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New Archbishop of New York: Church must bring God’s peace, healing to world

New Archbishop of New York: Church must bring God’s peace, healing to world

04:38
Pope: Seeing with Mary's eyes helps people and cultures walk in peace

Pope: Seeing with Mary's eyes helps people and cultures walk in peace

07:38
Ukraine ceasefire faces battlefield challenges, envoy says Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, emphasized the challenges of implementing a ceasefire in Ukraine, citing the vast scale of the war. Witkoff paid a visit to Moscow on March 13 for talks on the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine had accepted after a U.S.-Ukrainian meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11. "A ceasefire involves how to get people to not be fighting with each other over a 2,000-kilometer border," he said on CBS News "Face the Nation" on March 16, noting the complexity of managing hostilities across such a large area. Witkoff pointed to key battlegrounds, including Kursk, and stressed the need to address strategic concerns like control over Ukraine’s nuclear power infrastructure and access to Black Sea ports. "There is a nuclear reactor that supplies quite a bit of electricity to the country of Ukraine. That’s got to be dealt with," he said referring to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, adding that Russian objectives in specific regions must also be considered in negotiations. Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia plant in Enerhodar, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Although still controlled by Russian forces, the plant is not currently producing electricity. Ukraine and its allies have consistently called for Russia to withdraw its troops from the site. Since the occupation began, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid due to Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. Comparing the situation to the conflict in Gaza, Witkoff noted the differences in scope. "Gaza is a finite, defined space, as compared to where the battle is being fought in Ukraine, Russia. So this is a much more complicated situation," he said. Despite these challenges, he insisted that no one is "throwing their hands up in the air" and that all stakeholders, including European partners, remain committed to seeking a resolution. ‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for Moscow The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia’s energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for ways The Kyiv IndependentYana Prots

Ukraine ceasefire faces battlefield challenges, envoy says Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy to the Middle East, emphasized the challenges of implementing a ceasefire in Ukraine, citing the vast scale of the war. Witkoff paid a visit to Moscow on March 13 for talks on the 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine had accepted after a U.S.-Ukrainian meeting in Saudi Arabia on March 11. "A ceasefire involves how to get people to not be fighting with each other over a 2,000-kilometer border," he said on CBS News "Face the Nation" on March 16, noting the complexity of managing hostilities across such a large area. Witkoff pointed to key battlegrounds, including Kursk, and stressed the need to address strategic concerns like control over Ukraine’s nuclear power infrastructure and access to Black Sea ports. "There is a nuclear reactor that supplies quite a bit of electricity to the country of Ukraine. That’s got to be dealt with," he said referring to the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, adding that Russian objectives in specific regions must also be considered in negotiations. Europe’s largest nuclear facility, the Zaporizhzhia plant in Enerhodar, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Although still controlled by Russian forces, the plant is not currently producing electricity. Ukraine and its allies have consistently called for Russia to withdraw its troops from the site. Since the occupation began, the plant has been repeatedly disconnected from Ukraine’s power grid due to Russian attacks on the country’s energy infrastructure. Comparing the situation to the conflict in Gaza, Witkoff noted the differences in scope. "Gaza is a finite, defined space, as compared to where the battle is being fought in Ukraine, Russia. So this is a much more complicated situation," he said. Despite these challenges, he insisted that no one is "throwing their hands up in the air" and that all stakeholders, including European partners, remain committed to seeking a resolution. ‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for Moscow The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia’s energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for ways The Kyiv IndependentYana Prots

