Donald Trump’s threat to leave Nato over its lack of support for his war in Iran “looks like Putin’s dream plan”, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has said.
The US president on Wednesday said that he was “seriously considering” withdrawing Washington from the military alliance as they “were not there for us” when he began his war in
In a social media post, Mr Tusk wrote: “The threat of Nato’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the loan for Kyiv by Orbán - it all looks like Putin’s dream plan.”
The war in Iran has significantly diverted US attention from the war in Ukraine, with peace talks stalled and hopes of an end to the war appearing to be remote.
In other developments, Ukraine's military has rejected Russia's claim to have taken full control of the eastern Luhansk region, saying there have been no significant battlefield changes in the area.
Luhansk is one of two industrialised regions that make up the Donbas. It has been almost entirely occupied by Russia since the start of the war, while Ukraine still holds a relatively large stretch of neighbouring Donetsk.
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Key Points
- Kyiv rejects Russia’s claim to have taken full control of Luhansk region
- Ukraine says it has liberated nine settlements in frontline hotspots
- Hungary's potential replacement for Orban is not the EU ally many think he is
- Russia responds to Zelensky’s Easter ceasefire offer with massive drone attack
- Trump threatens to stop supplies to Ukraine if Europe won't join his Iran war
Putin to hold call with Saudi crown prince, TASS reports
12:30 , Daniel KeaneRussian President Vladimir Putin will speak by phone to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman on Thursday, TASS news agency reported.
It quoted presidential aide Yuri Ushakov as saying the call would take place after a meeting between Putin and Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty in Moscow.
The Kremlin said earlier that Russia was ready to contribute to efforts to end the Iran war and that Putin was continuing contacts with regional leaders.
US seeking to expand military presence in Greenland
12:00 , Daniel KeaneThe US is seeking to expand its military presence in Greenland just two months after President Donald Trump threatened to take over the island.
According to American military officials, Washington is seeking access to three additional bases on the Arctic territory, including two that they had previously abandoned.
It follows days of tension between Trump and Europe after the US leader said he was “absolutely” considering withdrawing America from Nato over a lack of support in the Iran war, which has driven a further wedge between him and other western leaders.
Earlier this year, Europe was thrown into mayhem after Trump said that the US “needed” Greenland and demanded control of the territory “right now”, threatening to impose extortionate tariffs on countries that prevented the move or disagreed.
Read our full story below.
US seeking to expand military presence in Greenland after Trump threats to take over
Watch: Russian gymnast turns back during Ukrainian national anthem after Ukraine’s victory
11:31 , Daniel KeaneTrump's threat to leave Nato looks like 'Putin's dream plan', says Tusk
11:00 , Daniel KeaneDonald Trump’s threat to leave Nato over its lack of support for his war in Iran “looks like Putin’s dream plan”, Poland’s prime minister Donald Tusk has said.
The US president on Wednesday said that he was “seriously considering” withdrawing Washington from the military alliance as they “were not there for us” when he began his war in
In a social media post, Mr Tusk wrote: “The threat of Nato’s break-up, easing sanctions on Russia, a massive energy crisis in Europe, halting aid for Ukraine and blocking the loan for Kyiv by Orbán - it all looks like Putin’s dream plan.”
Ukraine says it has liberated nine settlements in frontline hotspots
10:30 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian military says it has regained control of nine settlements in the eastern part of the country where fighting has been most active.
The Air Assault Forces said in a report on Tuesday that the liberated areas include seven settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk region and two in the Zaporizhzhia region, and that approximately 480 sq km of territory on Oleksandrivka axis has been regained.
The battlefield report added that three other settlements have been cleared of Russian forces, and stabilisation efforts are currently underway in those areas.
According to the military units in the region, Russian forces are increasing their use of drones for reconnaissance and strikes against Ukraine’s logistics and positions.
Ukrainian units are responding to this offensive by applying pressure and prevent Russian forces from stabilising the line of contact or achieving their objectives in the area.
