Ukraine claims to have taken back almost all of its territory in a key region that Vladimir Putin wanted to turn into a “buffer zone”.
Senior general Oleksandr Komarenko told reporters that Ukrainian troops now controlled almost all of the Dnipropetrovsk region after liberating 400 square kilometres in counterattacks.
He said this undermined Russia’s attempted strategy of seizing a strip of territory beyond its stated claims in the Donbas, to serve as a “buffer zone” and support further offensive operations.
Earlier, Donald Trump said the US would loosen oil-related Ukraine war sanctions on “some countries” after an hour-long phone call with Vladimir Putin.
Trump said they discussed both the Ukraine war and the conflict in the Middle East during a “very good call”. He said they had a “positive” discussion about the European conflict despite what he called “tremendous hatred” between Putin and Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky.
Trump said Putin offered help bringing a quick diplomatic end to the Iran war. “I said, ‘You could be more helpful by getting the Ukraine–Russia war over with. That will be more helpful,’” Trump told reporters.
Key Points
- Ukraine claims to have taken back hundreds of kilometres of territory from Russian troops
- Zelensky accuses Hungary of ‘banditry’ after shipment containing cash and gold worth $82m seized
- Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children constitutes crimes against humanity, UN says
- Latest developments in Russia-Ukraine war - recap
- Russia and Ukraine both claim front-line progress with US-brokered talks on hold - report
Zelensky says three Ukrainian teams of drone experts are in Middle East
04:33 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said three Ukrainian teams have travelled to the Middle East, made up of experts, military personnel and engineers.
He said the military teams had already begun communication and work on the ground.
Ukraine’s national security and defence council secretary, Rustem Umerov, has also arrived in the United Arab Emirates to discuss areas of cooperation and is expected to visit several other countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Zelensky's comments came ahead of his meeting with the president of the German Bundestag, Julia Klockner.
Kyiv has sought to leverage its experience in intercepting Russian drones to assist Gulf countries that are facing attacks from the same Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia against Ukraine.
Zelensky says Ukraine has received deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles from Germany
03:50 , Shweta SharmaUkraine has received deliveries of crucial Patriot missiles from Germany, according to reports.
Kyiv’s allies agreed to provide the air defence missiles at the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format last month, and Berlin delivered its share on 10 March, Zelensky said ahead of a meeting with Julia Klockner, president of Germany’s Bundestag.
Zelensky also highlighted Germany’s financial support for Ukraine’s military, describing Berlin as the largest supporter of the country’s armed forces.
German outlet Der Spiegel reported on 10 March that Ukraine is expected to receive 35 PAC-3 interceptor missiles in the coming weeks.
German defence minister Boris Pistorius secured an agreement with European allies to deliver 30 PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine, in addition to five PAC-3 missiles Berlin will provide from its own stockpiles, the outlet reported.
"While the world is looking towards Iran, we Germans are looking towards Ukraine; we have not forgotten you. And that's why I deliberately came here this time — to clearly say that, in the fifth year of the war of aggression you are enduring, we are not growing tired. And we know this is not just Ukraine's fight," Klockner said.
Russia confirms Ukrainian strike on Bryansk, says seven dead
03:09 , Shweta SharmaRussia confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine had carried out a strike on the western Russian city of Bryansk and accused it of using UK-provided missiles in the attack.
Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said one more person had died in the attack, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven, with 42 people injured.
Ukraine said it had targeted a key plant producing missile components, while Moscow called it a “terrorist attack”, accusing Kyiv of deliberately targeting civilians.
Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the attack and accused Britain of overstepping international legal norms by providing the missiles in question.
The Russian Investigative Committee said at least eight missiles struck Bryansk, including seven UK-made Storm Shadow missiles, damaging more than 70 infrastructure facilities and vehicles.
In a statement, the ministry claimed the attack was intended to derail efforts toward a peace process and fuel an escalation of the conflict.
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
03:00 , Daniel KeaneThe Kremlin has always swiftly dismissed any claims that the Russian president has a severe illness.
Joe Middleton and Bryony Gooch look at a history of Putin’s rumoured health issues below.
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Zelensky says Storm Shadows hit major Russian missile control factory
02:00 , Daniel KeaneUkraine struck a plant in Russia's Bryansk region that makes control systems for Russian missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"An operation has just successfully taken place — a plant in Bryansk was hit. This plant manufactures control systems for all types of missiles of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky told an online media briefing on Wednesday.
