Ukrainian forces have made advances inside “kill zone” areas occupied by Russia, as the world’s attention is dominated by the US-Israeli war on Iran.
President Volodymyr Zelensky and the country’s top military commanders said units had successfully chipped away at Russian advances made in the south-eastern Zaporizhzhia and Dnipropetrovsk regions.
Oleksandr Komarenko, a major general in Ukraine’s general staff, said last week they had “liberated almost the entire territory of the Dnipropetrovsk region”.
Zelensky has warned that the crisis in the Middle East has paralysed diplomatic efforts to end Russia’s war in Ukraine, with Washington too preoccupied by its own military campaign to act as mediator between Moscow and Kyiv.
Earlier this week, the Ukrainian leader said that the US and Russia had failed to provide a date for the next round of trilateral peace talks, which began earlier this year but have failed to yield a significant breakthrough.
Speaking to the BBC on Wednesday, he warned that the war in Iran could also lead to a reduction in the number of missiles supplied to Ukraine.
Key Points
- Starmer tells Zelensky ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine despite Iran crisis
- UK 'in conversations' with Ukraine over Zelensky's offer to help defend Britain and allies from Iran missiles and drones
- Ukraine deploys 200 anti-drone experts to Middle East, says Zelensky
- Ukraine says it is accepting EU offer to help restore Druzhba pipeline
- Analysis: Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
Sean Penn gets Oscar made from blown-up Ukrainian train after skipping ceremony to visit Kyiv
23:00 , Bryony Gooch
Sean Penn awarded Oscar made from blown-up Ukrainian train after visiting Kyiv
Ukraine's military hits Russian military transport planes producer, Kyiv says
22:00 , Bryony GoochUkraine's military struck a Russian plant producing military transport and cargo planes in Russia's Ulyanovsk region, the Ukrainian General Staff said on Wednesday.
It said in a statement that the attack took place on March 16 and targeted the Aviastar plant, part of Russia's United Aircraft Corporation. The plant produces Ilyushin-76MD-90A military transport planes, Ilyushin-78M-90A refueling planes and provides maintenance for “Ruslan” cargo planes.
Watch: Starmer says ‘focus must remain’ on European conflict after meeting Zelensky
21:00 , Bryony GoochMerz: Germany will be involved in negotiating security guarantees for Ukraine when time comes
20:00 , Bryony GoochChancellor Friedrich Merz has said he’s told US president Donald Trump that Germany will be “directly involved” in negotiating security guarantees for Ukraine when the time comes.
UK 'in conversations' with Ukraine over Zelensky's offer to help defend Britain and allies from Iran missiles and drones
19:23 , Joe MiddletonThe Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports
The head of the Royal Navy, general Sir Gwyn Jenkyns, has said today that the UK was 'in conversations" with Ukraine over president Volodymyr Zelensky's offer to help defend British and allied interests in the Gulf from Iranian missile and drone attacks.
The offer, made this week in London, represented a shift in Ukraine's status as a victim of Russia's invasion to a nation that could help defend allies around the world as a result of years of pioneering drone warfare.
“We are in conversation with the Ukrainians. They’ve got a lot to teach us about this kind of scenario, and I think it's fantastic that despite the fact that they're suffering an egregious illegal invasion from Russia and losing 1000s of people in their conflict, that they're willing to step forward and try and help the rest of the world in the situation in the Gulf. That is something to be celebrated.”
“Whether or not it's actually the capability from Ukraine, or the lessons on how you rapidly develop capability in a high threat environment, it is definitely something that we're applying to this scenario already, and we've got the experience that Ukraine have given us to be thankful for that," Sir Gwyn, a former Royal Marine and Special Forces officer, said.
Ukraine faces missile shortage due to war in Iran, says Zelensky
19:00 , Bryony Gooch
Ukraine faces missile shortage due to war in Iran, says Zelensky
In pictures: A fire burns at an apartment building following an attack in Krasnodar, Russia
18:00 , Bryony Gooch
Watch: Hundreds of Ukrainian military experts helping response in Middle East, says Zelensky
17:00 , Bryony GoochRussia says Polish court decision to extradite Russian archaeologist has no legal basis
16:00 , Bryony GoochRussia's foreign ministry said on Wednesday that a Polish court decision to extradite a Russian archaeologist had no legal basis and that Moscow would work for his swift return to Russia.
A Warsaw court decided on Wednesday that Alexander Butyagin should be extradited to Ukraine, where he is accused of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, his lawyer said.
Butyagin is an employee of the renowned Hermitage museum in St Petersburg.
Cattle disease spreads in Russia amid scepticism over diagnosis
15:30 , Bryony GoochCattle diseases officially identified as pasteurellosis or rabies have spread across Russia, affecting at least 10 regions as of Wednesday, but some farmers and scientists are questioning the diagnosis and the sweeping culls ordered by authorities.
