Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of being afraid to admit to Donald Trump that he wants to reject the ceasefire dea and “kill more Ukrainians”.
In his nightly address, the President of Ukraine said: “Putin often does this - he does not say ‘no’ directly, but he does it in such a way that practically everything only delays and makes normal decisions impossible. We believe that this is all just another Russian manipulation.”
It came as Trump says he hopes Moscow “does the right thing” and agrees to the 30-day ceasefire, as Vladimir Putin insists it must be on his terms.
On Thursday evening, the Russian president made a series of demands for concessions by Zelensky which experts have said would amount to a ‘surrender’ by Kyiv.
“Hopefully they’ll do the right thing,” Mr Trump said of Russia during an Oval Office meeting with Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte. “I don’t think they will go back to shooting.”
Washington and Kyiv agreed on the 30-day ceasefire plan during talks in Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, with Kyiv seizing the initiative after a turbulent two weeks in US-Ukrainian relations.
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Key Points
- Zelensky 'Manipulative Putin wants to reject ceasefire but afraid to tell Trump'
- Putin: We support idea of 30-day ceasefire, but must discuss certain issues first
- Ukrainian troops in Kursk must surrender or die, says Putin
- Proposed ceasefire only gives 'respite to Kyiv', says Kremlin aide
- Russian troops retake control of key Kursk town, defence ministry says
Ukrainian soldiers describe chaotic retreat from Kursk
23:30
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Barney Davis
Top army chief General Oleksandr Syrskyi said on Wednesday he had ordered soldiers to withdraw to more advantageous positions in Kursk, saying preserving the lives of soldiers was his priority.
But some soldiers said it should have happened sooner.
One Ukrainian soldier said he and his comrades defied their company commander's orders, and made their own decision to retreat.
"We're sick and tired of sitting under fire all the time," said the soldier. Because all the main roads are being monitored by Russian drones, he said soldiers are withdrawing in small groups along tree lines to avoid detection.
"All the units that are left there, I don't know how they (the command) are going to get them out, because all supply chains have been disrupted," he said, referring to Sudzha and surrounding areas.
"The guys who came out said there were a lot of our dead bodies and a lot of burnt equipment."
Four children injured in Russian drone strike
21:38
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Barney Davis
A Russian drone attack has left seven people injured including four children in Kharviv.
Kharkiv Mayor Ihor Terekhov said on Telegram: "Currently, there are seven casualties — four children, two women, and one man.”
Oleh Syniehubov, head of the Kharkiv regional military administration, said four strikes have been recorded in the city.
Ukraine loses a ceasefire bargaining chip as its troops cede ground in Kursk
21:34
,
Barney Davis
The Ukrainian army stunned Russia in August by attacking across the border and taking control of an estimated 500 square miles of land. It was a much-needed morale boost for Ukraine — but more importantly, the country's leaders believed the capture of Russian territory might help in any future peace negotiations with its enemy.
Now, after months of intense pressure from Russian forces supported by troops from North Korea, Ukraine only holds about 30% of the Russian land it had seized and its forces are in retreat after a rapid near-defeat in the city of Sudzha.
The invasion of Kursk was intended to redirect Russian forces from inside Ukraine — and the land gained was supposed to help Ukraine get back at least some of the 20% of its country taken by Russia since its full-scale invasion in February 2022.
But many soldiers and commanders have long questioned whether it was worth diluting their forces available to defend Ukraine — and those doubts only grew as the retreat from Kursk accelerated.
Sir Keir Starmer says Russia is the aggressor
21:03
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Barney Davis
Sir Keir Starmer has said that he was not surprised by Putin’s “barely disguised” ambitions to delay any ceasefire.
Speaking to the News Agents podcast, Starmer said: “Well, firstly, keep our focus on a lasting and secure peace in Ukraine, which is what we all want.
“It doesn’t entirely surprise me that Russia is taking this stance. They’ve made it pretty clear. They put it in lights a number of times over.
