A defiant Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to 'win this war' after accusing Vladimir Putin of breaking his own ceasefire proposals with deadly strikes just hours after the Kremlin agreed to halt its attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure.
In a press conference with President Stubb of Finland in Helsinki today, the Ukrainian president said: 'We're fighting for our sovereignty and our independence — we'll win this war.'
Zelensky drew clear red lines for peace, insisting that his nation would not accept territorial losses as part of a peace deal, and that the return of 'thousands' of prisoners held in Russia was 'unconditional'.
He also revealed that he will speak with Donald Trump later today to discuss the upcoming peace talks in Saudi Arabia. It is believed to be the first time the pair will have spoken since the disastrous clash at the White House late last month.
'Today I will have contacts with President Trump and we will discuss the next steps,' he said in the Finnish capital today.
The talks come at a sensitive time, with Ukraine accusing Russia of having attacked energy infrastructure just hours after agreeing to a partial ceasefire.
While the Kremlin declined to sign up to a month-long ceasefire plan hashed out between Trump administration officials and Ukrainian representatives in Saudi Arabia, it did agree to stop attacks on crucial infrastructure.
Volodymyr Zelensky at today's press conference at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki
Devastation in Sumy, Ukraine on March 19 after Russian troops launched seven strikes on a medical facility in the Krasnopil community
Donald Trump gestures stands at the presidential box at the Kennedy Center, in Washington, D.C., U.S., March 17, 2025
Speaking publicly for the first time since the call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin yesterday, Zelensky claimed Russia had hit Ukrainian energy infrastructure last night despite Putin's pledge to avoid such targets for a month.
Both sides today accused each other of launching air attacks that damaged infrastructure claimed to be exempt under the terms of the agreement.
Zelensky said that Ukraine could supply a list of its facilities in order for an agreement to be properly implemented, while urging that the U.S. oversee the ceasefire.
While Ukraine has sought to show it is acting in good faith in supporting U.S. efforts to mediate a ceasefire, Russia today accused the other side of using drones to attack an oil depot near Kavkazskaya village, sparking a fire.
'It is absolutely clear that this is another provocation specially prepared by the Kyiv regime, aimed at disrupting the peace initiatives of the US president,' the defence ministry said.
The ministry acknowledged firing missiles at Ukrainian energy facilities in Mykolaiv region, but said they were already in flight when Putin gave the order to cease fire.
It said Russian air defences were employed to shoot down their own missiles.
'Putin's words are very different from reality,' Zelensky hit back.
Ahead of his call with Donald Trump today, Zelensky insisted that Washington should take a lead role in overseeing any agreement leading to a halt in Russian and Ukrainian attacks on energy infrastructure.
'The United States should be the main controlling entity,' Zelensky said. 'If the Russians don't hit our targets, we will definitely not hit their targets.'
Vladimir Putin speaks during the plenary session of Russia Union of Industrialists and Entrepreneurs, March 18, 2025
Ukrainian service personnel use searchlights as they search for drones in the sky over the city during a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine March 18, 2025
Natalia, 51, a mother of three, serving as a combat medic in the 24th Mechanized Brigade takes part in a field training exercise in an undisclosed location in eastern Ukraine, on March 18, 2025
fighter of the Chechen Akhmat battalion walks past destroyed houses in the village of Kazachya Loknya, which was previously held by Ukrainian troops, on March 18
Putin told Trump earlier that for a full ceasefire to work, Ukraine must not be allowed to rearm and must halt mandatory mobilisation.
The Kremlin also insisted that a full ceasefire would be dependent on a 'complete cessation' of Western military and intelligence support to Ukraine's military.
The Kremlin's readout of the call stated that Putin emphasised the need to address the 'root causes' of the war, which officials have attributed to perceived NATO expansion near its borders.
There was no mention of the support Russia has received from North Korea, Iran and China.
Ukraine, with recent memory of Russia invading after agreeing to give up weapons, warns that such a deal would leave the country vulnerable to further Russian attacks.
Ahead of his last meeting with Trump, Zelensky provided a list of 25 times Russia had violated ceasefires since the illegal annexation of Crimea in 2014.
A lack of security guarantees from partner may also deter international investment in Ukraine, leaving the country struggling to rebuild its economy as Russia is welcomed back into international markets. This could prime Russia for another invasion.
'I do not believe that we should make any concessions in terms of assistance for Ukraine, but rather there should be an increase in assistance for Ukraine,' Zelensky said during the press conference today.
According to the Telegraph, the UK will keep giving military aid to Ukraine despite Putin's demands.
This handout photograph taken and released by the State Emergency Service of Ukraine on March 19, 2025, shows destroyed building following a Russian strike in the Bucha district of Kyiv region
Finland's President Alexander Stubb (R) and Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky (L) hold a joint press conference following their talks during the latter's official visit to Helsinki, Mar 19
Volodymyr Zelensky (R) and Ukraine's First Lady Olena Zelenska (L) attend a welcome ceremony during their official visit to Helsinki, Finland, 19 March
View shows damaged private houses and car at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Hostomel, Kyiv region, Ukraine March 19, 2025
The EU also said this morning it would continue sending aid to the embattled nation, assessing - in line with Ukraine's judgement - that Russia was not ready to make any concessions.
'If you read the two readouts from the call, it is clear that ... Russia does not really want to make any kind of concessions,' Kaja Kallas, the European Union's top diplomat, told reporters earlier today.
'They are not ready to end this war, and we can see that,' Zelensky said.
Within hours of the partial ceasefire's announcement last night, explosions and air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine.
Zelensky said 'there have been hits, specifically on civilian infrastructure'.
'It is these types of nighttime attacks by Russia that destroy our energy sector, our infrastructure, and the normal life of Ukrainians,' he added.
The Kremlin mirrored Zelensky's comments, claiming that overnight attacks on Russian energy infrastructure showed a lack of will to reach a deal.
It said it viewed Ukraine's behaviour as attempted 'sabotage' of the agreement.
Both sides have said they are keen to end the three-year conflict, subject to certain conditions being met.
Ukraine continues to seek NATO accession, with Zelensky today saying his country would make the bloc stronger overall. Ukraine has one of the 'strongest' armies in modern warfare, he added.
Russia has demanded Ukrainian neutrality. The Trump administration has conceded this point, saying it does not support NATO membership for Ukraine. But European allies have suggested Ukraine could one day join the bloc.
View of a strike on a hospital, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Krasnopillia, Sumy Region, Ukraine in this handout picture released on March 19, 2025
View shows damaged private houses at a site of a Russian drone strike, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in the town of Hostomel, Kyiv region, Ukraine March 19, 2025
Russian soldiers walk past destroyed houses in the village of Kazachya Loknya, which was previously held by Ukrainian troops and recently retaken by Russia's armed forces, Mar 18
A Ukrainian soldier from a sniper unit prepares to fire at a shooting range in Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on March 18, 2025.
With Zelensky and Putin hoping to court Trump into offering favourable terms, the Kremlin insisted that the Russian and American presidents 'trust each other' and want to normalise ties.
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russia would agree to precise dates for future talks with the U.S. in the coming days.
With negotiations ongoing, Russia appears to have the upper hand in its own province of Kursk, where Ukrainian forces have been battling since a shock incursion in August last year.
Zelensky assured his troops would continue fighting in the region 'as long as we need'.
The Kremlin also said yesterday it had pushed back an attempted Ukrainian ground assault on the Belgorod region, painting it as an effort to undermine the talks between Trump and Putin.