Officials on Wednesday imposed a cattle quarantine in part of the Chuvashia region in the Volga, more than 2,500 km (1,500 miles) west of Siberia's Novosibirsk region, where a state of emergency has been declared.
Farmers in Novosibirsk - who have been confronting police and officials in the biggest non-political protests since the start of the war in Ukraine - say pasteurellosis, a bacterial infection, can be treated with antibiotics.
Veterinary expert Svetlana Shchepyotkina said regulations require treating animals sick with pasteurellosis and vaccinating healthy herds. Animals with rabies can be removed only after the diagnosis is confirmed.
"Destroying livestock due to pasteurellosis is sheer unprofessionalism and, frankly, outright madness," she said.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said rapid action was needed in such cases, without commenting further. The agriculture ministry did not respond to a request for comment.
Poland decides to extradite Russian archaeologist to Ukraine
15:00 , Bryony GoochA Warsaw court decided on Wednesday that Russian archaeologist Alexander Butyagin should be extradited to Ukraine, where he is accused of involvement in unauthorised excavation and plundering historical artefacts in Crimea, his lawyer said.
Poland's decision to arrest the archaeologist at Ukraine's request in December provoked a furious reaction from Russia, with the Kremlin accusing Poland of "legal tyranny". In January, Russia summoned the Polish ambassador to demand his release.
Alexander Butyagin, who allowed his family name to be published, beyond Poland's usual privacy laws, was an employee of the State Hermitage Museum in St. Petersburg, the Russian Foreign Ministry said last month.
The Prosecutor's Office of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, now located in the Ukrainian city of Kherson following Russia's seizure and annexation of the peninsula from Ukraine, has previously said Butyagin's team conducted unauthorised excavations in the ancient city of Myrmekion in the Kerch area, causing damage of over 200 million hryvnias ($4.55 million).
Ukraine also says Butyagin’s team seized 30 gold coins, of which 26 were inscribed with the name of Alexander the Great and four were minted during the reign of his brother Philip III Arrhidaeus.
Moscow says the charges against Alexander Butyagin are "absurd" as in its view Crimea is Russian territory, while it has called Warsaw's decision to detain the archaeologist politically motivated.
Putin aide says attack on LNG tanker in Mediterranean was an act of terrorism
14:30 , Bryony GoochNikolai Patrushev, an aide to President Vladimir Putin, said on Wednesday that Russia considers the attack on a Russian LNG tanker in the Mediterranean Sea to be "an act of international terrorism", the Interfax news agency reported.
Russia's Transport Ministry earlier this month said the Arctic Metagaz, carrying LNG from the Arctic port of Murmansk, was attacked by Ukrainian naval drones and said the weapons had been launched from the Libyan coast.
In pictures: Workers install anti-drone netting to protect against drone attacks in Kharkiv
14:00 , Bryony Gooch
Russia, China and Iran are main threats to Sweden, security service says
13:30 , Bryony GoochRussia, China and Iran are the biggest threats to Sweden, the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) said on Wednesday in its annual report on threats facing the country.
The security police has warned in recent years of rising threats, above all from a Russian state increasingly prone to risky ventures in support of its war in Ukraine, including through destabilising hybrid attacks across Europe.
Iran has also long been labelled a serious threat and authorities have noted how criminal networks in Sweden, which has spent the past decade dealing with a wave of gang-related crime, have been used by state actors to carry out violent acts.
"The US-Israeli military operation against Iran, and the countermeasures carried out by Iran, have increased the threat against American, Israeli and Jewish targets in Sweden," Security Service Chief Charlotte von Essen said in the report.
Watch: Russia's launches devastating attack on Ukraine's reserves in Zaporizhzhia region
13:00 , Bryony GoochIn pictures: Spain's PM Pedro Sanchez shakes hands with Zelensky as they meet in Madrid
12:30 , Bryony Gooch
NATO general pushes for pipeline extension eastwards to boost defence against Russia
12:30 , Bryony GoochA senior NATO military officer has called on the alliance to extend its Cold War-era fuel pipeline network hundreds of kilometres eastwards to ensure sufficient supplies for NATO troops in case of a future conflict with Russia.
"From a military operational point of view, it would make a lot of sense to extend the pipeline system further to the east," Lieutenant General Kai Rohrschneider, head of NATO's Allied Joint Support and Enabling Command, told Reuters in an interview.
The 10,000-kilometre (6,215-mile) NATO pipeline network, buried 80 centimetres underground (31 inches), was built during the Cold War to primarily serve western air forces in a conflict with the then Soviet Union.
