President Donald Trump has cautioned that U.S. troops might get involved in the conflict between Russia and Ukraine if hostilities escalate into “World War III.” This warning followed a nearly two-hour-long phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Tuesday, March 18, 2025.
In an interview with Fox News host Laura Ingraham on “The Ingraham Angle,” Trump acknowledged Russia’s current upper hand in the war, stating, “We want to get it over with,” and noting, “Russia has the advantage.”
Trump characterized his discussion with Putin as “great” and urged the Russian leader to agree to a 30-day ceasefire. Although Putin did not commit to a full ceasefire, he did agree to temporarily pause attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure. Trump explained the intricacies of the situation, saying, “Right now, you have a lot of guns pointing at each other, and a ceasefire without going a little bit further would have been tough.”
The president indicated that securing a limited ceasefire was part of a more significant effort to avoid U.S. military involvement. “Look, we’re doing this – there are no Americans involved. There could be if you end up in World War III over this, which is so ridiculous,” Trump warned during the interview. “But, you know, strange things happen.”
Despite the Trump-Putin agreement, both Russia and Ukraine accused each other of attacks shortly after the call. Russian drones damaged two hospitals in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, prompting evacuations, according to regional authorities. The Ukrainian military reported that its air defense units shot down 72 out of 145 drones launched by Russia in overnight attacks, with another 56 drones neutralized by electronic warfare.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Russia launched more than 40 drones against Ukraine following the Trump-Putin call. A Russian drone attack on the Kyiv region injured a 60-year-old man and damaged several houses, according to regional governor Mykola Kalashnyk.
“Today, Putin de facto rejected the proposal for a complete ceasefire,” Zelenskyy said on Telegram. “It would be right for the world to reject in response any attempts by Putin to drag out the war.”
Andriy Yermak, Zelenskyy’s chief of staff, echoed these sentiments, stating that Russia continues to attack civilians and infrastructure.
Russia has also reported Ukrainian drone attacks within its territory. The defense ministry claimed its units destroyed 57 Ukrainian drones overnight, including 35 over the border Kursk region. Authorities in the southern Russian region of Krasnodar reported a Ukrainian drone attack that started a small fire at an oil depot near the village of Kavkazskaya, leading to the evacuation of 30 employees, though no injuries were reported.
The White House stated that the Trump-Putin call aimed to advance a broader peace plan, with another round of talks set to begin in Saudi Arabia. Following the call, Zelenskyy spoke with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
Zelenskyy said he is in constant contact with European leaders and is confident they will continue to support him. This was in response to Putin’s demand that any resolution requires halting military and intelligence support to Ukraine.
Zelenskyy also revealed that Russia has launched over 1,300 guided bombs, eight missiles, and nearly 600 long-range strike drones at Ukraine since the first round of talks in Saudi Arabia earlier in March. He noted that Ukraine had proposed the idea of a ceasefire on energy infrastructure during those discussions.
The conflict has severely impacted Ukraine’s infrastructure. Approximately 80% of Ukraine’s energy infrastructure has been destroyed by Russian bombs, according to reports. In response, Ukraine has carried out drone and missile strikes deep into Russian territory, targeting oil and gas facilities.
Despite ongoing hostilities, both countries conducted a prisoner exchange, with 175 prisoners of war released by each side, including some severely wounded Ukrainian soldiers.
Russia’s conditions for a full ceasefire include stopping all military and intelligence support for Ukraine from the United States and its Western allies. Zelenskyy firmly rejected these conditions, calling for increased assistance for Ukraine.
The ongoing conflict and lack of a comprehensive ceasefire underscore the situation’s complexities. With Russian forces making advances in eastern Ukraine and both sides attacking each other’s infrastructure, the prospects for an immediate resolution remain uncertain, even as Trump seeks to play a role in facilitating peace in the region.