Ukraine's Odesa port targeted overnight as officials report fire and damage
10:15 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s Odesa port has come under attack from Russian forces, officials said this morning, confirming damage to residential buildings and port infrastructure.
“Residential buildings and the port area have been hit. Containers and four cars caught fire in the port zone. Two warehouses have been damaged,” Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa military administration said on his Telegram channel.
No casualties have been reported and the fire has been extinguished, the regional official said.
Russia continues drone attacks on Ukraine as 12 locations hit overnight
10:00 , Arpan RaiRussia has attacked Ukraine with more than 170 drones since last evening and overnight, Ukraine’s air force said this morning, adding that the airstrikes are still underway.
The Ukraine Air Force said Russian forces fired 172 drones from 6pm Wednesday evening on several Ukrainian cities and hits have been recorded at at least 12 locations.
These include Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types of drones fired from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Ukraine’s occupied territories of Donetsk and Crimea.
Of these, at least 120 were recorded to be Iran’s Shahed loitering drones.
As of 8am local time, Ukrainian air defence forces said they have destroyed or jammed 147 Russian drones in the country's north, south and east.
Zelensky says Trump's envoys agreed to bolster Kyiv's security guarantees in new round of talks
09:45 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has welcomed his latest round of talks with the US delegation on post-war securities for Ukraine, lauding it as a “positive conversation”.
“Today, we had a detailed discussion with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, joined by Lindsey Graham and Mark Rutte, on how to strengthen diplomacy, what steps are possible, and on security guarantees and the involvement of Europeans. It was a positive conversation,” Zelensky said in his evening address.
He added: “We agreed to strengthen security guarantees, and I have already instructed our team to promptly update the documents so that the security guarantees for Ukraine are strong, the prospects for post-war reconstruction are real, and everything is doable.”
Zelensky said the war-hit nation should “receive reliable security”.
“...this is the main task. I am grateful that the US president’s envoys hear us and are ready to work together to find the right compromises, steps, and decisions,” he said.
A positive phone conversation with President Trump's envoys — Steve Witkoff @SEPeaceMissions and Jared Kushner @jaredkushner. Senator Lindsey Graham @LindseyGrahamSC and NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte @SecGenNATO also joined the call. I am grateful to everyone for their work… pic.twitter.com/H5d2JUDfqq
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 1, 2026
Trump threatens Nato exit over his Iran war and scales up tensions with allies
09:30 , Arpan RaiTensions between the US and Nato allies flared up as president Donald Trump said he was considering pulling the US out of the Western military alliance due to its European members' refusing to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Nato, which includes European countries, the United States and Canada, was formed in 1949 with the aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.
Trump told Reuters on Wednesday that he would state in an address to the nation later in the day that he was "absolutely" considering withdrawing the US from the Nato alliance.
“I'll be discussing my disgust with Nato," he said of the speech. Asked if he was thinking about pulling out of Nato, he said: "Oh, absolutely without question. Wouldn't you do that if you were me?"
In the event, Trump didn't directly talk about Nato during his primetime address.
Trump's earlier remarks reflect his ongoing frustration with Nato and came just hours after his defence secretary Pete Hegseth declined to reaffirm the US commitment to Nato's collective defence, a concept that lies at the heart of the alliance.
Russia responds to Zelensky’s Easter ceasefire offer with massive drone attack
09:10 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Russia responded to his offer for a temporary ceasefire over Easter with airstrikes and drone attacks.
“Russia is responding [to the Easter ceasefire offer] with Shahed drones and continues its terrorist operations against our energy sector, against our infrastructure,” he said, adding that he had discussed ways of advancing diplomacy with US negotiators.
“A silence over Easter could be exactly the signal that tells everyone that diplomacy can be successful,” he said.
Moscow said that it was looking for peace and not just a brief ceasefire. Russia’s foreign ministry also rejected Zelensky’s Easter truce proposal as a PR stunt.