In wartime, the air forces are expected to account for as much as 85 per cent of total military fuel consumption, according to a study by the Polish Centre for Eastern Studies think tank.
The jet fuel running through the NATO pipelines can also be used by ground vehicles, as mixing it with additives makes it digestible for trucks and tanks that normally run on diesel.
The pipeline network currently spans 12 countries but ends in western Germany, where it serves military bases such as the US Ramstein Air Base, but also major civilian hubs such as Germany's biggest airport in Frankfurt.
Countries on NATO's eastern flank, including Poland, have long pushed for an expansion of the pipeline system.
Spain's PM: 'Nothing will make us forget Ukraine'
12:18 , Bryony GoochSpanish prime minister Pedro Sanchez has affirmed that “nothing will make us forget what is happening in Ukraine” while conflict in the Middle East continues for a third week.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky is visiting Spain today following a trip to the United Kingdom on Tuesday where he met with Sir Keir Starmer.
Prime minister Sanchez added that Spain was “fully in favour” of Ukraine joining the European Union.
Ukraine seeks release of citizens arrested in India over alleged Myanmar drone activity
12:00 , Bryony GoochUkraine has asked New Delhi to release six of its citizens arrested in India last week for allegedly entering a restricted border state without permits, and crossing into neighbouring Myanmar to train anti-junta ethnic groups in drone warfare. Indian authorities arrested the six Ukrainians as well as one US citizen on the night of March 13 at three different airports.
According to a court order from Monday remanding the seven in police custody until a hearing on 27 March, they are accused of travelling illegally to ‹India’s northeastern state of Mizoram, crossing into Myanmar, and training anti-junta ethnic armed groups in drone warfare, as well as illegally importing large consignments of drones from Europe to Myanmar via India.
Mizoram borders Myanmar's Chin State and the country has been engulfed in civil war and a humanitarian crisis since its military overthrew the elected government of Nobel laureate Aung San Suu Kyi in a 2021 coup.
The probe of the six Ukrainians and the American is being led by the National Investigation Agency, India's main counter-terrorism body.
Turkey offers mediation venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
11:30 , Arpan RaiTurkey has offered to host the next round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, its foreign ministry has announced.
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has proposed a venue to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavov during a phone call yesterday.
Fidan underlined the risks posed by the prolonged war for both regional countries and the international order, while the ministers also addressed issues related to energy security, the ministry said.
Russia's foreign ministry said the conversation between Fidan and Lavrov covered Russian-Turkish energy cooperation, with particular emphasis on securing the Blue Stream and TurkStream gas pipelines amid what Moscow described as Ukraine's attempts to damage their infrastructure.
Last week Russia said that it had foiled Ukrainian attacks on its gas pumping stations, operated by Gazprom, that form part of the network delivering gas to Europe through TurkStream and Blue Stream.
As Trump sneers at Nato, Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
11:00 , Arpan RaiNo longer the president of a victim nation, Volodymyr Zelensky came to London as a leader offering the West the tools for victory – building alliances while Donald Trump was simultaneously shattering them in Washington.
No longer simply pleading for help against the full-scale Russian war, Zelensky brought an iPad to Westminster to show real-time Ukrainian battlefield feeds. These enable his forces to shoot down “87-90 per cent” of drone and missile attacks, mostly with home-grown weapons.
Now many of his Ukrainian drone experts – 201 to be precise – are already operating in Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with another 34 en route to Kuwait.
These Gulf nations are already benefiting from Kyiv’s wartime technology, specifically developed to deal with the missiles and drones fired at them from Iran.
His message was explicit: you need us just like we need you.
As Trump sneers at Nato, Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
Ukraine says it is accepting EU offer to help restore Druzhba pipeline
10:30 , Arpan RaiUkraine has accepted the European Union's offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows through the damaged Druzhba pipeline on Tuesday but also signalled any resumption of Russian crude deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia was still weeks away.
In a letter to the EU released yesterday, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said repair work on the pipeline was nearing completion and that the pumping station was expected to be restored in 30-45 days, "in the absence of any further attacks by Russia”.
Ukraine's acceptance of support to renew Druzhba drew a tepid response, with Hungary's foreign minister calling it a "political game".
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba since late January after Kyiv said a Russian strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine and would require time for repairs.
Finnish president says Europe could help Trump in Iran – if he backs Ukraine
10:00 , Arpan RaiEurope could leverage helping US president Donald Trump in the Middle East by asking for his support on Ukraine in exchange, Finnish president Alexander Stubb has said.
Stubb was speaking at Chatham House yesterday and during a question and answer round with reporters, he suggested that such a deal would be a good idea.
