US President Donald Trump said he could impose a “devastating” financial blow on Vladimir Putin if the Russian president refused to accept the 30-day ceasefire agreement.
Officials from Ukraine and the US yesterday agreed on the ceasefire, alongside a restoration of US military aid and intelligence sharing to Ukraine, during talks in Saudi Arabia.
“I think it makes sense for Russia,” Trump said. “We’ve also discussed land.”
He suggested the US could impose “devastating” financial penalties on Moscow if they did not accept the proposed ceasefire deal.
“There are things you can do that wouldn’t be pleasant in a financial sense. I can do things financially,” he said in the Oval Office.
Kyiv supports the Trump administration’s push for peace as soon as possible, Volodymr Zelensky said, and sees the resumption of US military aid and intelligence sharing as very positive.
It comes after US secretary of state Marco Rubio - who was part of the delegation in Saudi Arabia - told reporters in Ireland that US and Russia will discuss the agreement today.
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Key Points
- Trump says 'I can do things financially, that would be very bad for Russia'
- Putin visits western Kursk as Ukraine withdraws
- Trump says US has 'people going to Russia right now'
- Rubio: Deterrence against Russia is vital for peace
Cautious Russia weighs Ukraine ceasefire plan as US tries to seal a deal
03:06
,
Namita Singh
The Kremlin said on Wednesday it would review details from Washington about a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine before responding, while US secretary of state Marco Rubio hoped a deal would be struck within days.
As Moscow considered the plan, president Vladimir Putin, dressed in military fatigues, made a surprise visit to Russia's Kursk region for the first time since Ukrainian troops captured part of it last year.
With Mr Putin's presence highlighting recent Russian advances in Kursk, Valery Gerasimov, head of Russia's General Staff, told the Kremlin leader his troops had repelled Ukrainian forces from 86 per cent of the ground they once held in Kursk.
Ukraine had hoped to use that territory as a bargaining chip in any peace talks with Moscow.
The US on Tuesday agreed to resume weapons supplies and intelligence sharing with Ukraine after Kyiv said at talks in Saudi Arabia that it was ready to support a ceasefire proposal.
The Kremlin on Wednesday said it was carefully studying the results of that meeting and awaited details from the US.
Watch: Zelensky warns of Musk’s Twitter power in plea to US
02:39
,
Alex Croft
Ukraine’s acceptance of a 30-day ceasefire will be seized with glee by Vladimir Putin
01:00
,
Barney Davis
Trump says 'I can do things financially, that would be very bad for Russia'
00:07
,
Barney Davis
"Hopefully, we can get a ceasefire from Russia," Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
"I've gotten some positive messages, but a positive message means nothing. This is a very serious situation."
The Kremlin said on March 12 it was awaiting details from Washington about a proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine, while senior Moscow sources said a deal would have to take account of Russia's advances and address its concerns.
Mr Trump said a ceasefire would make sense for Russia but said there was "a lot of downside for Russia too", without elaborating.
"We have a very complex situation solved on one side, pretty much solved. We've also discussed land and other things that go with it," he said.
"We know the areas of land we're talking about, whether it's pull back or not pull back."
Asked if he would do anything to pressure Russia, Mr Trump said: "I can do things financially, that would be very bad for Russia. I don't want to do that because I want to get peace."
Putin will aim to exploit a truce senior European officials tell The Independent
00:01
,
Barney Davis
One senior official from Lithuania – one of the Baltic nations which fears Mr Putin’s invasion could be extended to their border – said: “What for us, Ukraine or the US, is 30 days could be just 30 minutes for Russia.”
US arms begin to flow to Kyiv again
Wednesday 12 March 2025 23:00
,
Barney Davis
Arms deliveries to Ukraine have already resumed through a Polish logistics centre, the foreign ministers of Ukraine and Poland announced on Wednesday.
The deliveries go through a Nato and US hub in the eastern Polish city of Rzeszow that has been used to ferry Western weapons into neighbouring Ukraine about 70 kilometres (45 miles) away.
The American military help is vital for Ukraine's shorthanded and weary army, which is having a tough time keeping Russia's bigger military force at bay.
For Russia, the American aid spells potentially more difficulty in achieving war aims, and it could make Washington's peace efforts a tougher sell in Moscow.
The US government has also restored Ukraine's access to unclassified commercial satellite pictures provided by Maxar Technologies through a program Washington runs, Maxar spokesperson Tomi Maxted told The Associated Press.
The images help Ukraine plan attacks, assess their success and monitor Russian movements.