The Kremniy El plant is a major Russian microelectronics manufacturer.
The strike used air-launched British Storm Shadow missiles.
Von der Leyen says it is 'not the moment' to relax sanctions on Russia
01:00 , Daniel KeaneEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said capping the oil price would help limit Russia's revenues and that now was not the time to relax sanctions against Russia.
"This is not the moment to relax sanctions on Russia," she said in a post on X, after she took part in a call with G7 leaders to discuss the impact of the Iran war on oil and gas markets.
She added that, along with the European Council's President Antonio Costa, they had both reiterated the immediate priority is to keep energy flows moving, especially through the Straits of Hormuz, and that they both backed the International Energy Agency's decision to release 400 million barrels of oil.
"We both welcomed today's decision by the IEA make 400 million barrels of emergency reserve oil available to ease tensions in global energy supply," added Von der Leyen.
US and Russian teams met in Florida and discussed 'variety of topics,' Witkoff says
00:01 , Daniel KeaneA Russian delegation led by President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev met with a U.S. delegation in Florida on Wednesday, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said.
He added that the teams discussed a "variety of topics" and agreed to stay in touch.
Sea drones target oil tankers in the Middle East
Wednesday 11 March 2026 22:47 , Daniel KeaneNaval drones have been used in at least two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region since war erupted between the US, Israel and Iran, according to maritime authorities and analysts, demonstrating a dangerous new threat in the key shipping lane.
The emergence of the use of explosive-laden unmanned surface vessels, which Ukraine has used with great effect in its war with Russia, comes as Iran threatens to block oil shipments from transiting the key Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for one-fifth of the world's oil.
The first sea-based drone attack was on March 1 when a crude oil tanker, the MKD VYOM, was hit about 44 nautical miles off Oman, killing one crew member, Britain’s maritime agency said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said in a public advisory that an unmanned surface vessel struck the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker just above the waterline, triggering an explosion and fire in the engine room.
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Wednesday 11 March 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Recap: Zelensky says Ukraine has sent delegation to Gulf region amid Iran strikes
Wednesday 11 March 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochZelensky says weaponising culture never helps as Russia allowed to reopen pavilion for Venice Biennale
Wednesday 11 March 2026 19:00 , Bryony GoochVenice Biennale has come under scrutiny for plans that allow Russia to reopen its pavilion at this year's edition.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said, in an interview with Caolan Robertson: “We know the end of Hitler. We understand the end of Putin. Weaponizing sports, music, film and art festivals – like Venice Biennale – never helps.
“Across various cultural platforms – even during children's animation festivals – the Russians stuff their movies with propaganda to indoctrinate their society from a very young age. But it never helps. I'm sure their nation will face a tragic end.”
We know the end of Hitler. We understand the end of Putin. Weaponizing sports, music, film and art festivals – like Venice Biennale – never helps. Across various cultural platforms – even during children's animation festivals – the Russians stuff their movies with propaganda to…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2026
Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest
Wednesday 11 March 2026 18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest. A wartime ban blocks sales
Watch: Russian anthem played at medal ceremony for first time in 12 years
Wednesday 11 March 2026 17:00 , Bryony GoochThe history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Wednesday 11 March 2026 16:30 , Bryony GoochThe history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Recap: European Commission threatens to withdraw funding from Venice Biennale
Wednesday 11 March 2026 16:00 , Bryony GoochThe European Commission has threatened to withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale art exhibition if organisers proceed with plans to allow Russia to reopen its pavilion at this year's edition.
Russia's pavilion at the art fair was closed after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered the exclusion of Russian artists and institutions from major European cultural events.
"Member States, institutions and organisations institutions and organisations must act in line with EU sanctions and avoid giving a platform to individuals who have actively supported or justified the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine," an EU statement said.
Recap: Putin discusses Middle East conflict with UAE counterpart
Wednesday 11 March 2026 15:30 , Bryony GoochRussian president Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict in the Middle East with his United Arab Emirates counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin said in the statement. "The leaders continued to exchange views on the dangerously deteriorating situation in the Middle East, which is having serious consequences for Iran and Arab countries," the Kremlin said.
"The Russian president stressed the need to stop further escalation of the conflict and resolve it through negotiations," it said.