On being asked: “ Why doesn't Europe go to Trump and say, if you want assistance in the Gulf, here's what we want you to do on Ukraine?” Stubb replied: “I think it's a really good idea,” adding after a pause: “No, I think it's actually a really good idea.”
The Finnish leader said he would consider it further and discuss options with his team.
Sweden says Russia, China and Iran are main threats to their nation
09:30 , Arpan RaiRussia, China and Iran are the biggest threats to Sweden, the Swedish Security Service (SAPO) said on Wednesday in its annual report on threats facing the country.
The security police has warned in recent years of rising threats, above all from a Russian state increasingly prone to risky ventures in support of its war in Ukraine, including through destabilising hybrid attacks around Europe.
Iran has also long been labelled a serious threat and authorities have noted how criminal networks in Sweden, which has spent the past decade dealing with a wave of gang-related crime, have been used by state actors to carry out violent acts.
"The US-Israeli military operation against Iran, and the countermeasures carried out by Iran, have increased the threat against American, Israeli and Jewish targets in Sweden," Security Service Chief Charlotte von Essen said in the report.
One killed in drone attack on Russia's Krasnodar
09:20 , Arpan RaiAt least one person was killed in an overnight drone attack on Krasnodar after an apartment in a multi-story residential building was hit, mayor Evgeny Filipov said.
The drone debris damaged the roof of a medical centre as well as a power line, leaving parts of the city without electricity as emergency crews responded to fires and outages, the mayor said.
In a separate incident, a fire at the oil depot in Russia's southern Krasnodar region has been extinguished, local authorities said this morning.
The oil depot in the town of Labinsk caught fire on 16 March after a drone attack.
Ukraine producing 2,000 interceptors drones per day, Zelensky says
08:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine is capable of producing around 2,000 interceptor drones per day and can supply half that amount to its allies to help bolster their defences, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Addressing parliament in London, he added that Kyiv has already sent more than 200 Ukrainian air-defence experts to the Middle East and is already working on underwater drones and those capable of operating on oceans.
Watch: Hundreds of Ukrainian military experts helping response in Middle East, says Zelensky
08:15 , Arpan RaiStarmer tells Zelensky ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine despite Iran crisis
07:45 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin cannot be allowed to benefit from the Iran war, the prime minister told Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer said Russia should not reap the rewards of higher global oil prices and benefit from the easing of sanctions as a result of Middle East instability.
Zelensky, who also met the King during his trip, thanked the UK for support during a “difficult winter” for his country, during which (Russian president) Putin’s forces targeted critical energy infrastructure during freezing conditions.
Starmer tells Zelensky ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine despite Iran crisis
How Ukraine rose from war ashes to become the go-to anti-drone expert
07:15 , Arpan RaiFour years ago, at the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine’s domestic arms industry was severely underdeveloped.
Forced to innovate for survival against incoming Russian missiles and drones, 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.
To counter the Shaheds, Kyiv developed low-cost interceptor drones priced at roughly $1,000 to $2,000, moving the systems from prototype to mass production within months in 2025.
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.
The US and Gulf countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Qatar, have made repeated requests for Ukraine’s domestically produced interceptor drones, according to three Ukrainian weapons producers.
The US recently requested "specific support" against Iranian-designed Shaheds in the Middle East, prompting president Volodymyr Zelensky to order the deployment of Ukrainian equipment and experts, though precise details remain classified.
As Trump sneers at Nato, Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
06:45 , Arpan RaiNo longer the president of a victim nation, Volodymyr Zelensky came to London as a leader offering the West the tools for victory – building alliances while Donald Trump was simultaneously shattering them in Washington.
No longer simply pleading for help against the full-scale Russian war, Zelensky brought an iPad to Westminster to show real-time Ukrainian battlefield feeds. These enable his forces to shoot down “87-90 per cent” of drone and missile attacks, mostly with home-grown weapons.
Now many of his Ukrainian drone experts – 201 to be precise – are already operating in Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with another 34 en route to Kuwait.
These Gulf nations are already benefiting from Kyiv’s wartime technology, specifically developed to deal with the missiles and drones fired at them from Iran.
His message was explicit: you need us just like we need you.
As Trump sneers at Nato, Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
Ukraine closer to EU membership after 'informally' opening all six clusters in EU membership
06:15 , Arpan RaiThe European Commission has said Ukraine now has necessary conditions to negotiate across six parameters needed to join the European Union, confirming that the process is now informally open.
Ukraine and the EU are engaged at the technical level to pave the way for Kyiv to join the 27-member bloc and yesterday received confirmation from the European Commission that it can close the three clusters which allows technical progress in accession talks.
The three clusters are ‘competitiveness and inclusive growth’, ‘green agenda and sustainable connectivity’, and ‘resources, agriculture and cohesion policy’.
