The Kremlin has confirmed Monday, March 17, 2025, a telephone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin scheduled for March 18, 2025. This will mark their second official conversation since Trump returned to the White House earlier this year. Sources indicate discussions may involve significant topics, such as sharing certain assets related to Ukraine, including land and energy resources.
During Trump’s flight to Washington aboard Air Force One, he commented to reporters, "We’ll see if we have something to announce." This meeting follows negotiations involving officials from the U.S., Russia, and Ukraine held separately over the weekend, which Trump believes could help reach common ground to end the conflict.
On the Ukrainian front, reports indicated intense combat activity with the Ukrainian Armed Forces declaring nearly 100 clashes against Russian forces during Monday alone. A substantial number of these confrontations occurred near Pokrovsk, where Ukrainian forces reported having repelled the majority of Russian advances.
The situation continues to evolve as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky decided on significant military changes, replacing the chief of staff of the Armed Forces, Anatoli Barhylevytch, with Andriy Hnatov. This reshuffle aims to bolster the operational capability of the military at a time when they face considerable challenges on the ground.
Simultaneously, President Zelensky confirmed the retreat from the city of Soudja, which had been under Ukrainian control since August 2024. This withdrawal has raised concerns about the state of operations as they defend key territories against Russian advances.
On the political front, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, who has just assumed office, announced his invitation to President Zelensky to attend the G7 summit set for June 2025. This invitation signifies Canada’s growing commitment to support Ukraine amid the hostilities with Russia.
The Kremlin, meanwhile, expressed outright opposition to the deployment of foreign troops within Ukraine, responding to statements from multiple countries willing to contribute to peacekeeping efforts, should negotiations lead to a resolution of the current conflict.
Yet, the debate over potential territorial concessions remains heated. Trump pointedly mentioned discussions around “sharing certain assets,” which include significant land parcels and energy production facilities, echoing broader trends within geopolitical dialogues surrounding the conflict.
Despite these discussions, key EU officials, such as Kaja Kallas, indicated skepticism about Russia's intent for peace, criticizing their demands as not genuinely supportive of conflict resolution. Kallas emphasized, "The conditions presented by Moscow show they do not really want peace." This skepticism is mirrored by Ukrainians, who feel pressure from Russia’s terms and continue to push for international support and supervision for peace efforts.
Adding to the complexity of the situation, reports revealed the Russian military had claimed to take the village of Stepove, located in the Ukrainian Zaporijia region, and affirmed their coordinated efforts to target Ukrainian military units at various fronts.
Overall, March 17, 2025, highlights significant developments as both nations prepare for the upcoming dialogue between Trump and Putin, on the backdrop of intense military operations and ever-changing territorial control dynamics on the Ukrainian front. With Trump's firm stance on discussions of asset-sharing and Ukraine’s military reshuffling, expectations rise on what announcements may come from the important phone call on Tuesday.
