In a stark contradiction to President Donald Trump’s claim of a ceasefire agreement, Russia launched a series of drone strikes that struck civilian infrastructure, including a hospital in Sumy, Ukraine, just hours after Trump’s phone call with President Vladimir Putin.
Trump had stated that during the conversation, Putin agreed to halt attacks on Ukraine’s energy and infrastructure immediately. However, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy reported on March 19, 2025, that Russia’s attacks continued unabated, including on essential civilian and energy facilities. Zelenskyy emphasized the urgency of pressuring Russia for a real peace agreement. “Only a real halt to Russia’s attacks on civilian infrastructure can signal a genuine desire to end this war,” he said.
Following the phone call between Trump and Putin, air raid sirens went off in Kyiv, and explosions rocked several Ukrainian regions, including Zhytomyr, Kharkiv, and Dnipropetrovsk. Russian drones targeted multiple cities, and the hospital in Sumy sustained direct hits, leading to the evacuation of about 150 patients. Fortunately, there were no immediate reports of casualties, but the damage highlighted the ongoing devastation.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov countered claims of continued aggression by accusing Ukraine of sabotaging the Russia-U.S. cooperation by launching attacks on Russian infrastructure. The Russian Ministry of Defense also reported downing several of its drones and claimed to have intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones on March 19, including those targeting Russian energy sites.
Despite Trump’s call for de-escalation, Russia’s terms for a ceasefire remain unchanged. According to the Russian government’s statement, a full halt to hostilities would require an end to Western military and intelligence support for Ukraine—a demand flatly rejected by Zelenskyy. “There should be an increase in assistance for Ukraine, not a reduction,” Zelenskyy stated on March 20, in response to Moscow’s demands.
This latest escalation comes after weeks of diplomatic tensions, with continued Russian aggression undermining the prospects for a lasting peace deal. The conflict remains far from resolution, as both sides continue to dig in their positions.
