**Ukraine‘s President Warns Against Dividing Cities by Contact Line**
President Volodymyr Zelensky of Ukraine has warned against dividing Ukrainian cities and towns by a contact line in the event of a ceasefire. He made these comments during a briefing with journalists on March 20.
Zelensky said that if the contact line is left in place, it would leave some cities without life. He compared such cities to divided Berlin during the Cold War, saying “The Berlin Wall is not an option.” Zelensky also discussed this issue with US President Donald Trump on March 19 and warned him against leaving Ukrainian settlements split by the contact line.
**Russia’s Occupation of Ukraine**
Russia continues to occupy around 20% of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and large parts of the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts. Reports have emerged of systematic repression, torture, and forced deportations from occupied territories.
Zelensky has repeatedly stressed that Ukraine will never recognize the occupied territories as Russian soil. However, the Ukrainian leadership has acknowledged that some territories, such as Crimea, are unlikely to be liberated by military means in the near future.
**Latest Developments**
Russia launched a large-scale attack on Kropyvnytskyi in Kirovohrad Oblast overnight on March 20. The city’s governor reported that Russian forces suffered over 1,400 casualties just over the past day.
Finland has agreed to assist Ukraine in building shelters to protect against regular Russian aerial attacks. Ukrainian and US officials are expected to meet in Saudi Arabia for continued peace talks.
A new shipment of Western F-16 fighter jets has arrived in Ukraine, President Zelensky confirmed on March 19. The European Union plans to supply Ukraine with at least 2 million shells annually, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced on March 19.
**Peace Talks**
President Volodymyr Zelensky asked US President Donald Trump for additional air defense systems to protect Ukrainian civilians, particularly Patriot missile systems. The US president agreed to find what was available in Europe, according to a readout of their phone call on March 19.
Zelensky also agreed to stop strikes on Russian energy infrastructure during the same phone call with Trump.
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