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Wednesday 12 March 2025 22:01
,
Barney Davis
Even if Putin agrees to a temporary truce, which is a big if, Ukraine and Europe are clear that Russia has a long history of breaking ceasefire agreements.
Finland will be part of the 'coalition of the willing' for Ukraine
Wednesday 12 March 2025 21:45
,
Barney Davis
Finland will definitely be part of any "coalition of the willing" that could help support Ukraine's security, Foreign Minister Elina Valtonen told Times Radio.
Earlier this month, Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Britain, France and some other nations would form a coalition to draw up plans to offer Ukraine support in the event of a peace deal to end Russia's war.
"We are definitely part of the coalition of the willing, and we are looking at the package of capabilities which we have to put to the table in order to help Ukraine in securing itself," she said.
"We will, of course, have to secure the rest of Europe, too... there are many ways to participate and rest assured Finland will participate also."
It came after Secretary of State for Defence John Healey said: "In the coming weeks, you will see European allies coming ever closer together because our security is shared and our strength relies on that unwavering commitment to each other.
“Peace and security in Europe will only be achieved through strengthening Nato and standing with Ukraine."
In Pictures: Putin visits Kursk visited the western Russian region of Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces seized territory in the region
Wednesday 12 March 2025 21:14
,
Barney Davis
286,000 civilians remain in Donetsk as evacuation alarm sounds
Wednesday 12 March 2025 21:00
,
Barney Davis
About 286,000 Ukrainian civilians remain in Donetsk Oblast as mandatory evacuation in the region continues.
Dmytro Petlin, head of the department of operational and emergency service for the region, said: “Evacuation measures continue. As of yesterday (11.03.25), about 1,214,000 civilians were evacuated from the government-controlled areas of Donetsk region.
“As of yesterday, about 286,000 civilians remain in the territory of the region controlled by the Ukrainian authorities.”
'It's a strong check' Zelensky's camp upbeat on ceasefire deal
Wednesday 12 March 2025 20:30
,
Barney Davis
A source close to the Ukrainian government said the mood in the Zelensky camp after the talks was upbeat and that there was a feeling Russia had been caught off guard by the ceasefire proposal.
"It's a strong check on the chess board," the source said.
A former senior Ukrainian security official who requested anonymity said things had so far developed predictably in terms of a phased peace process.
"However, it is likely that Russia will derail the agreement, and we will have to watch the American reaction. The Russians may offend Trump with their outbursts. And then we will have a chance for strong arms assistance."
Putin visits western Kursk as Ukraine withdraws
Wednesday 12 March 2025 19:46
,
Barney Davis
President Vladimir Putin has visited the western Russian region of Kursk for the first time since Ukrainian forces seized some territory in the region.
Appearing on Russian state television dressed in a pixilated military uniform, Putin visited a control centre in Kursk region used by Russian troops.
"Indeed, in the shortest possible time is to finally defeat the enemy entrenched in the Kursk region and still conducting defensive actions here," Putin said, addressing Russia's top military brass.
Putin heard a report from Valery Gerasimov, head of the Russian General Staff, who told him that Ukrainian troops in the Kursk region were now surrounded.
"Its systematic destruction is underway," Gerasimov said.
Putin said Russian forces should completely liberate the region from the Ukrainian troops as soon as possible, the news agencies reported.
Putin said Russia should treat Ukrainian soldiers captured as prisoners of war in Kursk Region as terrorists.
"People who are in the Kursk region, who commit crimes against civilians here, who oppose our armed forces, law enforcement agencies and special services, ... are the people we should certainly treat as terrorists," Putin said, adding that Russia does not intend to extend the Geneva Conventions to foreigners fighting on Ukraine's side.
Ukraine to keep fighting in Kursk as long as needed, top army commander says
Wednesday 12 March 2025 19:30
,
Barney Davis
Ukraine's top army commander said on Thursday that Kyiv's troops will continue operation in Russia's Kursk region "as long as appropriate and necessary" and added that fighting continued in and around town of Sudzha.
"(Ukrainian) defence forces units manoeuvre to more favourable positions, if necessary," Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Facebook adding that saving soldiers lives is a priority.
Ukraine appearing to withdraw from Kursk
Wednesday 12 March 2025 19:08
,
Barney Davis
Ukrainian troops appeared on the point of losing their hard-won foothold inside Russia's Kursk region on Wednesday as Moscow claimed further advances there and military bloggers on both sides said Kyiv's forces were withdrawing.