22:34
Russia launches mass missile, drone attack, targets Ukrainian cities far from front line Editor's note: This is a breaking story and is being updated. Russia launched another mass missile and drone attack overnight on July 9, targeting Ukrainian cities, including in the country's far-west regions located hundreds of kilometers from the front line. Late spring and early summer in Ukraine have been marked by disturbingly frequent mass attacks on civilian targets, with Russia regularly terrorizing cities with ballistic and cruise missiles alongside record-breaking numbers of kamikaze drones. Ukraine's Air Force warned late on July 8 that Russia had launched MiG-31 aircraft from the Savasleyka airfield in Nizhny Novgorod, putting the entire country under an active missile threat. Swarms of drones were also heading towards multiple cities in Ukraine, the military said. Explosions rocked Kyiv at around midnight on July 9, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that Russian drones were attacking the city center and that air defenses were shooting down targets.   Ukraine's Air Force reported drones and missiles targeting Ukraine's far-west regions with alerts of overhead drones approaching the western cities of Lutsk, Khmelnytskyi, and Ternopil. Explosions were heard in the city of Lutsk in western Volyn Oblast just before 4 a.m. local time, Suspilne reported, amid warning of drones and missiles overhead. Explosions were also reported in communities closer to the front line, including Dnipro, Sumy, as well as over Zaporizhzhia Oblast. No information was immediately available on any damage or casualties. Russian ballistics and kamikaze drones have targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with renewed ferocity, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds more. The renewed attacks on Ukraine comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to send 10 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, amid escalating tension between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "It's a horrible thing, and I'm not happy with President Putin at all," Trump said. "I'm disappointed frankly that President Putin hasn't stopped (the attacks)," Trump said on July 8. The comments come after the Pentagon halted air defense weapon shipments to Ukraine. Ukraine war latest: Trump reportedly pledges to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, asks Germany to send battery * Trump reportedly pledges to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, asks Germany to send battery * ‘They have to be able to defend themselves’ — Trump says US will send additional weapons shipments to Ukraine, criticizes Putin * EU to impose ‘toughest’ sanctions on Russia in coordination with US senators, French foreign minister says * Russia’s Black Sea Fleet shrinks presence in key Crimean bay, Ukrainian partisans say * Putin signs decree allowing foreigners to serve in Russian army during The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Russia launches mass missile, drone attack, targets Ukrainian cities far from front line Editor's note: This is a breaking story and is being updated. Russia launched another mass missile and drone attack overnight on July 9, targeting Ukrainian cities, including in the country's far-west regions located hundreds of kilometers from the front line. Late spring and early summer in Ukraine have been marked by disturbingly frequent mass attacks on civilian targets, with Russia regularly terrorizing cities with ballistic and cruise missiles alongside record-breaking numbers of kamikaze drones. Ukraine's Air Force warned late on July 8 that Russia had launched MiG-31 aircraft from the Savasleyka airfield in Nizhny Novgorod, putting the entire country under an active missile threat. Swarms of drones were also heading towards multiple cities in Ukraine, the military said. Explosions rocked Kyiv at around midnight on July 9, according to Kyiv Independent journalists on the ground. Mayor Vitali Klitschko announced that Russian drones were attacking the city center and that air defenses were shooting down targets.   Ukraine's Air Force reported drones and missiles targeting Ukraine's far-west regions with alerts of overhead drones approaching the western cities of Lutsk, Khmelnytskyi, and Ternopil. Explosions were heard in the city of Lutsk in western Volyn Oblast just before 4 a.m. local time, Suspilne reported, amid warning of drones and missiles overhead. Explosions were also reported in communities closer to the front line, including Dnipro, Sumy, as well as over Zaporizhzhia Oblast. No information was immediately available on any damage or casualties. Russian ballistics and kamikaze drones have targeted Kyiv and other Ukrainian cities with renewed ferocity, killing dozens of civilians and injuring hundreds more. The renewed attacks on Ukraine comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has promised to send 10 Patriot interceptors to Ukraine, amid escalating tension between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. "It's a horrible thing, and I'm not happy with President Putin at all," Trump said. "I'm disappointed frankly that President Putin hasn't stopped (the attacks)," Trump said on July 8. The comments come after the Pentagon halted air defense weapon shipments to Ukraine. Ukraine war latest: Trump reportedly pledges to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, asks Germany to send battery * Trump reportedly pledges to send 10 Patriot missiles to Ukraine, asks Germany to send battery * ‘They have to be able to defend themselves’ — Trump says US will send additional weapons shipments to Ukraine, criticizes Putin * EU to impose ‘toughest’ sanctions on Russia in coordination with US senators, French foreign minister says * Russia’s Black Sea Fleet shrinks presence in key Crimean bay, Ukrainian partisans say * Putin signs decree allowing foreigners to serve in Russian army during The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

