From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it’s investigating the financials of Elon Musk’s pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, ‘The A Word’, which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.
Read more
Donald Trump has said he will speak to Vladimir Putin and has invited Volodymr Zelensky back to the Oval Office after Ukraine agreed to accept a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire .
Mr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept the deal, adding the ceasefire “will take effect immediately” if Mr Putin agrees.
The Trump administration also said it would immediately lift its intelligence sharing with Ukraine following “positive” talks in Saudi Arabia.
Asked whether Zelensky was invited back to the White House, Trump said: “Sure, absolutely”.
On the ceasefire deal, he added: “We just agreed to it a little while ago. Hopefully, president Putin can agree to it also and we can get this show on the road.”
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow’s court.
Zelensky said his team proposed three key points: Silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks and silence at sea.
The release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.
Ukraine has agreed to accept a US proposal for an immediate 30-day ceasefire and to take steps toward restoring a durable peace after Russia’s invasion, according to a joint US-Ukraine statement.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would now take the offer to the Russians, and that the ball is now in Moscow’s court.
The two sides, meeting in Saudi Arabia, also agreed to conclude as soon as possible a comprehensive agreement for developing Ukraine’s critical mineral resources, the statement said.
The Trump administration said on Tuesday that it would immediately lift its suspension of military aid to Ukraine and its intelligence sharing with Kyiv, a week after imposing the measures to push Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.
Read more
Barney Davis11 March 2025 21:30
Trump’s invite to Zelensky marked a sharp shift from only a week ago, when it imposed the measures to push the Ukrainian President to enter talks to end the war with invading Russian forces.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who led the US delegation to the talks in Jeddah, said Washington would present the ceasefire offer to the Kremlin, which has thus far opposed anything short of a permanent end to the conflict without accepting any concessions.
“We’re going to tell them this is what’s on the table. Ukraine is ready to stop shooting and start talking. And now it’ll be up to them to say yes or no,” Rubio told reporters after the meeting. “If they say no, then we’ll unfortunately know what the impediment is to peace here.”
Barney Davis11 March 2025 21:04
(REUTERS)
(Getty)
(Reuters)
Barney Davis11 March 2025 20:40
A Russian missile attack on Tuesday damaged a grain vessel in the Black Sea port of Odesa, killing at least four people, Ukraine’s Sea Ports Authority said on Facebook but shortly after deleted the statement.
The statement identified the vessel as MJ Pinar and said it was loading wheat for export when the strike happened.
Barney Davis11 March 2025 20:30
Prime Minister Keir Starmer welcomed a 30-day ceasefire proposal that Ukraine has agreed to and said it was now up to Russia to end the fighting.
“As both American and Ukrainian delegations have said, the ball is now in the Russian court,” Starmer said in a statement, congratulating both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and US President Donald Trump for the “remarkable breakthrough”.
Starmer said he would use a meeting of world leaders that Britain is convening on Saturday to discuss next steps.
“We are ready to help bring an end to this war in a just and permanent way that allows Ukraine to enjoy its freedom,” he said.
Barney Davis11 March 2025 20:17
The Russian Foreign Ministry said that it didn’t rule out contacts with the United States representatives over next several days, state news agency RIA reported, after Donald Trump said that there would be a US meeting with Russia later Tuesday or Wednesday.
Trump said that he hoped Russia would agree to a ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials and that a total ceasefire could be achieved in the three-year war in the coming days.
He said he thought he would talk to Russian President Vladimir Putin about it this week.
President Donald Trump said he hopes Russia will agree to a ceasefire plan drawn up by American and Ukrainian officials.
In remarks to reporters, Trump said: “We just agreed to it a little while ago. Hopefully, President Putin can agree to it also and we can get this show on the road.”
The two leaders clashed in an Oval Office meeting last month but Trump said he would invite Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky back to the White House.
Asked whether Zelensky was invited back to the White House, Trump said: “Sure, absolutely”.
“I think it’s a big difference to the last visit in the Oval Office”, he added, flanked by Elon Musk.
“If we can get Russia to do it, that will be great; if we can’t, we keep on going on and lots of people are going to get killed.”
He added that he expects to talk to Mr Putin this week and said to reporters that it takes “two to tango”.
(AFP via Getty Images)
Barney Davis11 March 2025 19:24
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Tuesday that it seemed there had been an important step towards peace, after Ukraine voiced readiness to accept a United States proposal for a 30-day ceasefire in its conflict with Russia.
“It seems like the Americans and Ukrainians have taken an important step towards peace,” Tusk wrote on X. “And Europe stands ready to help reach a just and lasting peace.”
Barney Davis11 March 2025 19:15
Volodymr Zelensky has called on Russia to accept the ceasefire deal his team have agreed with the United States.
He posted on X: “Our position remains absolutely clear: Ukraine has been seeking peace from the very first second of this war, and we want to do everything to achieve it as soon as possible and in a reliable way—so that war does not return.
“At this meeting with the Americans, Ukraine proposed three key points: silence in the skies—stopping missile strikes, bombs, and long-range drone attacks; silence at sea; real confidence-building measures in this whole situation, in which diplomacy is ongoing, which primarily means the release of prisoners of war and detainees—both military and civilian—and the return of Ukrainian children who were forcibly transferred to Russia.
“The American side understands our arguments and considers our proposals. I am grateful to President Trump for the constructive conversation between our teams. During today’s talks, the US side proposed taking an even bigger first step—a 30-day full interim ceasefire, not only stopping missile, drone, and bomb attacks, not only in the Black Sea, but also along the entire front line.
“Ukraine is ready to accept this proposal—we see it as a positive step and are ready to take it. Now, it is up to the United States to convince Russia to do the same. If Russia agrees, the ceasefire will take effect immediately.”
Barney Davis11 March 2025 19:10