Ukraine sprang one of the biggest shocks of the war on August 6 last year by storming across the border and grabbing a chunk of land inside Russia, boosting citizens' morale and gaining a potential bargaining chip.
Vladimir Putin says Russian troops should defeat enemy in Kursk and completely liberate the region. He added any captured soldiers will be treated as terrorists, according to Interfax.
66 clashes as Russians continue to advance on Pokrovsk and Torets despite ceasefire talk
Wednesday 12 March 2025 19:01
,
Barney Davis
A total of 66 clashes were recorded on the frontline today, the Russian army is actively attacking Pokrovsk and Torets, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) said on Wednesday.
"The Defense Forces... repelled 17 enemy attacks, ten clashes are still ongoing," the General Staff said in a summary on Telegram.
In Pokrovsk, the Russian forces s have already carried out 27 attacks on Ukrainian positions.
Nine enemy attacks took place in Toretsk axis, four clashes are currently ongoing.
European Parliament reminds Russia of compliance with Geneva convention after POW executions
Wednesday 12 March 2025 19:00
,
Barney Davis
The European Parliament (EP) has strongly condemned the executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian troops.
"[The EP] strongly condemns the execution of Ukrainian prisoners of war by Russian forces; calls for the EU, its Member States and international partners to increase pressure on Russia to comply with its international obligations, particularly the Geneva Convention, and allow international organisations access to prisoners," according to a resolution in support of Ukraine, which was voted in the European Parliament on Wednesday.
The EP also condemned "devastating impact of Russia’s war on children; calls for increased EU support for children's education, healthcare, mental health services, and for child protection, including trauma recovery and safe learning environments."
Ukraine needs to step up unmanned weapon technology - Zelensky
Wednesday 12 March 2025 18:55
,
Barney Davis
Increasing the ability of Ukrainian weapons to overcome Russian electronic warfare and air defense remains a key issue to winning the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said in an evening address on Wednesday.
"First of all – regarding our drones and long-range strikes by Ukrainian drones… We managed to discuss many technical details today. The key thing is to increase the ability of our weapons to overcome Russian electronic warfare and air defence," he said.
"Our Ukrainian drone production and the constant modernisation of drones is one of the key parts of the Russian deterrence system, which is needed to guarantee Ukraine's security in the long term, and it will also be our international advantage – how we will be able to export security after this war.”
He said there is already international interest in Ukrainian developments, capabilities and technology production.
"Ukrainians have shown in this war how much drones can do to protect positions and save people's lives, they have shown how important it is to constantly develop the unmanned component. Of course, this will be our, in particular, economic advantage in relations with other partners. But after the war. Now we need to significantly increase the effectiveness of the use of Ukrainian weapons, and everything that will be achieved for Ukrainian security now will work for Ukraine for years and decades.”
Wednesday 12 March 2025 18:37
,
Barney Davis
Two Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bombers carried out a scheduled flight over the neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, state-run RIA news agency reported on Wednesday, quoting the defence ministry.
Fighter jets from foreign countries accompanied the Russian planes during certain stages of their flight, which lasted more than four hours, the ministry said, though it did not specify which countries.
Other Baltic littoral states including Finland, Sweden, Poland, Latvia, Lithuania and Estonia are all NATO members.
Soldiers on Donbas frontline react to ceasefire 'we have to carry on'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 18:29
,
Barney Davis
A drone squad team leader in the Ukrainian army has told the BBC the ceasefire plan is "a good idea," but he is worried about the deal's conditions.
Anton, who is currently fighting in the Donbas region, told the BBC: "It seems like we are being forced to give up on our territories, which is unacceptable to me".
"We will never trust Russia to respect a ceasefire,
"To put it as a boxing analogy, this is the tenth round. Both of the boxers are worn out, but we still have the 11th and 12th round in front of us. Everybody is so tired, but we know that we have to carry on just to get to the finish."
France says some 15 countries interested in discussing new security architecture for Ukraine
Wednesday 12 March 2025 18:12
,
Barney Davis
French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu said on Wednesday that about 15 countries had expressed interest in discussing a new security architecture for Ukraine.
He was speaking after a meeting in Paris with the defence ministers of Britain, Germany, Italy and Poland.
Russian news awaits Putin and Trump call
Wednesday 12 March 2025 18:02
,
Rachel Clun
People wait at a traffic light to cross a street with a news ticker in the background reporting on possible phone call between Russian President Vladimir Putin and US President Donald Trump, on the facade of TASS news agency building in Moscow on Wednesday.