18:34
Assisi: Thousands of pilgrims venerate relics of St Francis

Assisi: Thousands of pilgrims venerate relics of St Francis

08:38
Holy See calls for multilateral dialogue in Americas

Holy See calls for multilateral dialogue in Americas

04:38
Somalia faces renewed hunger emergency as UN raises alarm

Somalia faces renewed hunger emergency as UN raises alarm

00:38
Over 30 countries expected to contribute to UK-led 'coalition of the willing,' official says Over 30 countries are prepared to contribute to the "coalition of the willing" peacekeeping force to support Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said on March 17. Talks have been ongoing among Ukraine's allies to establish a peacekeeping force to monitor a potential ceasefire along Ukraine's eastern front. Starmer proposed that 10,000 troops could be part of the force at a London summit on March 15. "The UK expects more than 30 countries to be involved in the coalition of the willing... There would be a significant force with a significant number of countries," the spokesperson said, adding that a "significant number" of countries would provide troops, without specifying how many countries that may be. Other countries involved in the coalition would provide military equipment and support the peacekeeping force in different ways, Starmer's spokesperson said. "The contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways," Starmer's spokesperson added. Although many many countries have refrained from publicly committing to providing support, a number of countries including Ireland, Canada, and Australia have suggested they would participate in the group. Other countries, like Poland and Finland have voiced they will retain troops on their own territory to deter Russian aggression. Starmer's spokesperson echoed concerns that a peacekeeping force would need U.S. backing. "The PM has said that for the coalition of the willing and U.K. troops to be deployed it must be in the context of a secure and lasting peace with U.S. backing being needed. Those discussions are ongoing," the spokesperson said. Thus far, the U.S. has ruled out providing security guarantees and deploying its own troops in Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire. ‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin. Talk about a potential Russian invasion is “very common at parties, gatherings,… The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

Over 30 countries expected to contribute to UK-led 'coalition of the willing,' official says Over 30 countries are prepared to contribute to the "coalition of the willing" peacekeeping force to support Ukraine, U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer's spokesperson said on March 17. Talks have been ongoing among Ukraine's allies to establish a peacekeeping force to monitor a potential ceasefire along Ukraine's eastern front. Starmer proposed that 10,000 troops could be part of the force at a London summit on March 15. "The UK expects more than 30 countries to be involved in the coalition of the willing... There would be a significant force with a significant number of countries," the spokesperson said, adding that a "significant number" of countries would provide troops, without specifying how many countries that may be. Other countries involved in the coalition would provide military equipment and support the peacekeeping force in different ways, Starmer's spokesperson said. "The contribution capabilities will vary, but this will be a significant force, with a significant number of countries providing troops and a larger group contributing in other ways," Starmer's spokesperson added. Although many many countries have refrained from publicly committing to providing support, a number of countries including Ireland, Canada, and Australia have suggested they would participate in the group. Other countries, like Poland and Finland have voiced they will retain troops on their own territory to deter Russian aggression. Starmer's spokesperson echoed concerns that a peacekeeping force would need U.S. backing. "The PM has said that for the coalition of the willing and U.K. troops to be deployed it must be in the context of a secure and lasting peace with U.S. backing being needed. Those discussions are ongoing," the spokesperson said. Thus far, the U.S. has ruled out providing security guarantees and deploying its own troops in Ukraine to enforce a ceasefire. ‘Talk about an invasion is everywhere’ — How Lithuania is preparing for war with Russia Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, repeated and escalating warnings of the potential for a wider war have only raised fears in the Baltic states that they could be next in the crosshairs of the Kremlin. Talk about a potential Russian invasion is “very common at parties, gatherings,… The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

18:34
Honouring roots, embracing future: OLA Sisters reflect on mission and modern realities