“I think progress was made on Tuesday, and I always felt that and hoped that out of Tuesday that would put the ball in the Russian court, if you like, where the pressure would come on Russia. That has now happened.
“That is a good thing, because Russia is the aggressor. Russia is the country that where there had been previous deals and agreements, [it] has not honoured those.
“We know that Putin has ambitions that are barely disguised.”
Sam Kiley reports from Donetsk, territory Putin wants as part of peace negotiations
20:53
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Barney Davis
Drone footage captures North Korean 'suicidal attacks' on Ukrainian soldiers
20:30
,
Barney Davis
'Russia needs this war' - Zelensky
19:55
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Barney Davis
President Volodymyr Zelensky told Ukrainians in his nightly address: “We do not set conditions that make things difficult.
“This is what Russia is doing. As we have always said, the only one who will delay everything, the only one who will be unconstructive, is Russia. They need war. Putin stole years of peace and continues this war - day after day.”
He added sanctions were needed to force Putin to accept the terms of the ceasefire.
Addressing his allies, he said: “Now you have to put pressure on him. It is necessary to introduce sanctions that will help. We will continue to work with our American partners, with our European partners, with everyone in the world who wants peace, to force Russia to end the war.”
Zelensky 'Manipulative Putin wants to reject ceasefire but afraid to tell Trump'
19:39
,
Barney Davis
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of being afraid to admit to President Donald Trump that he “wants to kill more Ukrainians”.
The Ukrainian President said in his evening address: “Now we have all heard from Russia the very predictable, very manipulative words of Putin in response to the idea of silence on the front - he is actually preparing a refusal as of now.
“Putin, of course, is afraid to tell President Trump directly that he wants to continue this war, wants to kill Ukrainians.
“And that's why there, in Moscow, they set up the idea of silence with such prerequisites that nothing would happen at all or that it would not happen for as long as possible.”
He added: “Putin often does this - he does not say ‘no’ directly, but he does it in such a way that practically everything only delays and makes normal decisions impossible. We believe that this is all just another Russian manipulation.”
Forced evacuations in Sumy as Putin advances
19:25
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Barney Davis
The Sumy Regional Defense Council has decided to carry out a mandatory evacuation of residents from eight settlements with 543 people, including children, still needing to be evacuated as Putin advances.
Volodymyr Artiukh, head of the Sumy Regional Military Administration, announced on Facebook that the only way to protect civilians from these threats is through evacuation.
He said:"Today, the Regional Defense Council held a meeting where security issues were a top priority.
“Military and security forces provided an assessment of the situation. According to operational data from our military, the situation at the border is tense but under control. Russian troops have not crossed the border or captured any settlement in the Sumy region.”
He urged residents not to fall for Russian psychological operations and to rely only on official sources of information.
At the same time, he noted that enemy sabotage groups and aerial attacks, such as glide bombs (KABs) and FPV drones, have increased in intensity in border areas.
'We killed eight out of 10 North Koreans'
19:12
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Barney Davis
As US negotiators arrive in Moscow for ceasefire talks, World affairs editor Sam Kiley looks at how Vladimir Putin’s forces fought back in Kursk.
Likening the North Korean tactics to a cyber attack that can crash a website with mass attempts to access it, a Ukrainian military officer told The Independent: “[We faced] human waves like DDOS attacks on our positions... we killed eight out of 10 North Koreans.”
Sweden provides Ukraine with military aid package worth nearly $300M
18:51
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Barney Davis
Ukraine won't agree to frozen conflict, top official says
18:35
,
Barney Davis
Ukraine will not agree to a frozen conflict with Russia, the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, said on Thursday after Kyiv and Washington jointly proposed a 30-day ceasefire in the war.
Speaking on television, Yermak said that Ukraine had agreed with the U.S. that representatives from Europe will definitely take part in the peace process.