The European Commission said it has “informally” kept the process of providing membership for Ukraine in a bid open. It cannot be formally taken up due to opposition from Budapest.
"At a time when Europe is under pressure from both East and West, we cannot afford to lose time. And we are not," European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said on Tuesday morning after a meeting in Brussels.
"Now all six clusters are informally open," she added. "Now have a clear to-do list."
The informal approach, the EU official said, will allow Ukraine to continue all necessary reforms to align with EU norms and standards despite the complex political landscape.
The goal is to advance as many steps as possible to allow the formal approval once the veto is eliminated, even if a date is not guaranteed.
"We should differentiate between the two pillars of the accession process," Kos said.
"One is the technical work, which we will do now. The rest is the decision-making process in the member states,” she said.
Kyiv has welcomed the move and said that even though “informal”, the approval is a “de facto” position of all EU members.
“This step is a really revolutionary step in a very European way,” Ukraine’s deputy prime minister for European integration Taras Kachka said.
Finnish president says Europe could help Trump in Iran – if he backs Ukraine
05:45 , Arpan RaiEurope could leverage helping US president Donald Trump in the Middle East by asking for his support on Ukraine in exchange, Finnish president Alexander Stubb has said.
Stubb was speaking at Chatham House yesterday and during a question and answer round with reporters, he suggested that such a deal would be a good idea.
On being asked: “ Why doesn't Europe go to Trump and say, if you want assistance in the Gulf, here's what we want you to do on Ukraine?” Stubb replied: “I think it's a really good idea,” adding after a pause: “No, I think it's actually a really good idea.”
The Finnish leader said he would consider it further and discuss options with his team.
Ukraine deploys 200 anti-drone experts to Middle East, says Zelensky
05:15 , Arpan RaiUkraine has sent 201 experts in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type attack drones to the Middle East and Gulf region, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"Right now, there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle East and Gulf region, and another 34 are ready to deploy," Zelensky said during an address to the parliament yesterday.
“These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against such drones."
Zelensky said Ukrainian teams have already arrived in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, while additional personnel are en route to Kuwait.
Ukraine has developed extensive expertise in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type attack drones since Russia began using them widely in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure after launching a full-scale war in February 2022.
Ukraine says it is accepting EU offer to help restore Druzhba pipeline
04:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine has accepted the European Union's offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows through the damaged Druzhba pipeline on Tuesday but also signalled any resumption of Russian crude deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia was still weeks away.
In a letter to the EU released yesterday, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky said repair work on the pipeline was nearing completion and that the pumping station was expected to be restored in 30-45 days, "in the absence of any further attacks by Russia”.
Ukraine's acceptance of support to renew Druzhba drew a tepid response, with Hungary's foreign minister calling it a "political game".
Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil deliveries via the Druzhba since late January after Kyiv said a Russian strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine and would require time for repairs.
Turkey offers mediation venue for peace talks between Russia and Ukraine
04:15 , Arpan RaiTurkey has offered to host the next round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, its foreign ministry has announced.
Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has proposed a venue to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavov during a phone call yesterday.
Fidan underlined the risks posed by the prolonged war for both regional countries and the international order, while the ministers also addressed issues related to energy security, the ministry said.
Russia's foreign ministry said the conversation between Fidan and Lavrov covered Russian-Turkish energy cooperation, with particular emphasis on securing the Blue Stream and TurkStream gas pipelines amid what Moscow described as Ukraine's attempts to damage their infrastructure.
Last week Russia said that it had foiled Ukrainian attacks on its gas pumping stations, operated by Gazprom, that form part of the network delivering gas to Europe through TurkStream and Blue Stream.
Ukraine producing 2,000 interceptors drones per day, Zelensky says
03:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine is capable of producing around 2,000 interceptor drones per day and can supply half that amount to its allies to help bolster their defences, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Addressing parliament in London, he added that Kyiv has already sent more than 200 Ukrainian air-defence experts to the Middle East and is already working on underwater drones and those capable of operating on oceans.
Starmer tells Zelensky ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine despite Iran crisis
03:15 , Arpan RaiVladimir Putin cannot be allowed to benefit from the Iran war, the prime minister told Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the UK.
Sir Keir Starmer said Russia should not reap the rewards of higher global oil prices and benefit from the easing of sanctions as a result of Middle East instability.
Zelensky, who also met the King during his trip, thanked the UK for support during a “difficult winter” for his country, during which (Russian president) Putin’s forces targeted critical energy infrastructure during freezing conditions.
Starmer tells Zelensky ‘we can’t lose focus’ on Ukraine despite Iran crisis
Zelensky meets with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte
02:50 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte on Tuesday to discuss “strengthening air defence” for Ukraine.
“I met with @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte,” Zelensky wrote on X on Tuesday.
