Both sides launched attacks overnight – with Ukraine saying a hospital is on fire after a Russian drone strike. Talks between the US and Russia continue, but the EU’s foreign policy chief said she expects Vladimir Putin will accept a ceasefire. Follow the latest here.
false,Friday 14 March 2025 08:14, UK
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The EU has already said it’s working on amassing as much financial support for Ukraine as it can.
Now, a document seen by Reuters news agency indicates the total military aid for this year alone should reach up to €40bn (£33.5bn).
That’s according to a discussion paper, in which the bloc’s diplomatic service suggests EU member states contribute to that figure „in line with its economic weight“.
A Russian drone attack has caused a fire at a hospital in northeastern Ukraine, according to the local governor.
Seven people were hurt in Kharkiv, Oleh Syniehubov said, with one woman also injured in the surrounding region.
The Ukrainian military said it shot down 16 out of 27 drones launched by Russia.
Nine didn’t reach their target, likely because of electronic countermeasures, it added.
It’s not clear what happened to the remaining two.
If you’ve been following our coverage, you’ll know Steve Witkoff is in Moscow now for talks on how to end the war.
But Witkoff’s initial brief, technically, isn’t Ukraine, it’s the Middle East – more on who he is and his role here.
He’s been a regular fixture in negotiations so far, which has made the absence of Donald Trump’s actual Ukraine war envoy all the more conspicuous.
According to our US partner network NBC News, Russia does not want Keith Kellogg involved in top-level discussions.
It’s not clear if Kellogg’s absence is linked to Russia’s request – and it isn’t clear when it was made – but a US official told NBC that it was not heeded.
Some high-ranking former Russian officials have complained Trump’s envoy is, in their view, too sympathetic to Kyiv.
A retired lieutenant general, Kellogg has at times been more critical of Russia than other officials have been.
For example, he sharply criticised Russia for a Christmas-time attack on Ukrainian population centres.
Nonetheless, Kellogg has consistently defended Trump’s positions on the Ukraine war, including the recent pause to some intelligence sharing.
National Security Council spokesperson James Hewitt insisted Kellogg is playing a crucial role in bringing the war to an end.
„President Trump has utilised the talents of multiple senior administration officials to assist in the bringing the war in Ukraine to a peaceful resolution,“ he said.
Four attack drones flew to Moscow overnight, according to the city’s mayor.
Sergei Sobyanin said no injuries have been reported in the capital, and the drones were shot down.
Emergency services are „working at the site where debris came down“, he added.
He did not mention Ukraine, but Kyiv has launched a steady stream of drone attacks since Russia invaded three years ago, mostly targeting energy.
The governor of the wider Moscow region Andrei Vorobyov, meanwhile, said debris fell on a construction site and a residential building.
One of the drones also hit the roof of a multi-storey residential building, the RIA news agency reported, citing emergency services.
Oil complex blast
In a separate attack in Russia’s Krasnodar region, the local governor said a Ukrainian attack set a fuel tank on fire at the Tuapse oil complex.
Veniamin Kondratiev said nobody was hurt in the attack on the shores of the Black Sea.
Around 121 firefighters were on the scene, Kondratiev added, without saying if the site had been hit by a drone or a missile.
The Tuapse refinery, with a processing capacity of 240,000 barrels per day, produces various types of fuel and mainly supplies China, Malaysia, Singapore and Turkey.
The message from Moscow so far has been mostly negative about the idea of a ceasefire now – but it hasn’t been rejected outright.
Vladimir Putin said yesterday more work needs to be done, with „lots of questions“ remaining around Washington’s plan for a 30-day pause.
Over in Canada, where G7 ministers are gathered, the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas believes the Kremlin is most likely to agree a deal, but with conditions.
Speaking to Reuters news agency, she said the US has told the summit it understands Russia may be playing a game to extend the process.
Good morning and welcome back to our coverage of the war in Ukraine.
We’ll be bringing you updates throughout the day. But first, here’s all the key developments from the past 24 hours:
It’s been another busy day of updates on the war in Ukraine, with Vladimir Putin giving his first public reaction to the ceasefire proposal.
We’re pausing our updates for now – before we go, here’s a summary of the day:
Ever since the US proposal of a 30-day ceasefire was put on the table in discussions with Ukrainian officials earlier this week, one key question has been on everyone’s mind – will Putin agree to it?
But after his news conference with Alexander Lukashenko this afternoon, many are still left with questions over the Russian president’s stance.
While he said Russia agrees with the proposals, he went on to say there are „nuances“ and „lots of questions“ that remain.
„Our position is based on the assumption that the ceasefire would lead to long-term peace, something that would remove the initial reasons for the crisis,“ he added.
Putin then went on to reference his visit to the Kursk region yesterday, and described the situation there as „completely under our control“.
In such circumstances, he said, it will be good for Ukraine – while implying it won’t be a good thing for Russia – to reach a 30-day ceasefire.
He also said Russian forces are now on the offensive in all areas on the front, and stated that the next steps on the conflict will take into account the „fast-changing“ developments.
Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenskyy hit back at Putin’s comments by accusing Russia’s president of preparing a rejection of the deal and being „afraid to say directly“ to Trump that he wants to continue the war.
He described Putin’s words as „very predictable“ and said they were „just another Russian manipulation“.
Zelenskyy also called on allies to ramp up the pressure on Putin and impose further sanctions.
But while Putin was hosting his Belarusian counterpart, Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was also in Moscow to present the ceasefire to the Russian president.
We haven’t heard how those discussions have been progressing yet, with both parties remaining tight-lipped as talks are expected to continue tomorrow.
Earlier this evening, Volodymyr Zelenskyy called on allies to increase the pressure on Vladimir Putin and impose further sanctions (see 7.38pm post).
If you have been wondering about the effect of European sanctions on the Russian economy, then the current condition of Gazprom is a useful marker.
The Russian gas giant’s European markets have almost disappeared since Putin decided to invade Ukraine in February 2022.
At Gazprom Export – housed in a lavish Italian palazzo-styled building in central St Petersburg – only a few dozen staff remain, down from 600 five years ago.
When the building was opened, just over a decade ago, Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said it was „symbolic“ and that Europe would „increasingly need Russian gas“.
Now, it may be sold along with other luxury properties.
The state gas company’s export arm is „just a shell“, a source told Reuters.
In addition, Miller is reportedly planning to cut 1,500 jobs at the parent company’s headquarters at Europe’s tallest skyscraper, the British-designed Lakhta Centre, also in St Petersburg.
A dramatic decline
Staff have apparently been asked to prepare individual presentations about why they should keep their jobs – echoing Elon Musk’s request to public sector workers in the United States.
It is thought that up to 40% of those at Gazprom’s HQ could be made redundant.
The firm’s figures illustrate why such deep cuts are necessary. Last year, Gazprom posted a net loss of $7bn (£5.4bn) for 2023.
That was its first loss since 1999, the year Putin came to power.
In the first nine months of 2024, it posted another deficit.
In December, its share price fell to its lowest since January 2009, touching 106.1 roubles. That’s a decline of more than a third since the start of 2024.
No route back?
What’s more, its European markets appear unlikely to reopen.
The European Union intends to end its use of Russian fossil fuels by 2027.
US gas exporters replaced Russian supplies in Europe, becoming the biggest exporter of Liquified Natural Gas to the continent, with American supplies tripling since 2021.
While Vladimir Putin has indicated he would like to replace European markets with exports to China, the gap is unlikely to be filled.
Even the most ambitious projects under consideration would not reach half the peak exports of 180 billion cubic metres achieved previously.
Gazprom management misjudged how determined European countries would be, an executive said.
The thinking inside the company was that Europe would soon be „begging“ for Russian gas supplies to resume.
„We proved to be wrong,“ the executive commented.
Reuters spoke to three executives and half a dozen former and current Gazprom employees.
Vladimir Putin is not interested in the US ceasefire proposal but also doesn’t want to offend Donald Trump, a former Russian prime minister has said.
Mikhail Kasyanov held the position between 2000 and 2004 when Putin served his first term as Russian president.
Speaking on The World, Kasyanov said: „What he explained today was to stop the supply of weaponry to Ukraine.
„It means he would like to see Ukraine get weaker and weaker. He wants to continue conducting this war… believing that he will destroy Ukraine.“
Drawing on his experience from working closely with Putin, Kasyanov said the Russian president demands respect.
„Right now he is trying, although it is difficult right now, but he’s trying to play a game and we’ll see whether Trump will be a subject of this game,“ he added.
Vladimir Putin „only reacts to hard power“ and will „only stop when he hits a brick wall“, a former MI6 intelligence officer has told Sky News.
A lasting peace is unlikely as long as Putin remains in the Kremlin, Christopher Steele added.
In addition, the Russian president „doesn’t really accept that Ukraine exists as an independent state“.
„That’s the real problem we’re facing,“ Steele said.
Regarding a proposed cessation in fighting, Putin has said several times he wants final negotiations to precede a ceasefire, „so for him this is the wrong way round“, Steele went on.
In addition, Putin „thinks the Russians are in the ascendency on the battlefield and making gains“.
Regarding talks with the Americans, Putin will be „very concerned“ not to be seen to be bowing to American pressure, „particularly from Trump“, Steele observed.
„Zelenskyy arguably has done just that. I think for Putin, internally, politically, that would be unacceptable.“
Economically, the only way in which the US could further punish Russia would be to reduce its oil exports, but that would „put up inflation around the world“, Steele said.
„One thing they perhaps could look at would be increasing military training and supplies to Ukraine. That would put pressure on Putin.
„But in general terms I think Putin will play it cleverly, play it long, will tease, will make conditions, will not be stupid enough to refuse [a deal] outright, but will make it pretty difficult for it to stick.“
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Ukraine war latest: Putin too scared to tell Trump he wants to continue war, Zelenskyy says – as he hits out at 'manipulative' demands – Sky News