Putin's statement 'incomplete' on ceasefire
18:17
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Barney Davis
Trump answering questions from reporters on the ceasefire said he didn’t think Ukraine and Russia “would go back to shooting”.
He said: “If we get a ceasefire that will lead to peace. I don’t think anyone wants to go back. It’s vicious and violent. We want to get it over with.”
He added negotiations will centre around land and power plants, adding “It’s complicated you are sort of creating an edge of a country”.
He said Putin "put out a very promising statement” in his press conference earlier “but it was incomplete.”
Before this, Trump says a "lot of the details" in the final agreement have been discussed and he is waiting for a response from Moscow.
Zelensky says Russia seeks to prolong war after lack of clear answer to ceasefire proposal
17:57
Volodymr Zelensky has hit out at Russia’s lack of “meaningful response” to the 30-day ceasefire proposal.
The Ukrainian leader was reacting to Vladimir Putin saying any ceasefire must address the “root causes” of the conflict.
On Telegram, Zelensky said: "Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made.
“This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that US pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war.”
'Putin won't attack US allies' Trump
17:37
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Barney Davis
US President Donald Trump said he did not think Russia would attack US allies.
"It's not going to happen. We'll make sure it doesn't happen," he said.
His special envoy Steve Witkoff is set to hold direct discussions with Vladimir Putin tonight, Politico reported, citing Russian state-owned news outlet Izvestia.
'NATO needs to produce more weapons'
17:11
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Barney Davis
NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Thursday the alliance's members needed to produce more weapons and were lagging behind Russia and China.
Speaking in the Oval Office during a visit with President Donald Trump, Rutte said the alliance was not doing enough on the issue of weapons production.
Trump: Hopefully Russia will do the right thing
17:00
,
Alex Croft
US president Donald Trump has said he hopes Russia will do the right thing, with his special envoy Steve Witkoff set to hold direct discussions with Vladimir Putin tonight.
“Hopefully they’ll do the right thing,” Mr Trump told reporters during an Oval Office meeting with Nato secretary-general Mark Rutte.
Big power plant involved in Russia-US talks, says Trump
16:57
,
Alex Croft
A large power plant will be involved discussions between the US and Russia, US president Donald Trump has said.
It is unclear whether it will feature in scheduled talks between US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian president Vladimir Putin tonight.
Kyiv knows it cannot recapture all territory by force - Ukrainian official
16:38
,
Alex Croft
Kyiv understands it cannot recapture all the territory seized by Russia using military force, a Ukrainian government official said on Thursday.
Recovering Ukrainian territory would have to happen diplomatically over time, the unnamed official told reporters.
The official added that Kyiv would not recognise Moscow’s rights over Ukrainian territory, echoing comments made by president Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday.
Key takeaways from Putin's press conference
16:27
,
Alex Croft
Here are all the key takeaways from president Vladimir Putin’s press conference on Thursday afternoon.
- Putin supports the idea of the 30-day ceasefire, but says there are issues which need addressing first. Any ceasefire must address the “root causes” of the conflict, he said.
- Russian forces are in “complete control” in the Kursk region, adding that Ukrainian forces have been “fully isolated”. He added: “In the next two days, nobody will be able to leave. There will be only two ways: surrender or die.”
- Any ceasefire will be dependent on the situation on the ground, he said. “Depending on how the situation on the ground develops, we will agree on the next steps as to a ceasefire and achieving mutually acceptable agreements.”
- The Russian president thanked Donald Trump for his attention towards a Ukraine settlement - and hinted that a phone call was possible soon.
- Asked about the prospect of the US lifting sanctions on Russia, Putin said that American companies would be welcomed back into Russia.
Putin: Ceasefire discussions will depend on situation on ground
15:59
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Alex Croft
Vladimir Putin says any ceasefire negotiations will depend on the situation on the ground.
“The situation on the ground is changing fast. Yesterday, in his report, the northern group partner told me: tomorrow Sudzha will be ours. And that’s what happened.
