Ukraine
Donald Trump announced a conversation with Vladimir Putin on March 18 to discuss ending the war in Ukraine. The negotiations will concern the issue of territory and power plants.
According to the Ukrhydrometcenter, on March 17, wet snow will fall in the western and northern regions of Ukraine. The air temperature during the day will warm up to +4 degrees.
The line of contact in Toretsk is dynamic, the Armed Forces of Ukraine did not conduct a counteroffensive. The enemy advanced near Burlatsky and destroyed the "Central" mine, complicating the defense.
On March 17, Ukraine celebrates Mobilization Worker's Day, and Ireland celebrates St. Patrick's Day. Also on this day, the memory of Saint Alexius, the Man of God, is honored.
France is considering the possibility of transferring additional Mirage-2000 fighters to Ukraine from third countries that use them. They will also accelerate the supply of missiles and drones.
The Kremlin continues to demand that Ukraine give up the occupied territories. Putin will not abandon his ambitions, even after a ceasefire, ISW analysts believe.
Fighters of the 6th battalion of the 12th "Azov" brigade conducted a successful "Earthquake" operation, blowing up the positions of the Russians near Pokrovsk. The task was completed without losses, the soldiers returned from the operation.
US Secretary of State Rubio has announced US plans to end the war in Ukraine. Plan A is a ceasefire, Plan B is negotiations at the table to finally end the war.
Donald Trump wants to convince Putin to sit down at the negotiating table regarding Ukraine. Senator Graham warned that Putin will regret it if he plays with Trump.
Hungary will hold a vote on Ukraine's accession to the European Union. The country's government has published a sample ballot with the question of whether Hungarians support Ukraine's accession to the EU.
Defense Minister Umerov stated that Ukrainian troops had withdrawn to more advantageous positions and that no unit was surrounded. He called the claims Russian propaganda.
On the night of March 17, the Russian army attacked Ukraine with attack drones. Air defense was working in Kyiv and a number of regions. The drones were moving towards Odesa.
Ukrainian soldiers launched a missile strike on the location of russian soldiers in the Bryansk region. Many Kadyrovites were among the victims, with fatalities and serious injuries.
During March 16, 99 combat clashes took place on the front, most of them in the Pokrovsky and Kurakhiv directions. russia launched 64 air strikes and involved more than 900 kamikaze drones.
After negotiations in Jeddah and the US proposal for a ceasefire, Russia continues fighting, Zelenskyy said. He stressed that Ukraine will defend itself in the event of a violation of the ceasefire.
The Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation reported that dozens of Ukrainian drones were shot down over the Kursk, Oryol, Bryansk, Volgograd, Rostov and Tula regions. In the Kursk region, the roof of the bus station was on fire.
Volodymyr Zelenskyi announced preparations for a meeting of the Contact Group on Defense of Ukraine in the "Ramstein" format in Brussels. Meetings on security guarantees for Ukraine are also being prepared.
Ukrenergo announced power restrictions for industrial consumers and businesses on March 17 from 06:00 to 20:00 due to the consequences of attacks on energy facilities. No outages are planned for the population.
Trump's Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff said that the issues of the Kursk region, the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant and the occupied territories are being discussed in the negotiations on Ukraine. Ceasefire is a complex process.
Andriy Hnatov has been appointed Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. He should increase management efficiency, implement combat experience and speed up decision-making.
US Presidential Advisor Waltz stated that the Trump team sees the possibility of a ceasefire in the Russian-Ukrainian war in exchange for concessions. He emphasized the reality of the situation on the ground.
Andriy Sybiha will visit India to participate in the Raisina Dialogue geopolitical forum. Meetings are also planned to expand economic cooperation between Ukraine and India.
US President's National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that bilateral diplomacy between the US and Ukraine is ongoing. He called Ukraine's permanent membership in NATO "very unlikely".
On March 16, Russian drones attacked two civilian cars in the Sumy district of the Sumy region, injuring two people. Myropilska and Bilopilska communities were hit.
Volodymyr Zelensky dismissed Anatoliy Bargilevich and appointed Andriy Hnatov as the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Previously, Hnatov was dismissed from the post of Commander of the Joint Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
The Armed Forces of Ukraine are holding back the enemy on the fronts. Most attacks are in the Pokrovsk direction, and fighting continues in the Kursk region. There were 64 combat engagements.
Alexander Stubb stated that negotiations with Putin are impossible because he seeks the destruction of Ukraine. Therefore, maximum pressure is needed on Russia: sanctions, assets and arming Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin will hold a telephone conversation next week. US President's Special Envoy Steve Vitkoff called his meeting with Putin positive.
The President of Ukraine expressed his condolences to the families of those killed in the fire in a nightclub in Kochani. According to preliminary data, at least 50 people became victims of the tragedy.
On March 17, cloudy weather with clearings is expected in Ukraine. In the western, northern, Vinnytsia and Cherkasy regions, light sleet is expected in places, with icy conditions on the roads.