UPDATE: Russia and Ukraine launch air attacks after Putin-Trump call
Putin is pure evil.
BBC NEWS
Russia’s President Vladimir Putin has rejected an immediate and full ceasefire in Ukraine, agreeing only to halt attacks on energy infrastructure, during a phone call negotiation with US President Donald Trump. The Russian leader declined to sign up to the comprehensive month-long ceasefire that Trump’s team recently agreed with Ukrainian negotiations during talks in Saudi Arabia. Putin again set conditions which have already been rejected by Ukraine and its European allies. He said a comprehensive ceasefire can only take place if there is Ukraine’s allies stop all military aid and intelligence sharing. The Russian President also said that Ukraine must end all military mobilisation. The US and Russian leaders did agree that further peace talks would take place in the Middle East. Trump posted on social media that the phone call with the Russian leader was “very good and productive…. we agreed to an immediate Ceasefire on all Energy and Infrastructure, with an understanding that we will be working quickly to have a Complete Ceasefire and, ultimately, an END to this very horrible War between Russia and Ukraine.” However the outcome of the phone call amounts to a disappointing lack of progress for the Trump administration on its plan to end the war. Clive Myrie presents BBC News at Ten reporting by Sarah Smith in Washington and James Landale in Kyiv. Subscribe here: http://bit.ly/1rbfUog For more news, analysis and features visit: www.bbc.com/news
Trump-Putin call: Russia agrees to 30-day pause of energy infrastructure strikes. “Vladimir Putin responded positively to this initiative and immediately gave the appropriate command to the Russian military,” the Kremlin said.
Kremlin demands halt to foreign military aid, intelligence to Ukraine as condition for avoiding war escalation. The Kremlin has demanded a complete cessation of foreign military aid and intelligence to Ukraine as a “key condition for avoiding an escalation of the war,” according to a statement released on March 18.
Kyiv supports energy sector ceasefire, expects military aid to continue, Zelensky says. “We will support such a proposal, but we’re very interested in the details,” Zelensky said after the Trump-Putin call.
US announces another round of negotiations in Middle East on war in Ukraine. “This conflict should never have started and should have been ended long ago with sincere and good faith peace efforts,” the White House’s statement read.
‘I don’t want us to be on Putin’s menu’ — Zelensky says negotiations must include Ukraine. “We are an independent state. Without us, I think it’s wrong to negotiate,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 18.
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Putin didn’t mention military aid in phone call, Trump says. Trump also said it was “a great call” and that the U.S. hopes to expand trade with Russia, including deals on “very big forms of rare earth.”
Ukraine withdraws from one front-line sector in Donetsk Oblast, commander says. “This allowed us not only to save our soldiers, but also to improve our defense. (Russia) is suffering losses, and we can act more effectively,” Lieutenant General Serhii Naiev said.
Ukrainian forces attempted to enter Belgorod Oblast, repelled by Russian forces, Russia claims. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 18 that the Ukrainian Armed Forces attempted to enter Russia’s Belgorod Oblast but were repelled by the Russian military.
Zelensky arrives in Finland for official visit to discuss security and strengthen ties. President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska arrived in Finland for an official visit on March 18. The plane carrying the couple landed at Helsinki-Vantaa Airport in the afternoon.
Russian energy giant Gazprom suffers $13.1 billion loss in 2024. Gazprom’s losses averaged $251 million per week, $35 million per day, or $1.4 million per hour. While the company’s total revenue increased by 11% and its gas revenue by 14%, it still ended the year with a sales loss of 192 billion rubles ($2.3 billion).