Ukraine calls out Russian attack on 'civilian vessel'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 17:46
,
Rachel Clun
Ukraine’s foreign affairs minister has accused Russia for attacking a civilian ship transporting wheat to Africa.
In a post on social media, Andrii Sybiha said the attack was an assault on global food security, not just Ukraine.
“In Odesa port, Russia struck a civilian vessel with wheat for Algeria. Condolences to the families of Syrian citizens killed in the attack,” he wrote on X.
“This is an attack on global food security and maritime safety. It demonstrates how close this war is to Algeria, Syria, and other countries.”
In Odesa port, Russia struck a civilian vessel with wheat for Algeria. Condolences to the families of Syrian citizens killed in the attack. This is an attack on global food security and maritime safety. It demonstrates how close this war is to Algeria, Syria, and other countries. pic.twitter.com/87cg5nVQXk
— Andrii Sybiha (@andrii_sybiha) March 12, 2025
Live: UK Defence Secretary speaks alongside the defence ministers about Ukraine
Wednesday 12 March 2025 17:45
,
Barney Davis
The Defence Ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland, and Britain discussed support for Ukraine following the Russian military invasion and European defence.
Defence ministers due to speak following Ukraine meeting
Wednesday 12 March 2025 17:25
,
Rachel Clun
UK Defence Secretary John Healey is due to speak shortly alongside the defence ministers of France, Germany, Poland and Italy following a meeting in Paris today to discuss ongoing defence support for Ukraine.
The meeting followed peace talks in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, where the US and Ukraine agreed to a 30-day ceasefire. The US will discuss the plan with Russia today, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said.
The defence minister meeting was expected to discuss a potential European peacekeeping force.
Wednesday 12 March 2025 17:23
,
Barney Davis
Kyiv’s deputy head of the presidential office Ihor Zhovkva has outlined whether the proposed 30-day ceasefire applies only to the frontline and whether it is expected to reduce shelling of Ukraine's rear.
“We are talking about the so-called complete truce. First and foremost, it means the cessation of aerial attacks with any type of weapon, whether ballistic and cruise missiles, guided bombs, or UAVs, including long-range drones. The first aspect is a complete ceasefire in the air,” he told Ukrinform.
According to Zhovkva, the second aspect of the truce proposed by the Russian Federation is “silence” at sea.
He said he needed to protect existing transportation routes adding there are many threats in the Black Sea in areas where Ukrainian and foreign vessels pass.
JD Vance says said Russia talks happening 'on the phone and in person'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 17:02
,
Rachel Clun
US Vice President JD Vance said talks with Russia over the peace deal were happening through multiple channels.
"Well, we've got some conversations that are happening on the phone and in person with some of our representatives over the next couple of days,” he said.
“As the President said, we think that we're in a very good place where the Ukrainians have agreed to a ceasefire, and we're now going to see whether we can get the Russians to agree to a ceasefire too and we'll certainly have news on that when we when we find out that news."
Russian diplomats expelled over Moscow's 'campaign of harrassment'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:54
,
Rachel Clun
The Foreign Office said it was expelling a Russian diplomat and a diplomatic spouse in a tit-for-tat response to actions taken in Moscow earlier this week.
The Foreign Office said it has summoned Russian ambassador to the UK Andrei Kelin today following an “increasingly aggressive and coordinated campaign of harassment against British diplomats”.
Yesterday Moscow ordered two British diplomats to leave Russia within a fortnight after accusing them of spying, further straining UK-Russia relations.
Britain said the accusations were “malicious and baseless”.
Trump says US has 'people going to Russia right now'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:45
,
Rachel Clun
Following a proposed immediate 30-day ceasefire agreed to by Ukraine during peace talks yesterday, US President Donald Trump said American officials were on their way to speak with Russia about a halt to fighting.
“People are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia,” he said.
Trump says peace deal 'up to Russia now'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:27
,
Rachel Clun
US President Donald Trump said the peace talks in Saudi Arabia were a “great success” and a final deal was “up to Russia now”.
Asked whether he had a meeting planned with Russian President Vladimir Putin, Trump said: "But we had a great success yesterday. We have a full ceasefire when it if it kicks in.”
He continued: “And we have to see it's up to Russia now, but we've had a good relationship with both parties, actually, and we'll see ... people are going to Russia right now as we speak. And hopefully we can get a ceasefire from Russia.
“And if we do, I think that would be 80 per cent of the way to getting this horrible blood bath. Blood is taking place over there. On average, two to 3000 young people a week are being killed, and that stupid war that would have never happened if I were president. So we have people going over there."