“We discussed many different topics, but first and foremost strengthening air defence and protecting our people from Russian attacks.
“We are very grateful for the PURL initiative, which allows us to purchase missiles for the Patriots from the United States. We will work to bring new countries into this initiative and increase contributions.
“Of course, we also discussed the situation around Iran and its impact on Ukraine and all of Europe. Russia must not gain any benefit from this or any opportunity to prolong its war against Ukraine.”
In pictures: Aftermath of a Russian missile strike on post office storehouse
02:00 , Maira ButtSappers examine the site of a Russian missile strike which hit a post office storehouse in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on Tuesday 17 March.
How Sean Penn became Zelensky’s closest US ally after Trump’s latest snub
01:00 , Maira ButtAt the 2026 Oscars ceremony, actor Sean Penn joined a small coterie of male performers who have three Academy Awards to their name. But the 65-year-old, who was named Best Supporting Actor for his brilliant portrayal of a racist military officer in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, wasn’t among the stars gathered at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.
“Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening, or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf,” Succession star – and last year’s Best Supporting Actor winner – Kieran Culkin quipped after opening the golden envelope.
So where was Penn on one of the biggest nights of his acting career? According to a report from the New York Times, the actor, who previously earned Oscars for Mystic River in 2004 and for Milk in 2009, chose to skip the ceremony in order to head to Europe.
Katie Rosseinsky reports:
How Sean Penn became Zelensky’s closest US ally after Trump’s latest snub
Ukraine producing 2,000 interceptors drones per day, Zelensky says
Tuesday 17 March 2026 23:59 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said on Tuesday that Ukraine is capable of producing around 2,000 interceptor drones per day and can supply half that amount to its allies to help bolster their defences.
Addressing the British parliament in London, he added that Kyiv has already sent more than 200 Ukrainian air-defence experts to the Middle East and is already working on underwater drones and those capable of operating on oceans.
As Trump sneers at Nato, Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
Tuesday 17 March 2026 22:56 , Maira ButtNo longer the president of a victim nation, Volodymyr Zelensky came to London as a leader offering the West the tools for victory – building alliances while Donald Trump was simultaneously shattering them in Washington.
No longer simply pleading for help against the full-scale Russian war, Zelensky brought an iPad to Westminster to show real-time Ukrainian battlefield feeds. These enable his forces to shoot down “87-90 per cent” of drone and missile attacks, mostly with home-grown weapons.
Now many of his Ukrainian drone experts – 201 to be precise – are already operating in Bahrain, the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, with another 34 en route to Kuwait.
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports:
As Trump sneers at Nato, Zelensky builds alliances and offers modern warfare
Watch: Hundreds of Ukrainian military experts helping response in Middle East, says Zelensky
Tuesday 17 March 2026 22:00 , Joe Middleton'Focus must remain on Ukraine', Starmer says
Tuesday 17 March 2026 21:13 , Harry CockburnIn his welcoming remarks on Tuesday, UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky it was "really important that we are clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine".
"There's obviously a conflict in Iran going on, in the Middle East, but we can't lose focus on what's going on in Ukraine and the need for our support," the PM said.
He added: "Putin can't be the one who benefits from a conflict in Iran, whether that's oil prices or the dropping of sanctions."
Mr Zelensky said: "Thanks to the UK, you have stood with us all through this difficult winter."
Nato secretary‑general Mark Rutte, Zelensky and Starmer meet soldiers who will be using Ukrainian defence systems
Tuesday 17 March 2026 20:06 , Harry CockburnNato secretary‑general Mark Rutte also joined Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelensky at Downing Street.
The three men met soldiers from The Rifles who will soon operate Ukrainian‑made Nemesis heavy drones — systems credited with destroying 158 Russian tanks in Ukraine.
Zelensky met King Charles at Buckingham Palace
Tuesday 17 March 2026 19:02 , Harry CockburnUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met the King at Buckingham Palace, and the men shook hands warmly and stood side by side for a photograph.
The King welcomed Mr Zelensky in the first-floor drawing room, and the president was invited to take tea with him in his private study during the 25-minute meeting.
Charles and Mr Zelensky greeted one another with mutual warmth and respect, building on their many previous encounters, according to PA.
The King, who in January paid tribute to the Ukrainian people's resilience and the country's "valiant strength", and expressed his hopes for a "just and lasting peace", is said to have rearticulated these sentiments in person to Mr Zelensky.
Zelensky says Europe must work together to ensure the safety of its citizens
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:43 , Harry CockburnZelensky told MPs: "Together Europe is a global force – one that the world cannot do without and that no-one can stand against. We must grow this strength, and we must direct it, and we can. We must act now, so that future generations can say 'these leaders acted when it mattered'.