“I’m sure that all the plans in Kursk will be achieved just as they were in other areas along the front line.
“We are retaking each one of [the villages in Kursk]. Depending on how the situation on the ground develops, we will agree next steps as to a ceasefire and achieving mutually acceptable agreements.”
Putin: We support idea of 30-day ceasefire, but must discuss certain issues first
15:54
,
Alex Croft
Putin has now directly addressed the US-Ukrainian proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in Ukraine.
He says that Moscow supports the idea of a 30-day ceasefire - but not before certain issues are negotiated by the Kremlin.
“We are in favour of a 30-day ceasefire, but there are nuances,” Putin said. “First of all, what are we going to do about this incursion in Kursk?
“If we ceased hostilities for 30 days, would it mean that everybody there would leave? Should we release them after they committed serious crimes against civilians there?
“How will other aspects be dealt with along with 2,000-kilometre contact line? As you know, the Russian troops are advancing practically in every sector of the contact line, and all the conditions are there for us to besiege fairly large [Ukrainian] units,” he added. “So what would happen during those 30 days?”
“The idea is good and we absolutely support it, but there are issues we need to discuss, and I think we need to negotiate with our American colleagues.”
Putin said a phone call with Donald Trump is possible.
Putin thanks Trump for giving his attention to Ukraine
15:47
,
Alex Croft
Putin has now discussed what he thinks about Ukraine’s readiness for a ceasefire.
He started his comments by thanking US president Donald Trump.
“I will tell you what my assessment is, but I want to start by thanking the US president Mr Trump for giving so much attention to a settlement in Ukraine,” he told reporters.
“We agree with the proposal for a ceasefire… but this ceasefire should lead to an enduring peace and should remove the root causes of this crisis.”
Putin: Western companies would be welcomed back to Russia if sanctions lifted
15:41
,
Alex Croft
Putin is asked about the prospect of the US lifting sanctions - and what American companies returning to Russia could mean for the Russian firms.
Any companies which wish to return to Russia will be welcomed, he said.
But he added that sanctions on Russia have made it now “immune”, saying Russia’s enemies have “created Russia’s independence and our sovereignty”.
Witkoff to meet Putin tonight behind closed doors - Russian reports
15:36
,
Alex Croft
US special envoy Steve Witkoff will meet with Russian president Vladimir Putin behind closed doors tonight, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has said.
"The meeting between Whitkoff and President Vladimir Putin will begin this evening in a closed format," Russian newspaper Izvestia reported, citing Ushakov.
Ushakov earlier warned that the 30-day ceasefire deal which the US wants Russia to support is unlikely to be acceptable to Moscow in its current form.
Tactical nuclear arms have been deployed in Belarus - Putin
15:26
,
Alex Croft
Tactical nuclear arms have been deployed in Belarus to protect Russian security, president Vladimir Putin said in a press conference on Thursday.
Speaking next to Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko, Putin said: “We discussed in detail forming a common defence space.
“In Belarus, a joint regional group of forces has been deployed and modern defensive and tactical nuclear arms have been deployed.”
He reflected on his meeting with the Belarusian president in his opening remarks.
Putin and Lukashenko holding press conference
15:16
,
Alex Croft
Russian president Vladimir Putin and his Belarusian counterpart Alexander Lukashenko are holding a press conference.
The pair, who are in the Kremlin, have just signed a bilateral agreement on cooperation in the field of intellectual property.
Stay here for all the key lines.
Putin and Trump not expected to speak on Thursday, Kremlin says
15:12
,
Alex Croft
The Kremlin does not expect president Vladimir Putin to speak with his US counterpart Donald Trump on Thursday, foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov said.
No agreement has been made on when the pair may hold a phone call, Interfax news agency cited Ushakov as saying.
Ukraine receives $1.7 billion loan to be repaid using frozen Russian assets
15:07
,
Alex Croft
Kyiv has received its first tranche of 2.5 billion Canadian dollars ($1.7 billion) under a G7 scheme which will see loans repaid using profits from frozen Russian assets, Ukraine’s Finance Ministry announced.
