Former U.S. President outlines potential peace initiatives while conflict escalates in Ukraine.
Former U.S. President
Donald Trump stated that he had productive discussions with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump expressed optimism about reaching a preliminary agreement to alleviate tensions between the two nations.
He remarked, "I hope that we have already outlined the contours of an agreement." On March 18, Putin and Trump engaged in a two-hour phone conversation during which Putin responded positively to a proposal to forgo attacks on energy infrastructure for 30 days, instructing his military accordingly.
Subsequently, Zelensky affirmed Ukraine’s willingness to support this initiative.
However, shortly after these discussions, Ukraine launched a drone attack on the Kavkazskaya pumping station in Krasnodar Krai, which is involved in transferring oil from railway reserves to the pipeline system of the Caspian Pipeline Consortium.
The Russian Ministry of Defense noted that such actions by Ukraine appear to disrupt Trump's peace initiatives, with spokesman Dmitry Peskov characterizing the attacks as indicative of Kiev's inability to negotiate effectively.
In response to the conflict, the Russian military, under Putin's command, ceased all offensives and reported intercepting seven drones that were en route to attack targets in the Nikolayev region of Ukraine.
The ongoing war in Ukraine, now entering its 1,122nd day, continues to see significant developments, including reports of severe clashes.
A large fire broke out in Odesa following a series of explosions, while Russian forces have reportedly expelled Ukrainian troops from the southwestern area of Kremen in the Luhansk People's Republic.
In the wider scope, the U.S. administration under Trump has also been active in immigration matters, announcing the termination of temporary legal status for approximately 530,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans currently residing in the United States.
Meanwhile, financial markets are reacting to global uncertainties, with European and U.S. stock indices generally declining, alongside falling gold and wheat prices, while oil prices have experienced a slight increase.
In the Netherlands, real estate prices surged by 10.6% year-on-year in February, a slower pace compared to previous periods, according to the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS).
On a local level, significant infrastructure developments are underway in Serbia.
The city of Belgrade has approved plans for a pedestrian bridge linking Kej oslobođenja and the Lido bathing area in Zemun.
Additionally, the municipal government of Novi Pazar has released plans for a northwest bypass around the city, inviting public comments until March 25.