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TRANSCRIPT
Ukraine and Russia are escalating their attacks on each other, with no end in sight.
But Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the US is offering security guarantees for a peace deal in Ukraine, if Ukraine gives up the eastern region of Donbas to Russia.
Mr Zelenskyy says abandoning defensive line in Donbas would be a major security risk, and is accusing US President Donald Trump of placing pressure on Ukraine in negotiations.
"Therefore, I believe that withdrawing from the east of our country poses a high risk to Ukraine. To Europe. And ultimately, a failed peace poses a big risk for Trump and his team, which is why we need to talk. Especially since if all three parties…If all three parties want the war to end, then they need to hold at least one meeting at the leadership level to discuss the issues of territory and security guarantees. These are the two key issues: territory and security guarantees, and no such meeting has been organised as yet. The mediator here is the United States of America. I believe that all the necessary opportunities are at their hands."
He's worried the US may stop supplying Ukraine with weapons, as it escalates its own war against Iran.
Ukrainian translated to English VO “They (the US) haven’t stopped our supplies; I am very grateful to President Trump, to his team, and to everyone - they haven’t stopped our supplies. But the supply of Patriot missiles isn’t as large as we need. Are we afraid it will stop? Yes, that’s what I’m talking about. I won’t speculate on how long we’ll be able to hold out after that.”
Russia's President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, says that the Kremlin welcomes US efforts to bring about peace in Ukraine.
Russian translated to English VO “We welcome the continuation of efforts by the American side aimed at ensuring conditions for reaching a settlement in Ukraine.”
Mr Zelenskyy says his country is increasing its own production of drones and interceptors to counter Russia's threat.
Ukrainian translated to English VO “We will respond to every one of their attacks; we’re speaking about this completely openly. Russia, aside from the pressure - and as we can see, the pressure on Russia from the world is actually decreasing. I’m not talking about the reasons right now, but we can see changes in sanctions policy. That’s why, unlike everyone else or many in the world, Ukraine has its own sanctions - these are them. These are our responses. They must feel the pressure. If Ukraine doesn’t respond to their strikes, Russia will simply continue - it won’t even consider a pause in this war.”
Earlier, Russia reported its air defences had downed 389 Ukrainian drones - in its largest overnight attack on Russia and Crimea since the Russia-Ukraine war in 2022.
Just a day before that, Russia launched almost 1,000 drones and dozens of missiles at civilian areas of Ukraine.
Ukraine authorities reported that attack killed at least six people, injuring around 50.
Russia is maintaining its pause on peace talks, due to the war in the Middle East.
But Russian official Yuri Ushakov says the US has provided updates since it spoke with Ukrainian delegates on the weekend [[21-22 March]].
Russian translated to English VO "It means that they held the talks, and they (the U-S) provided us with a detailed briefing on the results. We know where we stand and where they stand now."
According to the mayor of Ukraine's second-largest city, Khakiv [[har-keev]], Ihor Terekhov, Russia's latest drone attack on that city has injured nine people.
One of the strikes damaged a house where a 75-year-old woman lived.
Her daughter-in-law, Oksana Shalamova, describes the state of shock she was in.
Ukrainian translated to English VO "We are in shock because the house has been destroyed and is badly damaged. You can see this side of the building, but the yard is destroyed on the opposite side. The kitchen is destroyed. There was a fire on the upper floor."
Stray Ukrainian military drones struck a chimney at a power station in Estonia - just two kilometres from the Russian border - after entering the country's airspace via Russia.
Another stray Ukrainian military drone entered the airspace of Latvia.
At the same time, Russian officials said a Ukrainian drone attack set fire to oil facilities at Russia's Baltic Sea ports of Primorsk and Ust-Luga - major export hubs located near Estonia and Finland.
Meanwhile, Russia says the US has briefed Russia with details on its latest talks with Ukraine.
