Ukraine-Poland talks, Germany's new military aid - Thursday brief

Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest

• Russians fire missiles and drones at Ukraine overnight: Air defense destroys 26 targets
• Explosions were heard in Kharkiv over a nighttime aerial attack - a restaurant in the city was destroyed. Explosions were also reported in Dnipro and Dnipropetrovsk regions, and air defense forces were active in Odesa. Several private houses in Zaporizhzhia were damaged due to falling debris from downed drones, resulting in two injuries. It was later revealed that the occupiers also targeted transport infrastructure in the Zaporizhzhia region with Shahed drones.
• Moscow russifies occupied regions of Ukraine and builds prisons - UK intelligence
• An evening update from the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine reported that there were 48 combat clashes on the front line over the day.

Ukraine and Poland hold talks over border blockade

Ukraine, Poland and the European Union held talks over the border blockade to find common ground, particularly on grain export.

The meeting of government delegations (led by Ukraine's Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal and his Polish counterpart Donald Tusk) took place in Warsaw, resulting in the signing of a joint statement. The next round of such consultations is scheduled to take place next year in Kyiv.

According to Shmyhal, the Ukrainian government has developed five steps aimed at resolving this issue.

As Ukraine's Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food Mykola Solskyi later said, new negotiations on the border blockade are planned. They will be held in a narrow format next week and in a broader format next month.

Tank shells, drones, and more: Germany sends large aid package to Ukraine

On March 28, Germany updated the list of military aid it has already handed over to Ukraine. According to the German government, Ukrainian soldiers received:

• 5 Warthog all-terrain tracked vehicles as repair and evacuation vehicles;
• over 9 Warthog all-terrain tracked vehicles as command vehicles;
• ammunition for Leopard 2 A6;
• 18 thousand rounds of 155 mm ammunition;
• 14 Vector reconnaissance drones with spare parts;
• 30 RQ-35 Heidrun reconnaissance drones;
• 5 anti-drone jammers;
• 180 RF 360 field kits - drone detection systems;
• 6 WISENT 1 demining machines;
• 2 BEAVER bridge pavers with spare parts;
• Bergepanzer 2 armored engineering vehicle with spare parts;
• 1 DACHS armored engineering vehicle;
• 9 mine trawls;
• 1 SATCOM surveillance system;
• 330 infrared cameras;
• 3 vehicles for border protection;
• 6 Mercedes-Benz Zetros fuel trucks;
• 2 thousand RGW 90 Matador grenade launchers.

Germany also prepares to send 20 Marder armored personnel carriers and missiles for the Patriot air defense system.

Kyiv convenes emergency meeting of Ukraine-NATO Council

On March 28, the NATO-Ukraine Council met at the ambassadorial level. The topic of discussion was Russia's shelling of Ukrainian critical infrastructure. The meeting was convened at the initiative of the Ukrainian side.

During the meeting, Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov informed the allies about the consequences of Russia's terrorist attacks and the response measures taken by Ukraine. The Minister also called on NATO member states to provide Ukraine with additional air and missile defense systems, missiles for them.

Head of French National Assembly visits Kyiv and addresses Ukrainian Parliament

The President of the French National Assembly, Yael Braun-Pivet, arrived in Kyiv. She addressed the Verkhovna Rada. A French delegation also arrived at the Ukrainian Parliament.

Situation on front stabilized, but new Russian offensive is looming - Zelenskyy

According to President Zelenskyy, the situation on the front was stabilized as spring approached. But the winter months were quite challenging.

At the same time, Ukrainian troops are not prepared to defend against another major Russian offensive, expected sometime around late May or June.

Poland unblocks another checkpoint on border with Ukraine

Polish farmers have unblocked the Uhryniv-Dołhobyczow checkpoint on the border with Ukraine, allowing the resumption of truck traffic.

However, Poland notes that the blockade of truck traffic at this checkpoint may resume on April 2.

Russian fighter jet crashed in occupied Crimea

A Russian fighter jet crashed on the territory of temporarily occupied Crimea. Initially, locals claimed that an aircraft had been shot down over Crimea. Later, it was revealed that it was likely a Russian Su-34/Su-35 fighter jet.

Meanwhile, the occupying authorities of the peninsula stated that the pilot had been rescued from the sea, approximately 200 meters from the shore of Sevastopol.

Zelenskyy talks with Speaker of US House of Representatives

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had a phone conversation with the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, Mike Johnson.

The President briefed the Speaker on the situation on the battlefield, particularly on the rapid escalation of Russian aerial terror. In just the past week, Ukrainian cities and communities have been hit by 190 rockets, 140 Shahed drones, and 700 guided bombs.

"In this situation, swift approval of assistance for Ukraine by Congress is critically important. We understand that there are different positions in the House of Representatives on how to do this, but the main thing is that the issue of assistance to Ukraine remains a unifying factor," added the President.

Czech initiative: Ukraine may receive more shells than initially planned

The participating countries of the Czech initiative for purchasing artillery shells for Ukraine have signed an agreement, under which the Armed Forces of Ukraine will receive 1 million rounds of ammunition. This number exceeds the initially planned amount.

Furthermore, Ukraine may receive the first batches of ammunition not in June, as previously publicly stated by the Czech government, but as early as April.

Swedish Defense Minister on Gripen supply to Ukraine: Deliberations ongoing

Swedish Defense Minister Pål Jonson stated that the country does not rule out the possibility of supplying Ukraine with its Gripen fighter jets. Currently, such discussions are ongoing within the framework of the aviation coalition.

The Swedish minister also noted that Europe should strengthen its assistance to Ukraine and "compensate for some of the support that is going down."