Watch: Russian airstrike kills 4, injures 20 in Ukraine's Sloviansk
Wednesday 11 March 2026 15:00 , Bryony GoochAnalysis: Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Wednesday 11 March 2026 14:30 , Bryony Gooch
Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Zelensky warns Russia could support Iran with missiles
Wednesday 11 March 2026 14:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia could help Iran with missiles.
He said in an interview with Caolan Robertson: “Russia started supporting the Iranian regime with drones. It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defense.
“What’s next? Given the situation, there is only one question: when and which country will be the first to support the Iranian regime by sending troops?
“As happened with Russia, when North Korea sent 10,000 soldiers, who are now deployed in Russia but can be sent to Ukraine. The same could happen in Iran – Russia could send troops there.”
Russia relies heavily on Iranian Shahed drones as part of its war effort in Ukraine.
Russia started supporting the Iranian regime with drones. It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defense. What’s next? Given the situation, there is only one question: when and which country will be the first to support the Iranian regime by… pic.twitter.com/L2BCG1sZ2C
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2026
Ukraine says Hungary fact-finding mission has no official status
Wednesday 11 March 2026 13:30 , Bryony GoochUkraine’s foreign ministry has said the Hungarian fact-finding mission has no official status in Ukraine as they entered the country as tourists.
Hungary sent a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to investigate the Druzhba pipeline outage, as Budapest looks to restart flows of oil amid rising global prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
Watch: Ukraine's military hits Russian missile plant in Bryansk
Wednesday 11 March 2026 13:00 , Bryony GoochBritain urges allies to seize 'shadow fleet' vessels
Wednesday 11 March 2026 12:30 , Bryony GoochBritain has urged its allies to seize "shadow fleet" vessels helping Russia evade oil sanctions as the Government increases pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
Hundreds of ageing oil tankers said to be operating with unclear ownership have already been sanctioned by the UK, US and Europe for breaching sanctions on Russian oil.
But UK ministers want to go further following a series of tanker seizures in recent months, encouraging other European nations to take similar action.
As part of that effort, the attorney general and the defence secretary have held discussions with members of the multinational Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to unpick legal obstacles to further seizures.
Lord Richard Hermer and John Healey convened legal representatives from JEF nations earlier this week to discuss the legality of military action against the shadow fleet, following a meeting on military led by the Defence Secretary in Munich last month.
Mr Healey said: "As we enter the fifth year of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine, we're stepping up the pressure on Putin, by choking off the funds that fuel his invasion and targeting shadow fleet vessels.
"I'm proud of the UK's leading role in JEF, as we step up together to tackle the threats we face in this new era for defence."
Hungary sends Druzhba fact-finding mission to Ukraine, deputy minister says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 12:00 , Bryony GoochHungary has sent a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to investigate the Druzhba pipeline outage, officials said on Wednesday.
Budapest is looking to restart flows of oil amid rising global prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
The Druzhba pipeline has become the focus of an intense diplomatic clash between Budapest and Kyiv since oil stopped flowing in January, with hostile rhetoric towards Ukraine taking centre stage in veteran nationalist Viktor Orban's campaign ahead of an election on 12 April.
Last month, Hungary vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia and also a huge loan for Ukraine over the dispute.
"The government has set up the delegation that is expected to do a fact-finding mission on the Druzhba pipeline," Hungarian Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek said in a recorded statement on Facebook. "Our job is to assess the status of the pipeline and create conditions for its restart."
Ukraine claims to have taken back hundreds of kilometres of territory from Russian troops
Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine has claimed that it has taken back control of almost all of the Dnipropetrovsk region and hundreds of kilometres of territory in counterattacks.
Oleksandr Komarenko, head of the main operational directorate of the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces, told local media on Tuesday that their troops had already liberated more than 400 square kilometres of territory, Politico reported.
Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children constitutes crimes against humanity, UN says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia’s deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to the UN.
According to a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Russian authorities, including Vladimir Putin, were involved at the highest level in deporting thousands of children from occupied areas of Ukraine, mostly from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Ukraine reports that nearly 20,000 children have been illegally sent to Russia and Belarus, while the UN Commission has identified 1,205 cases of children taken from Ukrainian territories in 2022.
Eighty per cent of these children have not yet been returned, and many parents and guardians remain unaware of their whereabouts.
Russian casualties ‘understated’, Zelensky says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 10:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence obtained by Kyiv suggested that Russia has suffered about 1.31 million battlefield casualties since the full-scale invasion began.
