Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky greets a soldier in a command post in the Kharkiv region in the northeast, March 22, 2025

EA on TVP World: Ukraine, Trump’s Ego, and the Nuclear Plant

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Trump Report — Education, Ukraine, and “Elbows Up” Canada

Saturday’s Coverage: Russia Kills Civilians in South, North, and East

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 2133 GMT:

Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov has posted about today’s “technical talks” with a US delegation in Saudi Arabia:

We have concluded our meeting with the American team.
The discussion was productive and focused — we addressed key points including energy.

UPDATE 1711 GMT:

Ukraine Defense Minister Rustem Umerov says technical talks have begun with a US delegation in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia “to bring a just peace closer and to strengthen security”.

Umerov said discussions include proposals to protect energy facilities and critical infrastructure.

The Trump Administration is planning talks with both Ukraine and Russia on Monday.

UPDATE 1408 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has posted about Russia’s deadly overnight strikes:

These attacks are a daily reality. This week alone, over 1,580 guided aerial bombs, nearly 1,100 strike drones, and 15 missiles of various types were used against our people. All of this weaponry contains at least 102,000 foreign components. That’s why sanctions against Russian terrorists must be more effective. Every loophole that allows them to bypass the sanctions regime must be eliminated.

New decisions and new pressure on Moscow are needed to bring an end to these strikes and this war.

We must strengthen Ukraine and our army – with more air defense systems and real support.

Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha added:

UPDATE 0931 GMT:

Three civilians have been killed by Russian shelling of Pokrovsk in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine.

The city has held out for months against Russia’s assaults. Ukraine President Voldoymyr Zelensky visited troops and a command headquarters on Saturday.

UPDATE 0717 GMT:

The toll in Kyiv from Russia’s overnight drone attacks has risen to three killed, including a 5-year-old child and her father, and 10 injured.

The youngest of the wounded is 11 months old.

A woman perished when a fire broke out on the top floors of a 9-story building.

“Today, the Russians are once again demonstrating their ‘desire for peace,” chided Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv military administration. “In reality, terrorists are simply launching deadly weapons at residential buildings.”

UPDATE 0702 GMT:

The Netherlands has allocated €65 million ($70.7 million) towards the Ukraine Energy Support Fund.

Dutch Special Representative Erika Scholten spoke online with Deputy Energy Minister Roman Andarak on Saturday. Afterwards, Andarak said, “Thanks to these funds, we will be able to partially cover urgent needs.”

The Dutch Government has pledged €3.5 billion ($3.8 billion) in support in 2026.

UPDATE 0645 GMT:

At least two civilians have been killed in overnight Russian drone attacks on Kyiv.

Mayor Vitali Klitschko said at least seven people were injured, with one hospitalized.

Fires were set in residential buildings and an office building in the capital’s Dniprovskyi, Podilskyi, and Holosiivskyi districts.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: With Vladimir Putin continuing to push his ultimata for the conquering of Ukraine, despite discussions of an interim ceasefire, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has visited the frontline in the east of the country.

Zelensky visited a memorial to the fallen. He toured positions, including those of a drone brigade, and held discussions with commanders.

The meetings were in Pokrovsk, a logistics hub defended for months in the Donetsk region, and in the neighboring Kharkiv region.

Russia has made gradual advances in Donetsk during intensive offensives since October 2023. However, while taking heavy casualties, it has been unable to overrun Pokrovsk.

Zelensky posted last week that the situation near the city, which had a pre-invasion population of around 60,000, has been “stabilized”.