While these signals of developing military cooperation came through, the shadow of Russia’s aggression and invasion loomed over the public discourse, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy himself confirmed. Zelenskyy condemned Hungary’s recent vote against Ukraine’s future EU membership as “anti-European” in nature. Russian Ministry of Defence reported today that they shot down 132 Ukrainian drones. This was a remarkable operation that struck deeply overnight across six oblasts, and especially Saratov.
In a significant development, the White House indicated a shift in focus from a previously negotiated deal to a broader peace agreement between Russia and Ukraine. President Zelenskyy warned the European Union that Moscow was violating the ceasefire deal made with the US. They escalated further with their attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure. On that day, Kyiv’s air force downed 75 of the 171 drones Russia launched. Furthermore, they were able to shutter an additional 63 drones due to electronic warfare counters.
Negotiations for a ceasefire are scheduled to begin Monday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The above announcement is attributed to Yuri Ushakov, an aide to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Meanwhile, Russia claimed that Ukraine had derailed peace talks with a strike on an oil depot located in Kavkazskaya, a southern Russian village. It’s worth noting that Zelenskyy reasserted Ukraine’s position of not negotiating the ownership of the occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear power station.
While the fighting continues to dramatically impact civilians, Russian Iranian-built Shahed-136 drones killed civilians in Kropyvnytskyi, Ukraine on March 19. Regional Governor Arkadyi Raikovych reported at least two people dead and ten others injured, including four children. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denounced European nations after last week’s military summits in the United Kingdom. He charged them with having militarized and turned themselves into a “war party” rather than promoting peace.
Diplomatic efforts are still going on — President Zelenskyy visited to Oslo yesterday to hold discussions with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store. At the same time, former US president Donald Trump tweeted out news of an upcoming US-Ukraine minerals agreement. Meanwhile, Russia launched an attack on Ukraine's Black Sea port of Odesa, injuring three individuals and causing damage to residential and commercial properties, according to region's Governor Oleh Kiper.