Honouring roots, embracing future: OLA Sisters reflect on mission and modern realities

06:38
Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast Key developments on March 15-16: Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast Ukraine appoints Andrii Hnatov as new chief of General Staff Russia readying to attack Sumy as Donbas front stabilizes, Zelensky says Trump-Putin phone call expected this week, US hopes for ceasefire within weeks, envoy says UK proposes Western peacekeeping mission of 10,000 troops in Ukraine Ukraine's General Staff on March 16 confirmed Ukrainian troops' withdrawal from the logistics hub of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast, days after Moscow claimed its capture. Instead of confirming the withdrawal with a statement, the General Staff posted the latest battlefield maps on social media, which showed a complete retreat from Sudzha. The confirmation comes as Russian troops scale up their offensive in the Russian border region, where Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in August 2024 in hopes of using the captured territories as a bargaining chip for potential peace negotiations. Kyiv has held on to its gradually shrinking foothold in Kursk Oblast despite a deteriorating logistics situation caused by Russia's intense use of artillery, drones, and glide bombs. As unconfirmed reports of a Ukrainian encirclement circulated online, U.S. President Donald Trump urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 14 to "spare" allegedly surrounded Ukrainian troops. Ukraine has denied the claims of encirclement. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 13 that its troops had captured Sudzha. The claim came a day after Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed ongoing battles in the suburbs of Sudzha and the surrounding areas. "In the most difficult situation, my priority has been and remains to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. To do this, the units of (Ukraine's) Defense Forces, if necessary, are maneuvering to more favorable positions," Syrskyi said. Ukraine appoints Andrii Hnatov as new chief of General Staff Ukraine on March 16 appointed Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of the General Staff, promoting the major general as part of what Kyiv hailed as "a military reform." Hnatov, who was formerly appointed as the deputy chief of the General Staff in February, will be replacing Anatolii Barhylevych, who took the role in February 2024. "We are systematically transforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enhance their combat effectiveness," Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in a Facebook post, applauding a promotion that he said came at his recommendation. Hnatov has over 27 years of experience in the military. He previously commanded a marine brigade, Operational Command East formation, and the Joint Forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Umerov added that Ukraine appointed Lieutenant General Barhylevych as the Defense Ministry's chief inspector. His role is to oversee military standards and boost discipline in the Armed Forces, according to the minister. More than three years into the full-scale war, Ukraine is slowly withdrawing on multiple fronts amid a critical manpower shortage. Kyiv is trying to modernize the army in an attempt to solve long-standing issues, such as command culture and resource management. "Transformation continues," Umerov wrote in the same Facebook post. ‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for Moscow The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia’s energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for ways The Kyiv IndependentYana Prots Russia readying to attack Sumy as Donbas front stabilizes, Zelensky says Russian soldiers are amassing at the border to prepare to launch an attack on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 15. Zelensky said in a post on Telegram that Ukraine has observed areas along its eastern border where the Russian army is amassing force. "This speaks to a desire to deliver a strike to our Sumy Oblast," Zelensky wrote. "We understand this and will take countermeasures." The Ukrainian president also wrote that he hopes foreign leaders would note "that in Moscow they are preparing to ignore diplomacy." U.S. diplomats were in Moscow this week to hash out a ceasefire deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who remains maximalist in his public demands for concessions from Ukraine. After talks in Saudi Arabia between the U.S. and Ukraine, Kyiv said it was ready to move forward with a ceasefire, provided Russia did the same. Zelensky also wrote that "the situation on the Pokrovsk front has stabilized" after several months during which the city in Donetsk Oblast had been at the center of fighting and periodic threats of Russian encirclement. "Thanks to our Ukrainian forces, a significant quantity of Russian forces were pulled away from other fronts to Kursk Oblast," Zelensky wrote. Trump-Putin phone call expected this week, US hopes for ceasefire within weeks, envoy says U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to hold