Russia attacks Naftogaz facilities in Ukraine's Sumy region
08:57 , Arpan RaiRussia attacked facilities of Ukraine's state oil and gas company Naftogaz in the north-eastern Sumy region of Ukraine yesterday, causing fires, Naftogaz CEO Serhiy Koretskyi said.
In a statement this morning, Koretskyi said the attack caused significant damage, but gave no more details.
Hungary's potential replacement for Orban is not the EU ally many think he is
08:48 , Arpan RaiHungary's centre-right Tisza party widened its lead over prime minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz ahead of the parliamentary election on 12 April, two opinion polls showed yesterday, although a large share of voters remained undecided.
Veteran nationalist Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years, although the outcome of the election remains uncertain due to the many undecided voters.
His opponent, Peter Magyar, has said his party would curb corruption, unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funds to boost the economy, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and Nato.
While most polls have shown a Tisza lead, Fidesz points to other surveys that still show it on course to victory, though its opponents say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party.
But even if Magyar wins the elections, he is unlikely to represent the pro-Ukrainian alternative Brussels is hoping for.
Magyar often sounds strikingly similar to Orban when it comes to Ukraine. He has opposed fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership, said he would deny military help to Kyiv, and signalled he would put Ukraine's EU accession to a referendum – which could derail the process entirely.
Trump threatens to stop supplies to Ukraine if Europe won't join his Iran war
08:29 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has threatened to stop supplying weapons for Ukraine if his European allies do not join his “coalition of the willing” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, people aware of the discussions said.
Trump has demanded that Nato countries deploy their navies to help him reopen the Strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes and where traffic is now halted by Iran, reported the Financial Times.
At least three officials aware of the discussions said that Trump dangled the threat of ending the weapons supply for Ukraine under PURL, a Nato-led weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine.
European nations have resisted Trump’s push and said the Iran conflict was “not our war”.
The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, urged a group of key European nations who are Ukrainian allies – France, Germany and the UK – to release a statement that they are ready for any appropriate measures.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait [of Hormuz],” the statement read.
“It was Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump had threatened to withdraw from Purl and from Ukraine in general. The statement was then quickly put together, and other countries joined in afterwards because there was not enough time to invite everyone to sign up straight away,” an official aware of the discussions told FT.com.
Ukraine's Odesa port targeted overnight as officials report fire and damage
08:08 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s Odesa port has come under attack from Russian forces, officials said this morning, confirming damage to residential buildings and port infrastructure.
“Residential buildings and the port area have been hit. Containers and four cars caught fire in the port zone. Two warehouses have been damaged,” Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa military administration said on his Telegram channel.
No casualties have been reported and the fire has been extinguished, the regional official said.
Russia continues drone attacks on Ukraine as 12 locations hit overnight
07:51 , Arpan RaiRussia has attacked Ukraine with more than 170 drones since last evening and overnight, Ukraine’s air force said this morning, adding that the airstrikes are still underway.
The Ukraine Air Force said Russian forces fired 172 drones from 6pm Wednesday evening on several Ukrainian cities and hits have been recorded at at least 12 locations.
These include Shahed, Gerbera, Italmas and other types of drones fired from the Russian cities of Bryansk, Kursk, Oryol, Millerovo and Primorsko-Akhtarsk and Ukraine’s occupied territories of Donetsk and Crimea.
Of these, at least 120 were recorded to be Iran’s Shahed loitering drones.
As of 8am local time, Ukrainian air defence forces said they have destroyed or jammed 147 Russian drones in the country's north, south and east.
Ukraine asks Olympics committee to examine 'neutral' status of Russian athletes
07:35 , Arpan RaiSports authorities in Ukraine asked the International Olympic Committee to examine the "neutral" status of Russian athletes they accused of having links to the military or competing in events that violated Olympic sanctions.
The IOC allowed a limited number of athletes from Russia and Belarus to compete at the 2024 Paris Olympics and the 2026 Milan Winter Games with no flags or anthems, subject to vetting.
