Russia is trying to delay the ceasefire proposed by the US and is preparing to strike Ukraine’s Sumy region on the border, a military chief has said. Follow the latest on that and all other Ukraine war developments below.
false,Sunday 16 March 2025 10:48, UK
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Lord Peter Ricketts, a retired senior diplomat, warned that Sir Keir Starmer’s plans for a European peacekeeping force in Ukraine would be a „considerable risk“.
Speaking to Sky News‘ Trevor Phillips, the former national security adviser stressed the prime minister had done an „excellent job“ pulling Europe together.
However, „now you’ve got to ask the tough questions“, he said. „What would a European force actually do in Ukraine?“
He said any effective deterrence force had to be willing to fight Russians in Ukraine, and a „cast iron American guarantee“ would be the best route to avoid any potential fighting.
„I don’t think Trump is going to give that kind of commitment, while I admire the work going into it… I think a formed fighting force is a considerable risk without an American clear guarantee.“
Lord Ricketts also warned that, given Russia’s opposition to a NATO force in Ukraine, any similar presence would be opposed one way or another – whether that’s through direct force or the „dark arts“ like denial operations and sabotage.
By Michael Drummond, foreign news reporter
After Sir Keir Starmer brought together many of Ukraine’s allies on a call yesterday, there are still a lot of questions about the so-called coalition of the willing idea.
A joint initiative from the UK and France, the coalition could see troops from a number of nations deployed to Ukraine as peacekeepers to enforce any peace deal.
From the obvious „who could be involved“ to „where would peacekeepers deploy“ and „what would troops be authorised to do“, there is a lot that remains unclear.
But following the meeting there has been a little bit more clarity on the first one, with Italy seemingly ruling out sending troops.
Australia and Spain, however, look like two countries who could be open to contributing personnel.
You can read the latest who’s who of potential coalition of the willing members in our explainer:
As Russian forces continue to advance in the Kursk region, the Kremlin is likely getting ready to falsely accuse Ukraine of war crimes, a prominent thinktank has said.
The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) says Russia is „likely preparing to intensify a narrative“ in an attempt to discredit Kyiv’s military, erode Western support and spoil or delay discussions about a 30-day ceasefire.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, figures in the Russian government, Russian state media, and pro-Kremlin mouthpieces have recently amplified claims accusing Ukrainian forces of committing war crimes in the Kursk region during the seven months they have held territory there.
Putin asked on 13 March whether Russia should let Ukrainian forces leave Kursk „after they committed a lot of crimes against civilians“ and claimed the following day that Ukrainian forces committed „terrorism“.
The ISW drew comparisons between these unsubstantiated claims and the Kremlin’s narrative in late 2021 and 2022 that it used to attempt to justify Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
There are, however, allegations of war crimes against Russian troops during the invasion for which there is more evidence.
The thinktank added: „ISW has frequently reported on the sharp uptick of confirmed Russian executions of Ukrainian prisoners of war on the battlefield in 2024 and early 2025, likely under orders from the Russian military command.“
Health secretary Wes Streeting has been speaking to Sky News this morning and answered questions about Ukraine in addition to his political brief.
Trevor Phillips pressed him on what UK troops would actually be able to do in Ukraine, if they were sent there as peacekeepers under the prime minister’s „coalition of the willing“ idea.
Streeting was asked what sort of deterrent potential British troops would actually be if they couldn’t fire on the Russians in the event of an incident.
He didn’t answer directly, saying that is „a line that has not been crossed since the foundation of NATO“.
He later said it would be an „extraordinary escalation“ for Russian troops to be in conflict with the UK.
It was put to Streeting that Vladimir Putin is „somebody who appears to have no boundaries on what he is prepared to do“.
Trevor asks what is the point of talking about peacekeeping, when actually the position in the rules of engagement would be that UK troops would not be allowed to engage in any kind of hot war with the Russians?
Streeting said peace is“ still to be negotiated“ in Ukraine, and if a deal is made then „work is under way to prepare for potential peacekeeping“.
Sir Keir Starmer convened many of Ukraine’s allies on a call yesterday to discuss his „coalition of the willing“ idea.
A joint British-French drive, the coalition of the willing would see troops from European countries (and perhaps further afield) deployed to Ukraine to act as peacekeepers after a peace deal was signed.
The prime minister held a news conference after the call and answered some questions, including this from Sky News:
Russia has suffered nearly 900,000 casualties since the full-scale invasion began, Ukraine claims.
In its daily update, Ukraine’s military command said Moscow has lost 1,400 personnel to death or injury in the last day, as fierce fighting continues in many sectors along the front line.
This brings the total to 894,240, the military added.
The number of destroyed Russian tanks is more than 10,000, the report said, with 10 lost over the last day.
Neither Russia nor Ukraine routinely comment publicly on military losses.
Residents spent much of last night in the cold and dark after a Russian strike on an apartment building.
People were seen huddled outside in Chernihiv, northern Ukraine, after a drone damaged a block of flats.
Pictures from the Reuters news agency show firefighters working at the scene, as smoke billows into the night sky.
One person held a pet carrier as they waited for emergency crews to finish their work.
A fire at a Russian oil refinery that came under Ukrainian attack was still on fire after more than a day later, authorities said overnight.
Nearly 200 firefighters were fighting the blaze at the Tuapse plant in the Kransnodar region, near the Black Sea.
The fire, which was sparked by a Ukrainian drone attack on Friday morning, was contained but not extinguished, the region’s administration said late on Saturday.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, announced the attack on Telegram on Friday.
„This is not the first attack,“ he said. „It is one of the largest in the Russian Federation and has a processing capacity of about 12 million tons of oil per year.
„The refinery specialises in primary oil processing, producing straight-run gasoline, diesel fuel and fuel oil, a significant part of which is exported.
„For the Russian army, this plant is of strategic importance, as it provides fuel to the Black Sea Fleet and military infrastructure in the south of the country. It is part of the logistical supply chain of fuel for military equipment and aviation.“
As the war has gone on, Ukraine has continued to innovate long-range drones that it uses to target oil refineries – some deep in Russian territory.
Russia is „preparing for more active actions“ on Ukraine’s border, a military chief has warned.
Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation at Ukraine’s National Security and Defence Council, said that Vladimir Putin is „trying to delay the ceasefire“ proposed by the US.
He said on Telegram: „The Russians are really preparing for more active actions in the border region of Sumy and are accumulating forces to strike at Sumy.
„This should not be confused with the offensive on Sumy – the enemy is operating in the border region, suffering losses from the Defence Forces, but is preparing for new strikes.
„It is important that Putin is doing these things, trying to delay the ceasefire proposed by the United States.“
What’s happening in Sumy?
There appears to be increased concern that Russian forces could strike into Ukraine’s northeast Sumy region, with Volodymyr Zelenskyy also discussing the possibility yesterday.
The Ukrainian president said Moscow was accumulating forces nearby for a separate strike. „This indicates an intention to attack our Sumy region,“ he said.
„We are aware of this and will counter it.“
„I would like all (our) partners to understand exactly what Putin is planning, what he is preparing for, and what he will be ignoring.“
Russia’s overnight bombardment of Ukrainian cities continued overnight, with 90 drones launched according to Ukraine’s air force.
Air defences shot down 47 of the 90 drones, the force added.
The number shot down does not always include drones brought down by other means such as electronic warfare.
Damage was reported in four regions in the north, centre and south of the country, the air force said without providing details.
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Ukraine war latest: Russia 'preparing more actions' on border, military chief warns, after Starmer convenes allies – Sky News
