Ukraine updates: Putin suggests UN administration of Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Ukraine be brought under a UN-sponsored "transitional administration" that would oversee elections in the country before a peace agreement is negotiated.

In response to Putin's suggestion, the White House said it was up to Ukrainians and their constitution to determine the country's governance. The Ukrainian constitution prohibits elections during wartime.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed high-level talks with Russia as premature, amid a returning conversation between Moscow and Washington under the Trump administration following a nearly three-year boycott.

Here is a roundup of headlines on Russia's war in Ukraine for Friday, March 28:

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

Erdogan and Putin talk about renewing Black Sea grain initiative

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke to his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, about security in the Black Sea, his office said Friday. 

The Kremlin confirmed the call, adding the pair talked about "the resumption of the Black Sea initiative for safe navigation and the removal of obstacles to the export of Russian food and fertilizers."

In 2022, Turkey and the UN created a plan to ensure safe passage for Ukrainian agricultural exports in the Black Sea. In 2023, Russia withdrew from the deal, blaming the West for not lifting sanctions that hurt its agricultural exports and fertilizers.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to “eliminate the use of force” in the Black Sea at talks in Saudi Arabiaover the last few days, but Moscow said it would only abide by the deal after restrictions were removed from its agricultural exports.

Erdogan again offered to host future talks aimed at ending Russia's war in Ukraine. 

"Turkey is closely following the process initiated to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine and is ready to provide all kinds of support, including hosting peace negotiations," Erdogan told Putin. 

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

Ukraine to discuss US minerals deal only after agreement reached

Ukraine has said it would only publicly discuss a new draft minerals deal drawn up by the United States once there is consensus on it.

The US is reportedly pushing for a more expansive minerals deal.

Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko told Ukrainian lawmakers that any public discussion would be harmful and would prevent "constructive" discussions from taking place with Washington.

US President Donald Trump has been urging Ukraine to sign a deal that would give the US a share in Ukraine's natural resources. The Reuters news agency, citing three people familiar with the ongoing negotiations, reports that the latest draft deal goes well beyond the original proposal.

Ukraine will not receive any future security guarantees. Instead, it must use all income from its natural resources, managed by both state and private companies, to contribute to a joint investment fund.

"Consultations are still happening at the level of the various ministries," Mykhailo Podolyak, a senior official in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's office, said.

Zelenskyy has repeatedly expressed his willingness to consider a minerals deal, but said he would not agree to terms that would leave his country in financial trouble for generations.

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

Luftwaffe escorts Russian reconnaissance plane over Baltic Sea

Germany's air force has identified and escorted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying without a transponder signal over the Baltic Sea. The incident occurred late on Thursday.

According to a statement on WhatsApp, the Luftwaffe scrambled Eurofighter jets from its air base in Laage, northern Germany.

The unidentified aircraft was identified as a Russian IL-20.

The situation ended with the Russian aircraft turning toward Russia's Kaliningrad exclave.

Over the past few years, Russian military aircraft have regularly been intercepted by NATO planes, which had led the alliance to bolster its air policing along its borders with Russia. 

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

White House says Ukrainians determine their governance

In response to Putin's suggestion, the White House stressed it was up to Ukrainians and their constitution to determine the country's governance. 

The statement was made by a White House National Security Council spokesperson.

Ukraine's constitution does not allow for elections during wartime. This provision has led some observers to consider Putin's suggestion of a UN-run election while the war rages to be an attempt to prolong the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

Putin suggest UN-led temporary administration in Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin has suggested that Ukraine be brought under a UN-sponsored "transitional administration" that would oversee elections in the country before a peace agreement is negotiated.

Speaking during a trip to the northwestern city of Murmansk on Friday, Putin was quoted by Russian news agencies as saying that such an administration would be discussed with "the United States, even with European countries, and, of course, with our partners and friends."

"This would be in order to hold democratic elections and bring to power a capable government enjoying the trust of the people and then to start talks with them about a peace treaty," the Russian leader said.

Putin has often dismissed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and questioned his legitimacy after Kyiv missed a presidential vote scheduled for May 2024. Ukraine's constitution does not allow for elections during wartime.

Putin also praised US President Donald Trump, saying, "In my opinion, the newly elected president of the United States sincerely wants an end to the conflict for a number of reasons."

He stressed that Moscow favored "peaceful solutions to any conflict, including this one, through peaceful means, but not at our expense."

Putin also praised Russian troops for "holding the strategic initiative" throughout the war.

"There are reasons to believe that we will finish them off," he said, adding that "the Ukrainian people themselves should understand what is happening." 

Putin has come under repeated criticism from European leaders who have said he is not committed to peace and is instead prolonging the Russian war in Ukraine with his habit of adding stipulations to agreed breaks in fighting and launching attacks on energy and other civilian infrastructure. 

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

High-level talks with Moscow still too early, Rubio said

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio dismissed high-level talks with Russia as premature amid a returning conversation between Moscow and Washington under the Trump administration following a nearly three-year boycott.

Speaking to reporters during a trip back to Miami from a Caribbean diplomatic tour, Rubio said it was not possible "to put a timeframe" on how long it would take to make progress, stressing "it doesn't depend on us."

"There's a lot of work to be done with both sides, particularly with the Russian side, which we haven't talked to for years," Rubio said, stressing the need to make progress "on a technical level."

Donald Trump has repeatedly expressed hopes to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin soon.

During the presidential campaign, Trump had promised to bring an end to the war in Ukraine at the beginning of his second term in office — even promising it would be over on his first day as president.

03/28/2025March 28, 2025

Welcome to our Ukraine blog

Rana Taha | Sean Sinico

This blog brings you the latest on the war in Ukraine as well as the US and European diplomatic efforts around it.

Earlier this week, the US held separate talks with Russia and Ukraine in Saudi Arabia and on Tuesday announced that both parties had agreed to hold fire in strikes on the Black Sea.

Moscow, however, later said it had additional conditions. Russia is seeking relief from a raft of Western sanctions accumulated as a response to its February 2022 invasion of Ukraine.