"Work with us as closely as possible so that neither Kyiv, nor London, will have to hide under drone nets or live under concrete without a safe sky."
The Iranian regime and Putin's Russia are 'brothers in hatred'
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:37 , Harry CockburnThe Iranian regime and Vladimir Putin's Russia are "brothers in hatred", Volodymyr Zelensky told MPs and peers.
The Ukrainian president highlighted co-operation between Tehran and Moscow on Shahed kamikaze drones which had targeted Ukraine and countries across the Gulf.
Zelensky said: "The regimes in Russia and Iran are brothers in hatred and that is why they are brothers in weapons.
"And we want regimes built on hatred, to never, never win in anything. And we want no such regime to threaten Europe or our partners."
AI will run the weapons of the future, Zelensky warns
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:28 , Harry Cockburn"I am glad we have a joint project with the United Kingdom," he tells MPs.
"There is not enough security, why? Because the Iranian regime's weapons have evolved faster than defence in [affected] countries. This is a problem that must be solved and can be solved. As soon as possible.
"We all understand what comes next. AI is already in many devices we use everyday. Soon almost everything will run on it. And weapons will too, becoming ever more deadly.
"By building protection against today's weapons and investing in the evolution of security, we're also preparing for the weapons of tomorrow."
Zelensky notes that vital drone deal with US ‘still on the table’
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:17 , Harry CockburnPresident Zelensky has just told MPs and peers at an address in parliament that “Ukraine stands ready” to help allies “fight the terrorist regime” in Iran.
He notes that his country has the skill and equipment to take down the drones used by Iran in the current war and its retaliation against other Gulf states.But pointedly he notes that at a time when Donald Trump is asking for help a drone deal he has been trying to land with the White House remains unsigned but “is still on the table”.
Ukrainian approach to defence "far more cost effective", Zelensky tells MPs
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:15 , Harry Cockburn"There has been no real peace while this regime has been in Iran," Zelensky says. "We are entering a time when such regimes are gaining new ways to kill, cheaply, over long distances, using AI, and simply because they want to destroy you and can force their own people to work for war.
“One Iranian Shahed missile costs $150,000. To shoot it down pilots sometimes use missiles some costing up to $4m.”
But he says the Ukrainian approach is "far most cost effective". With smaller missiles costing less than $10,000 dollars.
Zelensky thanks Keir for signing partnership on drones
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:09 , Harry CockburnThe UK sees opportunities to work with Ukraine clearly, Zelensky says, suggesting other countries are missing such opportunities. "So thanks Keir," he says as MPs applaud the prime minister following the signing of the new defence deal.
Zelensky: Hundreds of Ukrainian drone experts already in Middle East
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:06 , Harry CockburnZelensky says that there are already hundreds of Ukrainian drone experts working in the Middle East. "Right now there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle Eastern region and another 44 are ready to deploy. These are military experts who know how to help how to defend against ... drones. Our teams are already in the UAE, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and on the way to Kuwait.
"We do not want the terror of the Iranian regime against its neighbours to succeed."
Security is the foundation of society, Zelensky tells MPs
Tuesday 17 March 2026 17:02 , Harry CockburnAddressing MPs, Zelensky says: "When they don't see a future, people begin to support those who reject everything – offering something entirely different – something that can break the very foundations of society. So we must have an answer that tomorrow must be at least, safe."
He added: "With no security there is no strong economy, there are no social services, work or hope for a normal life."
Ukraine must not be driven out of our minds by other wars, says Lindsay Hoyle
Tuesday 17 March 2026 16:57 , Harry Cockburn"We should be celebrating the courage of people in Ukraine against Russian aggression… But we cannot celebrate because there is no lasting peace," says Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle in his introduction.
"It is imperative Russia does not profit from the world's need for energy, and the sanctions on Russian oil, must remain in place. We are committed to exerting economic pressure on Russia."
He added: "It is important that we do not lose focus on what is happening in Ukraine. It must not be driven out of our minds by other wars. And Ukraine must continue to get the support it needs to defend itself."
Zelensky thanks UK for support following 'difficult winter'
Tuesday 17 March 2026 16:14 , Harry CockburnVolodymyr Zelensky thanked the UK for its support over the winter as he met Sir Keir Starmer in Downing Street.
He said: "Thanks to the UK, you have stood with us all through this difficult winter."
The Ukrainian president said he would update Sir Keir on battlefield developments and energy security, saying: "Of course, we can't sleep, we must move quickly."
He added: "Also not to forget about our diplomatic efforts and negotiations and where we are with the Americans and with the Russians."
Mr Zelensky also acknowledged the impact of the Iran war on Ukraine and Europe.