a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week, Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, said on March 16. "I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we're also continuing to engage and have a conversation with the Ukrainians,” Witkoff told CNN after meeting Putin in Moscow on March 13. Witkoff also said that the U.S. hopes to "see a ceasefire within weeks," as cited by Axios. The expected phone call comes as Trump tries to end the war at any cost. European allies and Ukraine have warned that a rushed peace deal without adequate security guarantees won't result in lasting peace. Witkoff said the talks with Putin lasted a few hours and went well. He added that he expected the phone call between the two presidents to be "really good and positive." "We're bridging the gap between two sides," he said. "The four regions are of critical importance here," Witkoff said, referring to Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which are partially occupied by Russian troops. Witkoff also said that the U.S. is holding discussions with Ukraine, Russia, and European allies, including France, the U.K., Finland,  and Norway. He claimed that Putin accepts "Trump's philosophy" on ending Russia's war in Ukraine, Axios reported. "The two sides are a lot closer today than they were a few weeks ago. We narrowed the differences," Witkoff said. Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. during talks in Jeddah on March 11, after which Washington resumed military and intelligence support for Ukraine. Russia is ready to agree to the U.S.-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine but demands guarantees that Kyiv will not mobilize or train troops or receive military aid during the truce, Putin said on March 13. Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on March 16 that Ukraine was expected to exchange territories for security guarantees. "This is going to be some type of territory for future security guarantees, the future status of – of Ukraine," Waltz said on ABC News. He also said that "a permanent pathway into NATO, or a permanent membership into NATO for Ukraine is incredibly unlikely." Trump denies reports on his envoy waiting for Putin, calls media ‘sick degenerates’ “The fake news, as usual, is at it again!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Why can’t they be honest, just for once?” The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk UK proposes Western peacekeeping mission of 10,000 troops in Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented plans to send 10,000 peacekeeping troops to Ukraine at a high-level virtual summit in London on March 15. The summit, which included 29 international leaders, was organized by the U.K. with the purpose of creating a "coalition of the willing" that could secure Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. Starmer's proposed peacekeeping contingent would include around 10,000 troops, mostly provided by the U.K. and France, U.K. military sources told the Sunday Times. Thirty-five countries have agreed to supply the peacekeeping mission with weapons, logistics, and intelligence support. The peacekeeping mission will be "a significant force with a significant number of countries providing troops and a much larger group contributing in other ways,"  a senior government source said. In addition to European nations, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand joined the call, as did NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The proposed force of 10,000 is significantly smaller than the 30,000 troops Starmer reportedly pitched to U.S. President Donald Trump during their White House meeting on Feb. 20. Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that European partners would need to station 100,000 to 150,000 troops on Ukraine's front lines to effectively deter Russia. U.K. defense sources told the Guardian on Feb. 18 that a much smaller European-led peacekeeping forcec ould instead rely on intelligence, surveillance, and long-range monitoring to enforce a ceasefire. Following the virtual summit, Starmer announced that "troops on the ground and planes in the sky" would provide security guarantees for Ukraine following a future peace deal. The allied coalition will hold a second round of military talks on March 20, Starmer said. While France and the U.K. have been the most vocal about sending troops to Ukraine, some countries, including Italy and Finland, have expressed reservations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the summit and vocalized support for Ukraine, but said that Italy does not plan to participate in the proposed peacekeeping force. ‘Conditions for Ukraine’s surrender’ — Why Putin’s demands for ceasefire make no sense Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for a ceasefire are unrealistic and tantamount to demanding that Ukraine disarm itself and surrender, analysts say. Putin said on March 13 that Russia was ready to agree to the U.S.