He said the estimate comes from classified Russian assessments accessed by Ukrainian intelligence and added that there were reasons to believe the real numbers could be even higher.
“Our intelligence has obtained important documents regarding Russia’s own assessment of its losses on the battlefield. In particular, a change has been recorded in the killed-to-wounded ratio among Russian forces: out of 100 per cent of losses, 62 per cent are killed and 38 per cent wounded. In their classified official reports, the Russians themselves estimate their irrecoverable losses at 1 million 315 thousand killed and seriously wounded. We have reason to believe that these figures are understated,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
Saudi Arabia discussing ‘huge deal’ for Ukrainian weapons - report
Wednesday 11 March 2026 10:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarA Saudi arms company has agreed to buy interceptor missiles made in Ukraine, according to sources in Ukraine’s defence industry, The Kyiv Independent reported.
The two countries are also reportedly discussing a separate “huge deal” that could be finalised this week.
The talks come as Iran’s recent attacks across Gulf states have pushed countries in the region to strengthen their defences against ballistic missiles and Shahed drones, the outlet, citing sources, said.
Hungary’s parliament passes resolution opposing Ukraine’s bid to join EU
Wednesday 11 March 2026 09:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarHungary’s parliament has passed a resolution opposing Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.
The measure, backed by a large majority, urges the government not to support the start of membership talks and calls for Hungary to avoid sending money or weapons to Ukraine.
The move comes amid rising tensions between Budapest and Kyiv over disrupted oil flows through a pipeline running through Ukraine.
Ukraine became an EU candidate in 2022 after Russia’s invasion, and Volodymyr Zelensky has since pushed for EU membership.
Zelensky accuses Hungary of ‘banditry’ after shipment containing cash and gold worth $82m seized
Wednesday 11 March 2026 09:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarHungary has seized a shipment of Ukrainian cash and gold worth around $82m while it was being transported through the country.
Victor Orban, the prime minister, has ordered that the shipment be held for up to 60 days for investigation over suspected money laundering.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Hungary of “banditry” and called on European leaders to speak out against the seizure.
This came after a dispute over gas supplies, in which Kyiv was accused by Hungary and Slovakia of stalling on oil pipeline repairs after it was hit in an apparent Russian drone attack.
Watch: How Putin will benefit from the war in Iran
Wednesday 11 March 2026 08:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe US president has shrugged off Russia supplying intelligence to his enemies in Iran and rewarded the Kremlin with the option of lifting oil sanctions against Moscow. The latest moves by the US president beg the question “whose side is he on” – and not for the first time.
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Wednesday 11 March 2026 08:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarFor years, Russian president Vladimir Putin’s health has been the subject of speculation and rumours - with claims he is suffering from an array of different ailments.
A recent video of the 73-year-old having a coughing fit during a presidential address has renewed attention on his health.
Putin could be seen clearing his throat before having a coughing fit as he gestured towards his neck in the video, which was deleted by the Kremlin shortly after it was uploaded to the official Telegram channel.
Read more here:
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
EU nations to loan money to Ukraine despite Hungary blocking it
Wednesday 11 March 2026 07:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine is getting about two-thirds of the money it needs to continue fighting the Russian invasion until the end of 2027 from EU countries, two sources told Politico.
Next week, EU leaders are supposed to meet in Brussels to discuss the loan and try to convince Hungary and Slovakia to keep their promise to approve the funds, two EU diplomats told the outlet.
“It’s not the first time we are facing a similar kind of difficulties with Hungary,” the EU’s economy commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis said.
“We will deliver on this loan one way or another.”
Budapest can still block the €90bn loan, even after agreeing to it in December last year. All EU member states are supposed to provide consent before those funds are released.
Under a back-up plan, if Hungary blocks the main loan, EU countries are considering giving Ukraine an interim €30bn on an individual basis. Since these are bilateral loans, they would not require EU approval.
Ukraine's military hits Russian missile plant in Bryansk
Wednesday 11 March 2026 07:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarVladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Wednesday 11 March 2026 06:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarVladimir Putin was caught having a coughing fit in a now-deleted video from the Kremlin.
In an outtake from a recorded address for International Women’s Day, the Russian president could be seen clearing his throat before repeatedly coughing and gesturing towards his neck.
Putin said, according to The Moscow Times: “You know, let me say that again, because… my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today.”