The G7’s Extraordinary Revenue Acceleration (ERA) initiative will see around $50 billion in loans paid to Ukraine, and Canada’s contribution will be $3.5 billion.
"Canada is a reliable and steadfast partner of Ukraine. I am grateful for the support of the ERA mechanism. It is a fair and necessary tool to hold Russia financially accountable for its crimes in Ukraine," Ukrainian finance minister Serhii Marchenko said.
G7 foreign ministers seek display of unity - against radically different backdrop to previous meetings
14:54
,
Alex Croft
Foreign ministers have sought to demonstrate a united front in their Canada summit, amid rising tensions between the US and its allies over foreign policy.
Ministers from the G7 convened in the remote tourist town of La Malbaie in the hills of Quebec, for two days of meetings.
Historically, the group have been broadly consensual on the issues they have discussed. But with the Trump administration’s upending of foreign policy - and unwillingness to show unconditional support for Ukraine - the meeting is taking place against a very different backdrop.
US secretary of state Marco Rubio is set to debrief the ministers on Tuesday’s talks with Ukrainian officials in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where Kyiv said it was ready to support a 30-day ceasefire deal.
In pictures: G7 foreign secretaries unite in Canada
14:38
,
Alex Croft
US special envoy in Moscow for Ukraine talks, source confirms
14:25
,
Alex Croft
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is in Moscow for talks with Russian officials about the Ukraine war, a source briefed on the matter confirmed on Thursday.
The source did not have details of Mr Witkoff’s itinerary, but he will he seeking Russian support for the ceasefire initiative agreed between the US and Ukraine.
Earlier, online flight radar sites showed the private plane supposedly carrying Mr Witkoff landing in Moscow after travelling from Doha.
Finland announces 200 million euros more in aid to Ukraine and closer defense cooperation
14:00
,
Tom Watling
Video: Top Putin aide rejects US-Ukraine peace proposal
13:46
,
Tom Watling
Footage has shown the moment one of Vladimir Putin’s key aides in peace negotiations with the US says they do not plan to accept a proposal for a 30-day ceasefire.
Asked by a Russian state media reporter if they would reject the deal, Yuri Ushakov, one of Russia’s representatives in peace negotiations with the US, said: “These kinds of steps, which only mimic peace efforts, are useless to everyone.”
"These kinds of steps, which only mimic peace efforts, are useless to everyone"
— Euromaidan Press (@EuromaidanPress) March 13, 2025
- Yuri Ushakov (Russia's representative in peace negotiations with the U.S. envoy) pic.twitter.com/wkrRnvRbTh
Mapped: Russia's counterattack in Kursk
13:37
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine peace team informs Zelensky about details of Saudi Arabia
13:21
,
Tom Watling
Ukraine’s peace delegation has sat down with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss the details of the talks in Saudi Arabia.
Mr Zelensky’s top advisor, Andriy Yermak, posted a photo of the meeting.
“We provided the President with a detailed report on the team's meeting with representatives of the United States in Saudi Arabia, on the progress of the negotiations, and key aspects,” he wrote on X.
“We informed the American side about Ukraine's principled positions.”
Надали детальну доповідь Президенту про зустріч команди із представниками Сполучених Штатів у Саудівській Аравії, про хід перемовин, ключові аспекти.
— Andriy Yermak (@AndriyYermak) March 13, 2025
Ми поінформували американську сторону щодо принципових українських позицій. pic.twitter.com/RkKRl8ep7e
Zelensky: Russia is seeking to prolong the war
13:09
,
Alex Croft
Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Russia of “seeking to prolong the war” as it fails to commit to the 30-day ceasefire proposal agreed between the US and Ukraine.
“Regrettably, for more than a day already, the world has yet to hear a meaningful response from Russia to the proposals made,” Mr Zelensky wrote on X.