UK focus must remain on Ukraine, despite war in Iran, Starmer says
Tuesday 17 March 2026 15:43 , Harry CockburnSir Keir Starmer told Volodymyr Zelensky the UK's focus must "remain on Ukraine" despite the war in Iran.
Welcoming the Ukrainian president to Downing Street, the Prime Minister reiterated the UK's support for Kyiv, saying: "Our resolve is unbreakable."
He said: "I think it's really important that we are clear that the focus must remain on Ukraine.
"There's obviously a conflict in Iran going on, in the Middle East, but we can't lose focus on what's going on in Ukraine and the need for our support."
He added: "Putin can't be the one who benefits from a conflict in Iran, whether that's oil prices or the dropping of sanctions."
UK and Ukraine to work towards drone-production partnership
Tuesday 17 March 2026 14:50 , Harry CockburnUK and Ukraine could be moving toward a new drone‑production partnership after Kyiv’s offer to help the United States and its Gulf allies counter Iranian drones was rejected by Donald Trump. Ukraine has become a major producer of advanced, battle‑tested drone‑interceptor technology, and British officials have said Russia and Iran are now sharing drone tactics in the Middle East.
Experts from the UK and Ukraine have already been deployed to the region to help neighbouring states defend against Iranian drone attacks. In London, Starmer’s office said the two countries will sign an agreement combining “Ukraine’s expertise and the U.K.’s industrial base to manufacture and supply drones and innovative capabilities.” Britain is also funding an “AI Center of Excellence” with Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence, AP reported.
Announcing his arrival in London, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his priorities were “more security and opportunities for Ukraine.” Starmer said “drones, electronic warfare and rapid battlefield innovation are now central to national and economic security, and that has only been further magnified by the conflict in the Middle East.”
Iran conflict draining U.S. air-defence missiles Kyiv relies on
Tuesday 17 March 2026 14:24 , Harry CockburnUkraine stands to be “the ultimate loser” from the war with Iran, according to Ed Arnold, Senior Research Fellow at the Royal United Services Institute in London. He told AP the conflict is draining U.S. air‑defence missile stockpiles that Kyiv relies on to intercept Russian attacks, while also pulling Washington’s attention away from negotiations on ending the Russia‑Ukraine war.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said Ukrainian teams recently travelled to Gulf states to discuss shared security interests. Securing advanced air‑defence systems from those countries will be crucial, said François Heisbourg, special adviser at the Foundation for Strategic Research in Paris, who argued that Ukraine could offer its anti‑drone expertise and technology in return.
EU offers to fund Ukraine pipeline repairs to break Hungary deadlock
Tuesday 17 March 2026 13:44 , Harry CockburnEU leaders have offered to fund repairs to a damaged pipeline carrying Russian crude to Hungary, hoping to persuade Budapest to drop its veto on a major aid package for Ukraine, AP reports.
Oil flows to Hungary and Slovakia stopped in January after the Druzhba pipeline was damaged on Ukrainian territory, which Kyiv said was caused by Russian drone strikes.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán has accused President Zelenskyy of deliberately blocking supplies — which Zelenskyy denies — and has responded by vetoing a €90bn EU loan for Ukraine and holding up new sanctions on Russia.
The EU said it “has offered Ukraine technical support and funding” to fix the pipeline. “The Ukrainians have welcomed and accepted this offer. European experts are available immediately,” European Council President António Costa and European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said.
Zelenskyy opposes allowing Russian energy to transit through Ukraine but said the country is “undertaking all possible efforts to repair the damage and restore operations.”
Trump's attacks on Starmer "unseemly" amid wars in Iran and Ukraine, says Badenoch
Tuesday 17 March 2026 13:02 , Harry CockburnDonald Trump's attack on the Prime Minister after asking the UK to send warships to the Strait of Hormuz was "childish", Tory leader Kemi Badenoch has said.
She told PA: "I'm Keir Starmer's biggest critic. He's done a lot of things wrong, but I think the words that were coming out of the White House were wrong.
"It's very childish, this war of words and these spats. They might think that they're entertaining, but I think the western alliance being involved in a public spat at a time when there's war in Ukraine, (Volodymyr) Zelensky in the country, there's a war in Iran.
"It's just unseemly. I think people need to grow up."
Zelensky arrives in UK for talks with Rutte and Starmer
Tuesday 17 March 2026 12:11 , Daniel KeaneVolodymyr Zelensky has arrived in the UK for talks with Nato chief Mark Rutte and PM Sir Keir Starmer.
The Ukrainian leader wrote: “In London today. The agenda includes an audience with His Majesty King Charles III, meetings with Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, as well as an address to the British Parliament.
“Our priorities are clear – more security and opportunities for Ukraine. I thank the United Kingdom for its support and partnership in protecting lives.”