The video of the 73-year-old Russian leader was posted to the Kremlin’s Telegram channel, then deleted without explanation, the newspaper said. A separate video of the presidential press service was then uploaded without the coughing fit.
Read more here:
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Wednesday 11 March 2026 06:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarAs Donald Trump delivers bafflingly mixed messages about the end of the Iran war, he has suggested he may lift oil sanctions on Russia, but that will suit only one man – Vladimir Putin. World affairs editor Sam Kiley asks: whose side is the US president really on?
Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Ukraine strikes missile control systems plant in Russia’s Bryansk, Zelensky says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 05:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkrainian forces have struck the Kremniy El plant in Russia’s Bryansk region, a major producer of microelectronics used in Russian missile guidance and control systems, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The attack, carried out with air-launched Storm Shadow missiles, caused “significant damage” to the facility, which supplies components for weapons including Pantsir air defence systems and Iskander missiles, The Kyiv Independent reported.
“An operation has just successfully taken – a plant in Bryansk was hit. This plant manufactures control systems for all types of missiles of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky said.
Russia and Ukraine both claim front-line progress with US-brokered talks on hold
Wednesday 11 March 2026 05:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussian and Ukrainian officials are making contradictory claims of battlefield successes in their 4-year-old war, with Ukraine saying it has pushed Moscow’s forces back in some places on the front line but the Kremlin insisting that Russia’s invasion of its neighbour is making progress.
At the same time, Russia’s almost daily aerial attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine continue, with overnight drone strikes on two cities injuring at least 14 people, including two children, emergency services said Tuesday.
Ukraine’s air force said that it shot down 122 out of 137 drones that Russia launched during the night.
Read more here:
Russia and Ukraine both claim front-line progress with US-brokered talks on hold
Ukraine claims to have taken back hundreds of kilometres of territory from Russian troops
Wednesday 11 March 2026 04:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine has claimed that it has taken back control of almost all of the Dnipropetrovsk region and hundreds of kilometres of territory in counterattacks.
Oleksandr Komarenko, head of the main operational directorate of the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces, told local media on Tuesday that their troops had already liberated more than 400 square kilometres of territory, Politico reported.
Zelensky accuses Hungary of ‘banditry’ after shipment containing cash and gold worth $82m seized
Wednesday 11 March 2026 04:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarHungary has seized a shipment of Ukrainian cash and gold worth around $82m while it was being transported through the country.
Victor Orban, the prime minister, has ordered that the shipment be held for up to 60 days for investigation over suspected money laundering.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Hungary of “banditry” and called on European leaders to speak out against the seizure.
This came after a dispute over gas supplies, in which Kyiv was accused by Hungary and Slovakia of stalling on oil pipeline repairs after it was hit in an apparent Russian drone attack.
Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children constitutes crimes against humanity, UN says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 03:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia’s deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to the UN.
According to a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Russian authorities, including Vladimir Putin, were involved at the highest level in deporting thousands of children from occupied areas of Ukraine, mostly from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Ukraine reports that nearly 20,000 children have been illegally sent to Russia and Belarus, while the UN Commission has identified 1,205 cases of children taken from Ukrainian territories in 2022.
Eighty per cent of these children have not yet been returned, and many parents and guardians remain unaware of their whereabouts.
‘I lost my husband in the Ukraine war - I came to Dubai to be safe’
Wednesday 11 March 2026 03:15 , Rebecca Whittaker
‘I lost my husband in the Ukraine war - I came to Dubai to be safe’
In pictures: Aftermath of overnight Russian drone strike in Sloviansk
Wednesday 11 March 2026 02:15 , Rebecca Whittaker
Watch: How Putin will benefit from the war in Iran
Wednesday 11 March 2026 01:15 , Rebecca WhittakerRecap: Latest developments in brief
Wednesday 11 March 2026 00:15 , Rebecca Whittaker- Trump stated the US would consider easing oil-related sanctions on "some countries" following a call with Vladimir Putin, during which they discussed the Ukraine war and the Middle East conflict.
- Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed Ukrainian interceptor drones and operators are now at US bases in Jordan, with several nations expressing interest in Ukraine's drone defence technologies.
- Russian drone attacks injured over 20 people in Kharkiv and Dnipro, causing significant damage to residential buildings and infrastructure in Ukraine's second-largest city.
- Dutch intelligence agencies reported a global cyber campaign by Russian state hackers targeting Signal and WhatsApp accounts of high-profile figures, including military and government officials.
- Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's readiness for US-backed peace talks with Russia at any moment, accusing Moscow of attempting to exploit Middle East tensions to bolster its aggression.
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Tuesday 10 March 2026 23:15 , Rebecca WhittakerVladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Ukraine sends drone experts to three countries in Middle East, Zelenskiy says
Tuesday 10 March 2026 22:15 , Rebecca WhittakerUkraine has sent air defence teams to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia to help them in their fight against Iran's aerial attacks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday.
Gulf states have expended large quantities of precious air-defence missiles to counter Irans attack drones and have sought Ukraine's expertise in downing them. Kyiv downs Russian drones every night using an array of weaponry including cheaper, smaller drones or jamming equipment.
"Regarding the situation in the Middle East, we have sent our teams: three professional, equipped teams," Zelensky told Reuters.
His communications adviser also said Ukrainian specialists had already been deployed to a US military base in Jordan, without providing details.
Zelensky said the presence of Ukrainian pilots was key to the effectiveness of interceptor drone operations.
"Even those countries that were quietly buying interceptors have, I think, realised that without our military, our operators, our software... without all of that, the interceptors simply don't work."
Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Tuesday 10 March 2026 21:15 , Rebecca WhittakerPutin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Watch: Rescue operations continue in Kharkiv as Kyiv says Moscow used new weapon in deadly attack
Tuesday 10 March 2026 20:15 , Rebecca WhittakerNext round of Ukraine and Russia peace talks likely next week, Witkoff says
Tuesday 10 March 2026 19:15 , Daniel KeaneSenior Trump adviser and US special envoy Steve Witkoff has said in a CNBC interview on Tuesday that the next round of trilateral peace talks between Ukraine, Russia and the United States would likely be "sometime next week."
Several rounds of talks between the three countries have been held in recent months without any breakthrough on territory, the key issue.
POW swaps, possible leaders summit to be discussed at next talks, Zelensky says
Tuesday 10 March 2026 18:15 , Daniel KeanePresident Volodymyr Zelensky said on Tuesday that POW swaps and a possible leaders' summit would be discussed during the next round of U.S.-brokered peace talks between Ukraine and Russia.
He told reporters in a WhatsApp media chat that the talks had been postponed until next week.
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Tuesday 10 March 2026 17:15 , Maira ButtVladimir Putin was caught having a coughing fit in a now-deleted video from the Kremlin.
In an outtake from a recorded address for International Women’s Day, the Russian president could be seen clearing his throat before repeatedly coughing and gesturing towards his neck.
Putin said, according to the Moscow Times: “You know, let me say that again, because… my throat’s a bit scratchy. Yes, a bit scratchy. I almost started coughing. I’ve been talking a lot today.”
The video of the 73-year-old Russian leader was posted to the Kremlin’s Telegram channel, then deleted without explanation, The Times said. A separate video of the presidential press service was then uploaded without the coughing fit.
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Analysis: I’m an international security expert. Here’s what the Iran conflict means for Russia and Ukraine
Tuesday 10 March 2026 16:45 , Maira Butts the war in the Middle East spreads and intensifies, the one in Ukraine continues. While geographically some 2,500km (1,600 miles) apart, the consequences of US President Donald Trump’s latest military adventure for the Russian war against Ukraine will be acutely felt across several areas. In the short term, the Kremlin will probably feel emboldened to double down on its aggression, but this is unlikely to shift the dial significantly towards Russian victory in the long term.
The targeted killing of Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei by a precision US strike would have reminded the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, of his reportedly “apoplectic” reaction to the killing of the Libyan leader, Muammar Gaddafi, in 2011. Comments on social media from the likes of far-right Russian nationalist Alexander Dugin, who posted, that “one by one, our allies are being systematically destroyed”, and former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, who alleged that the “talks with Iran were just a cover”, are unlikely to have steadied Putin’s nerves.
Stefan Wolff writes:
US to relax oil sanctions after Trump’s ‘very good’ call with Putin
Tuesday 10 March 2026 16:15 , Maira ButtDonald Trump announced the US would ease oil-related sanctions on certain countries after a call with Vladimir Putin, aiming to stabilise global energy markets following recent Middle East conflicts.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed that Ukrainian interceptor drones and operators are now at US bases in Jordan, with multiple nations seeking Ukraine's drone counter-measure expertise.
Russian drone attacks on Kharkiv and Dnipro injured over 20 people, as Ukraine's air force reported intercepting a significant majority of 137 incoming drones.
