Here are the key developments on March 16:
1. **Ukraine confirms withdrawal from Sudzha in Russia’s Kursk Oblast**: Ukraine has confirmed that it has withdrawn its troops from Sudzha, a village in Russia’s Kursk Oblast.
2. **UK proposes Western peacekeeping mission of 10,000 troops to Ukraine**: The UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer proposed sending 10,000 peacekeeping troops to Ukraine as part of a coalition of the willing to secure Ukraine in the event of a peace deal with Russia.
3. **US hopes to see ceasefire within weeks**: The US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that the US hopes to see a ceasefire within weeks, but this would require guarantees from Ukraine that it will not mobilize or train troops or receive military aid during the truce.
4. **Russia demands security guarantees in exchange for ceasefire**: Russia’s President Vladimir Putin demanded that Ukraine provide guarantees that it will not mobilize or train troops or receive military aid during a proposed 30-day ceasefire.
5. **Ukraine expected to exchange territories for security guarantees**: The US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said that Ukraine was expected to exchange territories for security guarantees, but this would not include permanent membership in NATO.
Overall, these developments suggest that there are ongoing efforts to find a peaceful resolution to the conflict in Ukraine, with various countries and parties proposing different solutions. However, it remains unclear whether any of these proposals will be successful in achieving a lasting ceasefire or peace agreement.
