From: Transform Ukraine By Douglas Landro / March 18, 2025
On a day of diplomatic posturing, a test drone flew 3,000 kilometers as Ukraine fortifies its bargaining position with homegrown military technology, while Trump prepares for a pivotal call with Putin that could reshape the war’s endgame
Summary of the Day – March 17, 2025
The diplomatic chess match intensified Monday as President Trump announced a scheduled call with Vladimir Putin while Ukraine’s Foreign Minister drew clear battle lines for any peace negotiations. Military operations continued across multiple fronts, with Russia claiming—and Ukraine denying—the capture of Stepove in Zaporizhzhia Oblast. Meanwhile, long-range Ukrainian drones struck deep into Russian territory, hitting critical fuel infrastructure in Astrakhan Oblast, nearly 800 kilometers from the front. As both sides position themselves for potential peace talks, the fundamental tensions of the conflict—territorial integrity versus Russian demands, Ukraine’s sovereign right to choose alliances, and the future security architecture of Europe—remain unresolved and seemingly unbridgeable.
The Peace Illusion: Trump Reaches for the Endgame
President Donald Trump announced he will speak with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday in what may be the most significant diplomatic engagement on Ukraine since the war began. “We will see if we can bring that war to an end,” Trump told reporters on Air Force One, adding ominously that discussions would include “dividing up certain assets” and “talking about land.”
The scheduled call follows a flurry of diplomatic activity, including Saudi-hosted negotiations that produced a proposed 30-day ceasefire which Ukraine accepted on March 11. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt claimed the administration is “on the 10-yard line of peace,” using an American football analogy to suggest a resolution is within reach.
Voice of Ukraine 