From: Transform Ukraine By Douglas Landro / March 19, 2025
Moscow agrees to limited energy strikes pause but demands Ukraine’s surrender as Russian forces advance in multiple directions
As Putin rebuffed comprehensive ceasefire proposals during his call with Trump, Russian drones struck hospitals in Sumy while forces advanced in Zaporizhia, Lyman, and Chasiv Yar, revealing Moscow’s true intentions despite diplomatic gestures.
Summary of the Day – March 18, 2025
Tuesday exposed the glaring disconnect between diplomatic rhetoric and battlefield reality as the Trump-Putin call produced only limited agreements while Russian attacks intensified. Putin rejected the U.S.-Ukrainian temporary ceasefire proposal, instead demanding Ukraine halt mobilization and cease receiving foreign military aid—conditions tantamount to surrender. Meanwhile, Russian forces advanced in western Zaporizhia and crossed into Sumy Oblast, while drone strikes targeted hospitals despite Putin’s promise to temporarily halt energy infrastructure attacks. The diplomatic track continues with planned talks in Jeddah on Sunday, but with Putin insisting on excluding Ukraine from negotiations about its own future, prospects for meaningful progress remain dim. As Zelensky strengthened ties with Finland during his visit to Helsinki, the fundamental question remains whether the international community will recognize Ukraine’s right to determine its own future or acquiesce to Russian demands for capitulation.
The diplomatic battleground took center stage as U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a 90-minute call to discuss potential pathways to peace, but Putin refused to accept the U.S.-Ukrainian proposal for a temporary frontline ceasefire. Meanwhile, Russian forces advanced in western Zaporizhia Oblast as battlefield dynamics shift, and a massive overnight drone barrage targeted civilian infrastructure across twelve Ukrainian regions despite Moscow’s pledge to pause energy strikes.
Voice of Ukraine 