US agreements with Ukraine and Russia in Riyadh, verdict against MP Hunko: March 25 highlights
Ukraine, the United States, and Russia revealed details of agreements reached during talks in Saudi Arabia. Ukrainian MP Anatoliy Hunko was sentenced to seven years in prison for bribery. President Donald Trump defended his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, after a data leak from a Signal chat. Here’s a roundup of the top news for March 25.
The United States, Ukraine and Russia reported on the results of the talks in Riyadh
The United States, Ukraine, and Russia released their summaries of technical-level negotiations held March 23-25 in Saudi Arabia.
Washington said all parties agreed to ensure safe navigation, rule out the use of force, and prevent commercial ships from being used for military purposes in the Black Sea.
Kyiv clarified what would constitute a violation by Russia and when Ukraine could exercise its right to self-defense.
Meanwhile, the Kremlin stated that a Black Sea ceasefire would take effect after sanctions are lifted from Rosselkhozbank and other Russian financial institutions.
The parties also agreed to develop measures to implement a deal banning attacks on energy facilities in Russia and Ukraine.
The Kremlin published a list of Russian and Ukrainian sites that, per the agreement, cannot be targeted during a 30-day ceasefire.
Additionally, Washington discussed the return of Ukrainians with Kyiv and promised Moscow a softening of sanctions.
Sentence for MP Hunko
Ukraine’s High Anti-Corruption Court on March 25 found lawmaker Anatoliy Hunko guilty of illegally receiving $85,000. He was sentenced to seven years in prison.
The verdict takes effect in 30 days, leaving room for an appeal.
The United States has offered Ukraine a new major minerals deal
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the United States proposed signing a major deal on rare-earth metals, aiming for a full agreement rather than a framework.
While details remain unclear to Zelenskyy, he noted there’s no mention of nuclear power plants in the proposal.
The number of casualties has increased in Sumy, and shelling in Donetsk Oblast killed a child
The number of people injured in a Russian strike on Sumy on March 24 rose to 101. Cleanup efforts continue in the city.
Meanwhile, in Kurtivka, Donetsk Oblast, a Russian attack killed a 36-year-old woman and her 3-year-old daughter. The woman’s older child was hospitalized. The family was at a playground during the strike.
Trump defends adviser Waltz after Signal chat data leak
President Donald Trump backed his national security adviser, Mike Waltz, amid fallout from a leak of data to The Atlantic’s editor-in-chief, Jeffrey Goldberg, via a Signal chat. “Michael Waltz has learned a lesson, and he’s a good man,” Trump said.
U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that military plans were discussed in the chat, calling Goldberg a “deceitful and highly discredited so-called journalist.”
Other news
- Online outlet Svoi.Kryvyi Rih reported an attack on its special correspondent, linking it to a recent investigative piece.
- Ukraine’s air force struck a concentration of enemy troops in Kondratovka, Kursk Oblast, eliminating up to 30 Russian soldiers.
- German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier officially issued dismissal certificates to Chancellor Olaf Scholz and 14 cabinet ministers, though they will temporarily remain in their roles.
- An ad for a special contract targeting Ukrainian youth aged 18-24, comparing funds to a Netflix subscription or Roblox currency (Robux), was confirmed as fake and not published by state entities.
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