kremlin also continues Russifying Ukrainian children in occupied areas to further the destruction of Ukrainian national and cultural identity and to portray Russia as the humane governor of occupied Ukraine.
• Kremlin officials continue advertising the possibility of future economic cooperation with the United States, likely to extract preemptive concessions from the United States in ceasefire or peace negotiations.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump spoke about investments in Ukraine’s energy infrastructure during their call on March 19.
• US State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce condemned North Korea’s involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine on March 19 and expressed concern about Russian support to North Korea.
• Ukraine’s allies continue to provide financial and material military assistance to Ukraine, including funds from frozen Russian assets in Europe.
• Ukrainian forces recently advanced in Belgorod Oblast and Russian forces recently advanced in Kursk Oblast and near Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka
• Russia may extend military veteran status to Russian milbloggers and military correspondents covering the war in Ukraine, likely in an effort to further coopt and appease the Russian ultranationalist milblogger community.

Trump says he “appreciates” Zelensky’s readiness to make a deal on Ukraine’s natural resources, and says it’s coming soon, but it is unclear if the terms of the deal have changed.

US President Donald Trump declared Thursday that the United States would sign a deal with Ukraine “very shortly” to gain access to its rare earths and other minerals.

Last month, Zelensky turned down Trump’s initial proposal to grant American mining companies access to develop its mineral resources, because it did not include security guarantees should Russia violate the terms of a peace treaty, and called for Ukraine to hand over $500 billion in mineral wealth. That part of the language was dropped in a subsequent version.

French president announces meeting with Zelensky and European allies to follow up on the Kyiv-Moscow-Washington summit in Saudi Arabia next week.

French President Emmanuel Macron said leaders of the coalition backing Ukraine would meet again next week, hoping to finalize plans to secure a potential truce in the war with Russia.