Russia plans to open four control stations for long-range attack drones in Belarus, Zelenskyy said on Monday, adding: “There will be responses to this. And they will be felt.” Zelenskyy has in recent months repeatedly warned about Belarus becoming more involved in Russia’s war, and added in comments on X that he had instructed the service’s chief to inform Kyiv’s partners about these plans. Speaking later in his nightly video address, the president said that earlier in the war, Belarusian assistance had for a time intensified the damage inflicted by Russian attacks until Ukraine took action against it. “We now have information from our intelligence that Russia intends to continue using the territory of Belarus and temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine to build ground control stations for long-range drones,” he said. Belarus’ foreign ministry did not immediately reply to a request for comment outside business hours.
The European Union executive has demanded clarity from Hungary following reports that its foreign minister had passed sensitive information about EU negotiations to Russia. On Saturday, the Washington Post quoted serving or former European security officials as saying Peter Szijjarto regularly called his Russian counterpart, Sergei Lavrov, during breaks in EU meetings to give “direct reports on what was discussed” and suggest possible courses of action. On Monday, European Commission spokesperson Anitta Hipper said. “[A] relationship of trust between member states, and between them and the institution, is fundamental for the work of the EU. We expect the Hungarian government to provide the clarifications.” Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orbán is one of the few EU leaders to maintain close ties with Russia amid the war in Ukraine. The US media outlet’s report has raised hackles in Brussels, where many officials remain furious that Hungary continued to block a loan of €90bn ($104bn) to Ukraine at an EU leaders’ gathering last week. Szijjarto has described the report as “fake news” and “senseless conspiracy theories”. But Hungary’s minister for European affairs, Janos Boka, said “it is perfectly normal for the Hungarian foreign minister to speak by telephone with his Russian counterpart”. Germany described the allegations as “very serious”. “Discussions within the EU, including among EU foreign ministers, are confidential,” a German foreign ministry spokesperson said. “We will not tolerate any violation of them,” he added.
Ukraine’s military intelligence has “irrefutable” evidence that Russia continues to provide intelligence to Iran, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Monday, saying such activity could only prolong the war in the Middle East. “Russia is using its own signals intelligence and electronic intelligence capabilities, as well as part of the data obtained through cooperation with partners in the Middle East,” he said on X. Speaking later in his nightly video address, Zelenskyy said there was “growing evidence” of continued Russian efforts to funnel intelligence to Iran. “This is clearly destructive activity and must be stopped as it only leads to further destabilisation. All responsible states have an interest in ensuring security and preventing bigger problem,” he said. “Markets are already reacting negatively and this is significantly complicating the fuel situation in many countries. By helping the Iranian regime survive and strike more accurately, Russia is effectively prolonging the war.” The Kremlin last week dismissed a Wall Street Journal report that Russia was sharing satellite imagery and improved drone technology with Iran as “fake news”.
Senior US officials travelled to Kyiv this week for a meeting of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund, with both sides hoping to move forward soon with a first investment project, US and Ukrainian officials said. The fund, established as part of a minerals deal signed in April, began operations in December. Focused on investments in critical minerals and other strategic sectors, it is expected to reach $200m by the end of the year. Ukrainian officials hope to announce three initial investment projects this year. “We are working hard to bring the first deal to the investment committee for approval. For the moment we think that it is on track to happen,” a Ukrainian official said. The official said the fund aimed to fund investments in three priority areas – critical minerals, hydrocarbon extraction and dual-use technologies – this year.
United Nations undersecretary-general Rosemary DiCarlo told the security council on Monday that an estimated 15,364 civilians, including 775 children, had been killed in Ukraine since the full-scale Russian invasion in February 2022. US undersecretary of state Christopher Landau told the council that the US remained committed to working with both Russia and Ukraine to end the war. “We reiterate our call on both sides to negotiate in good faith, in a spirit of flexibility, compromises and a duty to protect and preserve the lives of their citizens,” Landau said. US and Ukrainian delegations recently held two days of bilateral talks in Miami, Florida, on finding ways to end the four-year war, although the war in Iran has overshadowed those efforts.