Dutch intelligence agencies disclosed a widespread Russian cyber campaign targeting Signal and WhatsApp accounts of dignitaries, military personnel, and journalists globally through phishing.
President Zelensky reiterated Ukraine's readiness for US-backed peace talks with Russia, accusing Moscow of attempting to exploit Middle East tensions to further its aggression.
‘I lost my husband in the Ukraine war - I came to Dubai to be safe’
Tuesday 10 March 2026 15:45 , Maira ButtUkrainian widow Olga Garbuz, who lost her husband to the war in Ukraine, came to Dubai with her daughter in 2022 to rebuild her life.
But the recent escalation in the Gulf has revived the fears she thought she had left behind.
“The war in Ukraine took many things from me and my daughter. My husband got killed. We got displaced multiple times. I cannot imagine going through any of these again,” Ms Garbuz tells The Independent.
Her husband, Yuriy Volchkov, was killed in Kharkiv, a frontline city in eastern Ukraine, in March 2022, when the vehicle he was travelling in to distribute humanitarian aid was shot at by the Russians. He was 45 years old.
‘I lost my husband in the Ukraine war - I came to Dubai to be safe’
Russia and Ukraine both claim front-line progress with US-brokered talks on hold
Tuesday 10 March 2026 15:15 , Maira ButtRussian and Ukrainian officials are making contradictory claims of battlefield successes in their 4-year-old war, with Ukraine saying it has pushed Moscow’s forces back in some places on the front line but the Kremlin insisting that Russia’s invasion of its neighbor is making progress.
At the same time, Russia’s almost daily aerial attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine continue, with overnight drone strikes on two cities injuring at least 14 people, including two children, emergency services said Tuesday.
Ukraine’s air force said that it shot down 122 out of 137 drones that Russia launched during the night.
Russia and Ukraine both claim front-line progress with US-brokered talks on hold
In pictures: Aftermath of overnight Russian drone strike in Kharkiv
Tuesday 10 March 2026 14:45 , Maira Butt
Russian strike on Sloviansk kills four, say officials
Tuesday 10 March 2026 14:15 , Maira ButtFour people have been killed and a 14-year-old girl has been wounded in Russian attacks on the eastern Ukrainian frontline cut of Sloviansk.
At least 16 others have been injured, local governor Vadym Filashkin said on Tuesday.
He said that Russia had dropped three guided bombs on the city, and that a 14-year-old girl was among those wounded.
Russia says Ukraine controls 15 to 17 per cent of Donetsk region
Tuesday 10 March 2026 13:45 , Maira ButtUkraine controls only 15 to 17 per cent of the Donetsk region, Russia has claimed.
Denis Pushilin, the Russian-installed head of the area told Russian president Vladimir Putin at a meeting shown on state TV that Ukraine controls 15 to 17 per cent of the hotly contested territory.
Ukraine says it will never recognise Russian control over the Donetsk, but Russia says the whole of the region belongs to it.
Russia's deportation of children amounts to crimes against humanity, UN inquiry finds
Tuesday 10 March 2026 13:15 , Maira ButtA United Nations investigation has found that the deportation and transfer of Ukrainian children by Russian authorities since the invasion of the country in 2022 has amounted to crimes against humanity.
“In this report, the Commission concluded that crimes against humanity and war crimes by Russian authorities have targeted children, who are among the most vulnerable victims. These crimes have irreversible consequences on their lives and their future,” the report released on Tuesday read.
The Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine studied the cases of 1,205 children from five oblasts in Ukraine and said that 80 per cent of them have yet to return to Ukraine.
Watch: How Putin will benefit from the war in Iran
Tuesday 10 March 2026 12:42 , Maira ButtThe Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
Hungarian leader Orbán urges European Union to lift Russian energy sanctions
Tuesday 10 March 2026 11:30 , Shweta SharmaHungary's Russia-friendly leader is urging the European Union to lift all sanctions on Russian fossil fuels to remedy spikes in energy prices caused by the war in the Middle East.
Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, considered the Kremlin's closest partner in the EU, said in a video posted to social media on Monday that he'd sent a letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen after “oil prices began to grow explosively.”
The Iran war, now in its second week, has ensnared places that are critical to the production and movement of oil and gas from the Persian Gulf, leading to price surges on global markets.