-backed 30-day-long ceasefire in Ukraine but then followed by listing a… The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Ukraine war latest: Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast Key developments on March 15-16: Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast Ukraine appoints Andrii Hnatov as new chief of General Staff Russia readying to attack Sumy as Donbas front stabilizes, Zelensky says Trump-Putin phone call expected this week, US hopes for ceasefire within weeks, envoy says UK proposes Western peacekeeping mission of 10,000 troops in Ukraine Ukraine's General Staff on March 16 confirmed Ukrainian troops' withdrawal from the logistics hub of Sudzha in Russia's Kursk Oblast, days after Moscow claimed its capture. Instead of confirming the withdrawal with a statement, the General Staff posted the latest battlefield maps on social media, which showed a complete retreat from Sudzha. The confirmation comes as Russian troops scale up their offensive in the Russian border region, where Ukraine launched a surprise incursion in August 2024 in hopes of using the captured territories as a bargaining chip for potential peace negotiations. Kyiv has held on to its gradually shrinking foothold in Kursk Oblast despite a deteriorating logistics situation caused by Russia's intense use of artillery, drones, and glide bombs. As unconfirmed reports of a Ukrainian encirclement circulated online, U.S. President Donald Trump urged his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin on March 14 to "spare" allegedly surrounded Ukrainian troops. Ukraine has denied the claims of encirclement. The Russian Defense Ministry claimed on March 13 that its troops had captured Sudzha. The claim came a day after Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed ongoing battles in the suburbs of Sudzha and the surrounding areas. "In the most difficult situation, my priority has been and remains to save the lives of Ukrainian soldiers. To do this, the units of (Ukraine's) Defense Forces, if necessary, are maneuvering to more favorable positions," Syrskyi said. Ukraine appoints Andrii Hnatov as new chief of General Staff Ukraine on March 16 appointed Andrii Hnatov as the new chief of the General Staff, promoting the major general as part of what Kyiv hailed as "a military reform." Hnatov, who was formerly appointed as the deputy chief of the General Staff in February, will be replacing Anatolii Barhylevych, who took the role in February 2024. "We are systematically transforming the Armed Forces of Ukraine to enhance their combat effectiveness," Ukraine's Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said in a Facebook post, applauding a promotion that he said came at his recommendation. Hnatov has over 27 years of experience in the military. He previously commanded a marine brigade, Operational Command East formation, and the Joint Forces of Ukraine's Armed Forces. Umerov added that Ukraine appointed Lieutenant General Barhylevych as the Defense Ministry's chief inspector. His role is to oversee military standards and boost discipline in the Armed Forces, according to the minister. More than three years into the full-scale war, Ukraine is slowly withdrawing on multiple fronts amid a critical manpower shortage. Kyiv is trying to modernize the army in an attempt to solve long-standing issues, such as command culture and resource management. "Transformation continues," Umerov wrote in the same Facebook post. ‘Painful for Russia:’ What new U.S. sanctions on Russian energy mean for Moscow The Trump administration dealt a blow to Russia’s energy sector last week after it let lapse an exemption allowing Russian banks to use U.S. payment systems for energy transactions. The move closed an important financial channel for Russian oil and gas exports and comes as Washington looks for ways The Kyiv IndependentYana Prots Russia readying to attack Sumy as Donbas front stabilizes, Zelensky says Russian soldiers are amassing at the border to prepare to launch an attack on Ukraine's northeastern Sumy region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on March 15. Zelensky said in a post on Telegram that Ukraine has observed areas along its eastern border where the Russian army is amassing force. "This speaks to a desire to deliver a strike to our Sumy Oblast," Zelensky wrote. "We understand this and will take countermeasures." The Ukrainian president also wrote that he hopes foreign leaders would note "that in Moscow they are preparing to ignore diplomacy." U.S. diplomats were in Moscow this week to hash out a ceasefire deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who remains maximalist in his public demands for concessions from Ukraine. After talks in Saudi Arabia between the U.S. and Ukraine, Kyiv said it was ready to move forward with a ceasefire, provided Russia did the same. Zelensky also wrote that "the situation on the Pokrovsk front has stabilized" after several months during which the city in Donetsk Oblast had been at the center of fighting and periodic threats of Russian encirclement. "Thanks to our Ukrainian forces, a significant quantity of Russian forces were pulled away from other fronts to Kursk Oblast," Zelensky wrote. Trump-Putin phone call expected this week, US hopes for ceasefire within weeks, envoy says U.S. President Donald Trump is expected to hold a phone call