Russia and Ukraine have carried out air strikes on each other’s infrastructure after Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected a 30-day ceasefire proposal from the United States. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia had targeted “civilian infrastructure” including a hospital in Sumy.

Meanwhile, the Russian Defense Ministry said it had intercepted 57 Ukrainian drones. A Ukrainian drone attack in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region set fire to an oil depot. In a phone call with Donald Trump on Tuesday (March 18) local time, Putin agreed to suspend attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure for 30 days, but rejected a general ceasefire proposal.

Hours after the Trump-Putin call, Ukrainian President Zelensky said in a statement that Ukraine had been the victim of Russian attacks. “Unfortunately, civilian infrastructure has been hit,” Zelensky said. Our infrastructure, our ordinary way of life are the targets of Russian attacks.’ Zelensky added, ‘Today Putin has essentially rejected the ceasefire proposal. The world should reject any attempt by Putin to prolong this war.’

Meanwhile, Putin has advocated continuing talks on a full ceasefire on the condition that military aid from Ukraine’s allies be stopped. In this situation, Russia and Ukraine today agreed to exchange 175 prisoners. The Kremlin said that as a ‘kind gesture’, Russia will release an additional 23 wounded Ukrainian soldiers from their medical facilities.