President Donald Trump is continuing to press for a negotiated end to the war in Ukraine, even as Kyiv reports heavy Russian battlefield losses and intensifying attacks across multiple regions.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday, March 25, said that the United States has linked potential security guarantees for Ukraine to a proposal requiring Kyiv to withdraw from the eastern Donbas region — a condition he warned could reshape the balance of the conflict.
“The Americans are prepared to finalize these guarantees at a high level once Ukraine is ready to withdraw from Donbas,” Zelenskyy told Reuters, adding that such a move would hand Russia key defensive positions and weaken long-term security.
He also indicated that Washington’s approach reflects broader geopolitical pressures, stating that “the Middle East definitely has an impact on President Trump… [he] still chooses a strategy to put more pressure on the Ukrainian side.”
Heavy losses reported on the battlefield
The remarks come as Ukraine reports significant Russian losses over the past 24 hours, with the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine stating that 1,220 Russian personnel were killed during that period.
The latest figures also detail equipment losses, including tanks, artillery systems, and vehicles, as fighting continues along multiple фронтline sectors.
Ukrainian military officials say the pace of losses reflects intensified Russian offensives, with operations increasing as weather conditions improve.
Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi noted that Russian forces had suffered more than 6,000 casualties over four days amid a surge in coordinated attacks.
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The battlefield developments coincide with one of the largest aerial assaults since the start of the war. Ukrainian authorities on Wednesday reported that Russia launched 948 drones within a 24-hour period, alongside missile and bomb strikes targeting multiple regions.
Daytime strikes were recorded in western cities, including Ivano-Frankivsk and Vinnytsia, where regional officials confirmed fatalities.
In Lviv, footage circulating online showed a drone hitting a building near a historic church, with local authorities reporting damage within a UNESCO-listed area.
Overnight attacks across at least 11 regions also resulted in casualties, with deaths reported in Poltava, Zaporizhia, Kherson and Kharkiv.
Ukraine-Russia peace plan tied to territorial concessions
Zelenskyy said the proposal under discussion is part of a broader U.S.-backed framework previously presented to both Kyiv and Moscow.
The plan includes provisions for elections in Ukraine within a set period after the end of hostilities, alongside territorial concessions.
Talks on security guarantees remain ongoing, with Zelenskyy indicating that further work is needed before any agreement can be finalized.
The developments come as U.S.-Ukraine discussions on ending the war continue, with Washington urging progress while Kyiv calls for sustained military and financial support.
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President Zelenskyy has also appealed to allies to maintain pressure on Russia’s economy, particularly targeting oil revenues that continue to fund Moscow’s war effort.
In remarks earlier this week, he pointed to increased crude oil sales despite sanctions, warning that continued revenue flows give Russia the capacity to sustain operations.
In a post on X on Sunday, Zelenskyy called for tougher action against Moscow’s so-called shadow fleet of tankers and for the denial of oil revenues to it.
“Over the past week, Russia launched nearly 1,550 attack drones against Ukraine, more than 1,260 guided aerial bombs, and two missiles. Over that same week, due to the easing of sanctions, Russia increased its crude oil sales to finance its war,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Despite ongoing military support from the United States, including deliveries of Patriot air defence systems, Ukrainian officials say resources remain insufficient.
Zelenskyy acknowledged continued assistance from Washington but warned that Ukraine faces a growing deficit of air defence munitions as Russian bombardments persist.
He urged allies to ensure that previously agreed support is delivered on time to counter the scale of ongoing attacks.
