Following Putin's rejection of a full ceasefire but acceptance of an energy strike pause, Russia launched 145 drones against Ukraine overnight. Morning coverage focused on upcoming US-Russia talks in Jeddah on March 23, with Zelensky announcing a call with Trump later in the day.
By midday, Ukraine announced the return of 197 defenders from Russian captivity—one of the largest prisoner exchanges to date. This fulfilled a key element discussed in the Trump-Putin call.
The Zelensky-Trump call lasted about an hour, with both describing it positively. According to Bloomberg, Zelensky agreed to pause strikes on Russian energy infrastructure, mirroring Putin's concession, creating a limited "energy truce." Trump reportedly promised to help Ukraine acquire more Patriot air defense systems, while the White House confirmed intelligence sharing with Ukraine would continue despite Russian demands to stop. Teams from both countries will meet in Saudi Arabia to negotiate broader ceasefire terms.