“This once again demonstrates that Russia seeks to prolong the war and postpone peace for as long as possible. We hope that U.S. pressure will be sufficient to compel Russia to end the war.”
The Ukrainian president revealed that Kyiv was prepared for an air and sea ceasefire, before agreeing to a US proposal to extend it to land.
Officials also discussed the need for security guarantees in Ukraine, he added.
The Ukrainian delegation provided me with a detailed report on its meeting with US representatives in Saudi Arabia, including the progress of negotiations and key aspects.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 13, 2025
It is good that the conversation was entirely constructive. Ukraine is committed to moving quickly toward… pic.twitter.com/5chfbyUvjB
Ceasefire proposal needs reworking - Kremlin aide
13:00
,
Alex Croft
The proposal for a 30-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine needs reworking, Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov has said.
"The document, it seems to me, has a hasty character... It will be necessary to work, think and take into account our position too. It outlines only the Ukrainian approach," he said according to RIA state news agency.
It comes after he said the deal, which would see a month-long halt in fighting, is only “temporary respite for the Ukrainian military, nothing more”.
In pictures: Belarusian president arrives in Moscow for talks with Putin
12:53
,
Alex Croft
Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko has arrived in Moscow for talks with Vladimir Putin.
The pair are due to hold a press conference at 3pm GMT.
Watch: Trump says US team en route to Russia to pressure Putin to accept ceasefire with Ukraine
12:44
,
Alex Croft
British aid workers in Ukraine: We aren't sure what we are walking into anymore
12:38
,
Alex Croft
The “few British aid workers” still delivering supplies to Ukraine have said they are “unsure what they are walking into”, as efforts towards a temporary ceasefire intensify.
Wendy Warrington, 58, from Bury, Manchester, has been to Ukraine about 27 times since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022.
“Of course I would welcome the ceasefire, however Russia has to agree to it and that might not happen as they have not shown any commitment to this but instead intensifying attacks on innocent civilians,” Ms Warrington told PA news agency.
“We do not know what we are walking into right now.
“I don’t want to die or put myself in danger, but the unpredictability of the Russian army and drone attacks increases the risk, but I choose to do it because we can’t abandon Ukraine and its people.”
Eddie, 59, from Liverpool, who has delivered aid to Ukraine in his van about eleven times, said: “None of us are walking around like Mother Teresa, Bod Geldof or Superman – I’m driving a black Transit van – but you do your bit,” the retired rail worker said.
“You see very few British aid workers over here now.”
Contacts between Washington and Moscow are intensifying, says Russia
12:27
,
Alex Croft
Contacts between Moscow and Washington are becoming more active, Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said.
Embassies and diplomats have intensified contacts, she said on Thursday.
The countries have been working to rebuild broken ties since US president Donald Trump reentered the White House in January.
Putin may hold international phone call on Thursday - Kremlin
12:10
,
Alex Croft
Russian president Vladimir Putin may have an international phone call later on Thursday, the Kremlin said.
It comes as Donald Trump awaits word from his Russian counterpart on whether he will agree to the 30-day truce agreed between Washington and Kyiv on Tuesday, which Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said he would accept as a first step towards peace talks.
Sweden commits more than $130 million to Ukraine
11:59
,
Alex Croft
Sweden has committed more than 1.4 billion Swedish crowns ($137.7 million) to Ukraine for reconstruction and development, the country’s international development minister said.
"Support for Ukraine is a matter of solidarity, but also of Sweden's security," Benjamin Dousa told a press conference on Thursday when announcing the package.
"The last few weeks have not been easy. It has never been clearer that we can no longer take the world's support for Ukraine for granted," he added.
Ukraine ceasefire: What are Putin and Zelensky’s demands for agreeing 30 day truce?
11:42
,
Alex Croft
Russia has presented the US with a list of demands for a deal to end its invasion of Ukraine and Related News & Content