Hungarian leader Orbán urges European Union to lift Russian energy sanctions
Latest developments in brief
Tuesday 10 March 2026 10:30 , Shweta Sharma- US president Donald Trump and Russian president Vladimir Putin held a one-hour phone call on Monday discussing the wars in Iran and Ukraine. Trump said Putin wanted to be “helpful” on the Iran conflict, while Trump urged him to help end the Ukraine war instead.
- After the call, Trump indicated the US could temporarily ease some oil-related sanctions to stabilise global supply disrupted by the Iran conflict.
- Russian drones struck Ukraine’s second-largest city, Kharkiv, injuring several people and damaging buildings and cars.
- Another strike in Dnipro injured around 10 people, including a 12-year-old boy, with high-rise buildings damaged.
- Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine is ready for new US-backed peace talks with Russia “at any moment.” However, a planned meeting was postponed at the request of the US because global attention is currently focused on the Iran crisis.
- Zelensky also said 11 countries near Iran, as well as the US and European partners, have asked Ukraine for help countering Iranian drones.
Abramovich disputes UK control over £2.5bn Chelsea sale funds
Tuesday 10 March 2026 10:00 , Shweta SharmaRussian oligarch Roman Abramovich has intensified his dispute with the British government over the £2.5bn proceeds from the sale of Chelsea FC, insisting he should have a say in how the funds are allocated despite sanctions imposed on his assets following the Ukraine war.
The UK and the EU sanctioned Abramovich in 2022 over his alleged ties to president Vladimir Putin’s regime, prompting the sale of the Premier League club to a consortium. However, the £2.5bn raised from the deal has remained frozen in a UK bank account.
Britain wants the funds ringfenced exclusively for humanitarian use in Ukraine, but Abramovich has signalled that he wants greater flexibility over how the money is ultimately spent.
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Roman Abramovich lawyers insist £2.5bn from Chelsea sale is still his
Russia says Putin held 'constructive' call with Trump
Tuesday 10 March 2026 09:30 , Shweta SharmaThe phone call between Russian president Vladimir Putin and US president Donald Trump was “constructive” as the two leaders discussing possible solutions to the conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, said Russian special presidential envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
“The constructive call lasted an hour. Possible solutions to the Ukraine and Iran conflicts were discussed,” Dmitriev wrote on X.
Earlier, Kremlin aide Yury Ushakov told reporters that Putin had held a phone conversation with Trump. He said the hour-long call, initiated by the US, focused on the conflicts around Iran and in Ukraine.
It was the first conversation between the two leaders in more than two months and their first publicly reported phone call since the US–Israeli attack on Iran.
Ukraine biathlete credits ChatGPT for silver win
Tuesday 10 March 2026 09:00 , Shweta SharmaUkraine’s Maksym Murashkovskyi credited artificial intelligence for helping him win a silver medal at the Milano Cortina Winter Paralympics, calling ChatGPT a “revolutionary technology” after finishing runner-up in Sunday’s biathlon event.
Murashkovskyi, a bronze medallist at the 2023 world championships, was edged out by China’s Dang Hesong and narrowly missed gold.
“For the past six months, I have been training with ChatGPT,” the 25-year-old told reporters.
“It was not only tactics. It was half of my training plan – motivation, and so on. So it made up a huge part of my training.
“I used it as a psychologist, coach and sometimes even as a doctor.”
He added that artificial intelligence could eventually replace some aspects of the work done by human coaches.
“Not completely for five to 10 years. But part of it, definitely,” he said. “I believe in it – it is a revolutionary technology.”
Ukraine have won 10 medals at this year’s Paralympics so far.
Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest. A wartime ban blocks sales
Tuesday 10 March 2026 09:00 , Shweta SharmaAs the conflict in the Middle East places increasing strain on US missile stockpiles, Ukraine is leveraging its wartime innovations – specifically, low-cost interceptors designed to counter Russian attack drones – into significant geopolitical influence.
Now a leading global producer of these interceptors, Ukraine is offering its expertise to the United States and its Gulf allies for use in the Middle East. In return, Kyiv hopes to secure the high-end weaponry it cannot manufacture domestically.
Four years ago, at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s domestic arms industry was severely underdeveloped. Forced to innovate for survival, it has since cultivated a rapidly expanding defence sector focused on inexpensive drones. Some of these are specifically engineered to combat Iranian-style Shahed drones, which Russia now deploys in vast numbers.
Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest. A wartime ban blocks sales
