Russian President Vladimir Putin's comments on a proposed 30-day ceasefire suggest he is preparing to reject the U.S. proposal, according to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in his evening address on March 13.
"Putin is afraid to directly tell (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump that he wants to continue this war and kill Ukrainians. That is why Moscow is demanding preconditions for a ceasefire that will either make it impossible or delay it as much as possible," Zelensky stated.
Kyiv had agreed to a temporary truce proposed by Washington during talks in Jeddah on March 11, contingent on Russia’s participation. On March 13, Putin expressed willingness to accept the proposal but insisted on guarantees that Kyiv would not mobilize or train troops or receive military aid during the ceasefire.
Zelensky dismissed Putin’s response as "Russian manipulations."
"We have now heard Putin’s predictable and manipulative response to the idea of a ceasefire—he is essentially preparing to reject it," Zelensky said.
During a press conference on March 13, Putin referenced battlefield conditions, claiming a ceasefire would favor Ukraine since Russian forces are making advances. He also questioned who would oversee the truce along the more than 2,000-kilometer front line.
Zelensky stated that the U.S. was ready to manage oversight and verification of the ceasefire, arguing that it would provide an opportunity to address security concerns and work toward ending the war. "We do not impose conditions that complicate the process. Russia does. They need this war," he emphasized.
Zelensky urged increased sanctions on Russia to pressure Putin. Trump had previously warned that Moscow could face "devastating" financial consequences if it continued its full-scale war against Ukraine.
On March 13, Trump described Putin’s statement about the 30-day ceasefire as "very promising" but "not complete," adding that he was open to meeting with the Russian president.
Russia Claims Retaking of Sudzha; Ukraine Yet to Confirm
The Russian Defense Ministry announced on March 13 that its forces had recaptured Sudzha, a key Ukrainian stronghold in Russia's Kursk Oblast.
The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify this claim. As of late March 12, Ukrainian forces acknowledged ongoing battles in the Sudzha area.
Sudzha, a town with a pre-war population of 6,000 located approximately 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the Ukrainian border, was captured by Ukrainian troops in August 2024 during the Kursk incursion.
According to military analysts from the DeepState monitoring group and the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), Russia has partially or fully seized Sudzha as Ukrainian forces reportedly withdraw.
Russia’s Defense Ministry released a video showing the devastated town after its alleged recapture. The Kyiv Independent could not independently verify the footage.
"The Russian military almost entirely destroyed Sudzha with airstrikes," stated Andrii Kovalenko, an official with Ukraine’s National Security and Defense Council. "The town and its surroundings are in ruins, with few civilian structures left intact."
The recapture comes amid Russia’s rapid advance in the border region, significantly reducing the Ukrainian-controlled area.
On March 12, Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, claimed that Russia had reclaimed over 86% of the territory Kyiv had seized in Kursk Oblast in mid-2024.
The Russian Defense Ministry also reported the capture of the settlements of Melovoi and Podol as of March 13.
Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi acknowledged the "difficult situation" but affirmed that Ukrainian forces would defend their positions "as long as reasonable and necessary."
Ukrainian Drones Target Russian UAV Facility, Sources Say
Ukrainian military intelligence (HUR) drones attacked a concealed drone production facility in Russia’s Kaluga Oblast on March 12, HUR sources confirmed to the Kyiv Independent.
According to one source, drone production lines were hidden within an aerated concrete plant in the village of Obukhovo, Dzerzhinsky district.
Kaluga Oblast Governor Vladislav Shapsha reported that 25 drones were intercepted over the region overnight, with drone debris setting fire to an unspecified industrial facility in the Dzerzhinsky district.
One employee sustained minor injuries, and the fire has been extinguished, Shapsha stated.
Locals reported powerful explosions and a fire at the plant on social media. Additionally, drone debris damaged a cell tower and a power line in the Khvastovichsky district, Kaluga Oblast’s southernmost area, Shapsha added.
Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed that air defenses had downed 77 drones overnight, including 30 over Bryansk Oblast, six over Kursk and Voronezh oblasts each, and five over Rostov and Belgorod oblasts each.
An unspecified infrastructure facility was also damaged on the evening of March 12 in Voronezh Oblast, which borders Ukraine’s Luhansk Oblast, Governor Alexander Gusev announced via Telegram.
According to the Baza Telegram channel, citing residents, the targeted facility was part of the region’s gas infrastructure.
The Kyiv Independent could not verify these claims.
Russia’s Federal Air Transport Agency reported temporary flight restrictions at airports in Penza, Saratov, and Volgograd overnight.
Trump Discusses Russian-Occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Plant in Peace Talks
Washington has discussed control of the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant as part of potential peace negotiations with Ukraine, U.S. President Donald Trump revealed on March 13.
Speaking from the Oval Office, Trump stated that discussions had included "concepts of land" regarding which territories would be retained or relinquished in a final peace agreement.
"We have talked with Ukraine about land—what will be kept, what will be lost, and all elements of a final agreement," Trump said.
"There’s a very large power plant involved. The question is, who will control it? And who will manage other aspects of the agreement? It’s not a simple process. But phase one is the ceasefire," he added.
The Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, Europe’s largest, has been under Russian occupation since 2022. Though still under Russian control, it is currently not generating electricity.
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