03/16/2025March 16, 2025Russia evacuates hundreds of people from Kursk
Russia announced it has evacuated 371 civilians from areas it regained from Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Kursk is part of western Russia that borders the Sumy region of Ukraine. The Russian military has regained control over several towns in Russia’s Kursk region, which Ukrainian forces had held after a surprise incursion into Russian territory last August.
However, fierce fighting between Russian and Ukrainian troops is ongoing.
Kursk region governor Alexander Khinshtein wrote on the Telegram messaging app, “371 people have been moved, including 14 children,” from the region since Wednesday.
He added 220 of the civilians had been placed in temporary accommodation, while the rest were staying with relatives.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rpkr
03/16/2025March 16, 2025Russia, Ukraine trade strikes; Injuries reported in Belgorod
Both Russia and Ukraine launched aerial strikes on one another from Saturday into Sunday.
Ukraine’s air defense units shot down 47 of 90 drones launched by Russia in an overnight attack, the air force said.
Damage was reported in four regions, but the air force didn’t provide details.
Separately, Russia’s defense ministry said its air defense destroyed 31 Ukrainian drones over Russian territory, including 16 in Voronezh, nine in Belgorod, and the rest in Rostov and Kursk regions.
In Belgorod, three people were injured in the attack, including a 7-year-old, according to regional Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rpUr
03/16/2025March 16, 2025Trump narrows responsibilities of special envoy Kellogg to Ukraine
After reported complaints from Russia, US President Donald Trump has narrowed the role of Keith Kellogg, who will now serve solely as his special envoy on Ukraine.
Kellogg has previously been described as a special envoy for Ukraine and Russia.
“I am pleased to inform you that General Keith Kellogg has been appointed Special Envoy to Ukraine,” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
A former national security adviser during Trump’s first term, Kellogg was excluded from recent talks in Saudi Arabia on ending the war.
He was also not involved in the talks with Russia that followed, with US Special Envoy Steve Witkoff visiting Moscow instead to discuss a possible ceasefire.
US broadcaster NBC, citing a senior Russian official, reported that the Kremlin had put pressure on Trump because President Vladimir Putin considered Kellogg pro-Ukraine.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov dismissed the report, telling reporters on Friday Moscow has no intention of interfering.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rpSq
03/16/2025March 16, 2025Rubio and Lavrov discuss ‘next steps’ on Ukraine
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia‘s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov spoke on Saturday about ending the war in Ukraine.
The US State Department said the top diplomats “discussed next steps” after the two countries’ meetings in Saudi Arabia and “agreed to continue working towards restoring communication between the United States and Russia.”
Despite recent tensions between US President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Kyiv has agreed to a US-brokered 30-day ceasefire if Moscow halts its attacks, but Russian President Vladimir Putin has set conditions beyond the US-Ukraine agreement.
The State Department gave no details on when the next round of US-Russia talks would begin.
Rubio also updated Lavrov on military activity in the Middle East, where US forces carried out strikes against Houthi rebels Yemen.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rpRx
Welcome to our coverage, let’s bring you up to speed:
In a sign of warming ties between the United States and Russia, their top envoys discussed the “next steps” to end the war in Ukraine.
The call between US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov comes hours after Ukraine’s allies agreed to exert pressure on Moscow.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer hosted a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” which involved leaders of 26 nations and the EU and NATO to discuss ending the war in Ukraine.
They focused on ways to strengthen Ukraine, protect any ceasefire, and keep up the pressure on Moscow.
Military leaders from about 30 countries met in Paris on March 11 to discuss plans for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, and they will meet again on Thursday in Britain.
French President Emmanuel Macron called for unified action to ensure Russia accepts the proposed ceasefire.
Kyiv has agreed to a US-brokered 30-day unconditional ceasefire if Moscow stops its attacks in eastern Ukraine.
However, Russian President Vladimir Putin has not accepted the truce and has proposed conditions that go beyond the US agreement.
https://p.dw.com/p/4rpRq