with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin this week, Steve Witkoff, Trump's special envoy to the Middle East, said on March 16. "I expect that there will be a call with both presidents this week, and we're also continuing to engage and have a conversation with the Ukrainians,” Witkoff told CNN after meeting Putin in Moscow on March 13. Witkoff also said that the U.S. hopes to "see a ceasefire within weeks," as cited by Axios. The expected phone call comes as Trump tries to end the war at any cost. European allies and Ukraine have warned that a rushed peace deal without adequate security guarantees won't result in lasting peace. Witkoff said the talks with Putin lasted a few hours and went well. He added that he expected the phone call between the two presidents to be "really good and positive." "We're bridging the gap between two sides," he said. "The four regions are of critical importance here," Witkoff said, referring to Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts, which are partially occupied by Russian troops. Witkoff also said that the U.S. is holding discussions with Ukraine, Russia, and European allies, including France, the U.K., Finland,  and Norway. He claimed that Putin accepts "Trump's philosophy" on ending Russia's war in Ukraine, Axios reported. "The two sides are a lot closer today than they were a few weeks ago. We narrowed the differences," Witkoff said. Kyiv agreed to a 30-day ceasefire proposed by the U.S. during talks in Jeddah on March 11, after which Washington resumed military and intelligence support for Ukraine. Russia is ready to agree to the U.S.-proposed ceasefire in Ukraine but demands guarantees that Kyiv will not mobilize or train troops or receive military aid during the truce, Putin said on March 13. Meanwhile, U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said on March 16 that Ukraine was expected to exchange territories for security guarantees. "This is going to be some type of territory for future security guarantees, the future status of – of Ukraine," Waltz said on ABC News. He also said that "a permanent pathway into NATO, or a permanent membership into NATO for Ukraine is incredibly unlikely." Trump denies reports on his envoy waiting for Putin, calls media ‘sick degenerates’ “The fake news, as usual, is at it again!” Trump said in a post on Truth Social. “Why can’t they be honest, just for once?” The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk UK proposes Western peacekeeping mission of 10,000 troops in Ukraine U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer presented plans to send 10,000 peacekeeping troops to Ukraine at a high-level virtual summit in London on March 15. The summit, which included 29 international leaders, was organized by the U.K. with the purpose of creating a "coalition of the willing" that could secure Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia. Starmer's proposed peacekeeping contingent would include around 10,000 troops, mostly provided by the U.K. and France, U.K. military sources told the Sunday Times. Thirty-five countries have agreed to supply the peacekeeping mission with weapons, logistics, and intelligence support. The peacekeeping mission will be "a significant force with a significant number of countries providing troops and a much larger group contributing in other ways,"  a senior government source said. In addition to European nations, Australia, Canada, and New Zealand joined the call, as did NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte. The proposed force of 10,000 is significantly smaller than the 30,000 troops Starmer reportedly pitched to U.S. President Donald Trump during their White House meeting on Feb. 20. Previously, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that European partners would need to station 100,000 to 150,000 troops on Ukraine's front lines to effectively deter Russia. U.K. defense sources told the Guardian on Feb. 18 that a much smaller European-led peacekeeping forcec ould instead rely on intelligence, surveillance, and long-range monitoring to enforce a ceasefire. Following the virtual summit, Starmer announced that "troops on the ground and planes in the sky" would provide security guarantees for Ukraine following a future peace deal. The allied coalition will hold a second round of military talks on March 20, Starmer said. While France and the U.K. have been the most vocal about sending troops to Ukraine, some countries, including Italy and Finland, have expressed reservations. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni attended the summit and vocalized support for Ukraine, but said that Italy does not plan to participate in the proposed peacekeeping force. ‘Conditions for Ukraine’s surrender’ — Why Putin’s demands for ceasefire make no sense Russian President Vladimir Putin’s conditions for a ceasefire are unrealistic and tantamount to demanding that Ukraine disarm itself and surrender, analysts say. Putin said on March 13 that Russia was ready to agree to the U.S.-backed 30-day-long ceasefire in Ukraine but then followed by listing a… The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

11:34

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