The Hague now accepting Ukrainian claims for suffering over missing family
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:18
,
Rachel Clun
Ukrainians who have suffered “uncertainty and anguish” over the unknown fate of missing loved ones who have disappeared during the war with Russia can now make claims of compensation.
As of today, the Council of Europe has launched a new category under which Ukrainians can claim compensation over damage caused by the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The council said parents, children, spouses and civil partners of people who have gone missing since February 24, 2022 can now file claims.
Executive Director of the Register, Markiyan Kliuchkovskyi, said the launch of a new claims category was “a crucial step in recognising the immense suffering endured by families of those who have gone missing due to Russia’s aggression”.
“The uncertainty and anguish of not knowing the fate of a loved one is a profound hardship, and while no compensation can erase that pain, this process offers a path towards acknowledgment and redress.”
Analysis: Powell’s Ukraine diplomacy is proof the Starmer government is in safe hands
Wednesday 12 March 2025 16:02
,
John Rentoul
Chief political commentator John Rentoul writes:
Jonathan Powell, the UK national security adviser, was “intimately involved” in helping Ukraine and the US reach a ceasefire deal to put to Russia, according to government sources reported by the BBC, travelling to Kyiv at the weekend to talk to Volodymyr Zelensky and to help the Ukrainian team draft a written proposal.
This was the basis of the deal agreed by the US on Tuesday. It led to the US resuming intelligence sharing and military support for Ukraine, and it “puts the ball in Putin’s court”.
The prime minister told the Commons today that his team started work the moment Donald Trump suspended military support for Ukraine: “a huge amount of hard work, discussions and diplomacy was used with all of our allies and others to ensure that we could get yesterday [in Jeddah] to go as well as we hoped it would.” Powell was central to that effort.
When Starmer turned to Powell, 68, as one of several retreads from the Blair government, some people had their doubts. But Powell has already proved his worth – and he is a large part of the prime minister’s growing confidence on the international stage.
Defence ministers greeted ahead of Ukraine meeting
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:48
,
Rachel Clun
French Minister of Armed Forces Sebastien Lecornu has greeted UK Secretary of State for Defence John Healey ahead of the E5 Defence ministers' meeting on Ukraine in Paris this afternoon.
The Defence ministers of France, Germany, Italy, Poland and Britain are meeting to discuss support for Ukraine following the Russian military invasion and European defence.
Zelensky outlines Ukraine's key demands
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:34
,
Rachel Clun
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has outlined the country’s three key demands following peace talks with the US in Saudi Arabia.
In a video posted on social media after the talks ended yesterday, he listed Kyiv’s main priorities: a ceasefire in the air, a ceasefire in the sea, and the release of prisoners of war and detainees.
As peace talks ended, fighting between Ukraine and Russia continued
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:20
,
Rachel Clun
The US and Ukraine peace talks have wrapped up with a 30-ceasefire agreement between Washington and Kyiv, but fighting on the ground has continued.
In an update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine this afternoon, the Ukrainian army said Russia was continuing its efforts to advance into Ukrainian territory.
“So far, the enemy has attacked the positions of the Defense Forces 66 times,” the army said in a post on social media, adding the attacks were most active in the Pokrovsk and Toretsky areas.
“The border areas of our country were affected by Russian artillery shelling, in particular the settlements of Oleksandrivka, Baranivka, Starikove, Komarivka of the Sumy region; Archipivka of the Chernihiv region,” the post continued.
Defence ministers meeting in Paris to discuss Ukraine support
Wednesday 12 March 2025 15:05
,
Rachel Clun
UK Defence Secretary John Healey has joined his European counterparts in Paris this afternoon to discuss ongoing support for Ukraine.
The defence leaders will use the meeting to discuss security arrangements including potential European peacekeepers should a ceasefire take place.
There will be a press conference following the meeting at 5.30pm.
US-Russia talks on peace due in days
Wednesday 12 March 2025 14:53
,
Rachel Clun
So far the Kremlin has declined to comment on a potential ceasefire with Ukraine following peace talks between Ukraine and the US in Jeddah.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said the US would be reaching out to Russia to discuss “ending all hostilities” soon.
“We all eagerly await the Russian response and urge them strongly to consider ending all hostilities,” he said.
US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to head to Moscow later this week for a meeting with Russia.
The Kremlin is yet to confirm any meeting, but a spokesperson said Russia expected US officials to reach out “through various channels” in coming days to explain what understandings were reached with Ukraine.
US urges Russia: end 'all hostilities'
Wednesday 12 March 2025 14:39
,
Rachel Clun