This included stipulations that athletes not be linked to the military or have supported Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
An appeal signed by Ukrainian sports minister Matvii Bidny and National Olympic Committee head Vadym Guttsait said they had compiled evidence that some athletes had flouted recommendations established by the IOC in 2023 – more than a year after Russia's full-scale invasion.
The appeal cited in particular "systematic violations" in sports climbing and its governing federation, the IFSC.
"The Ukrainian side has provided evidence of direct links between a number of athletes and the military structures of the aggressor state," the statement said.
It cited several athletes the officials alleged had links with the military, supported the invasion or had trained in Crimea, seized and annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.
It also said an international competition was held in Moscow last November under the auspices of the CISM (International Military Sports Council) in violation of IOC rules.
"This confirms the involvement of Russian military structures in the international sports movement with the aim of legitimising Russia's aggressive policy," the appeal said.
"The Ukrainian side calls on the leadership of the IOC and the IFSC to conduct a comprehensive review of these facts and to suspend the individuals in question from international competitions.”
Watch: Zelensky gives update on Kushner and Witkoff talks
07:16 , Arpan RaiRussia shoots down Ukrainian drones near oil refineries in Ufa
06:45 , Arpan RaiSeveral Ukrainian drones were shot down close to oil refineries in the Russian city of Ufa, the largest in Bashkortostan, while debris of one of them fell in an industrial area, the local governor said this morning.
Another drone struck a residential building but no one was injured, Bashkortostan's leader, Radiy Khabirov wrote on his Telegram channel.
Trump threatens Nato exit over his Iran war and scales up tensions with allies
06:22 , Arpan RaiTensions between the US and Nato allies flared up as president Donald Trump said he was considering pulling the US out of the Western military alliance due to its European members' refusing to send ships to unblock the Strait of Hormuz.
Nato, which includes European countries, the United States and Canada, was formed in 1949 with the aim of countering the risk of Soviet attack and has been the cornerstone of the West's security ever since.
Trump told Reuters on Wednesday that he would state in an address to the nation later in the day that he was "absolutely" considering withdrawing the US from the Nato alliance.
“I'll be discussing my disgust with Nato," he said of the speech. Asked if he was thinking about pulling out of Nato, he said: "Oh, absolutely without question. Wouldn't you do that if you were me?"
In the event, Trump didn't directly talk about Nato during his primetime address.
Trump's earlier remarks reflect his ongoing frustration with Nato and came just hours after his defence secretary Pete Hegseth declined to reaffirm the US commitment to Nato's collective defence, a concept that lies at the heart of the alliance.
Watch: Zelensky praises ‘positive’ talks with US negotiators aimed at ending war
05:55 , Arpan RaiUkraine says it has liberated nine settlements in frontline hotspots
05:35 , Arpan RaiThe Ukrainian military says it has regained control of nine settlements in the eastern part of the country where fighting has been most active.
The Air Assault Forces said in a report on Tuesday that the liberated areas include seven settlements in the Dnipropetrovsk region and two in the Zaporizhzhia region, and that approximately 480 sq km of territory on Oleksandrivka axis has been regained.
The battlefield report added that three other settlements have been cleared of Russian forces, and stabilisation efforts are currently underway in those areas.
According to the military units in the region, Russian forces are increasing their use of drones for reconnaissance and strikes against Ukraine’s logistics and positions.
Ukrainian units are responding to this offensive by applying pressure and prevent Russian forces from stabilising the line of contact or achieving their objectives in the area.
Hungary's potential replacement for Orban is not the EU ally many think he is
05:15 , Arpan RaiHungary's centre-right Tisza party widened its lead over prime minister Viktor Orban's ruling Fidesz ahead of the parliamentary election on 12 April, two opinion polls showed yesterday, although a large share of voters remained undecided.
Veteran nationalist Orban faces the biggest challenge to his rule in 16 years, although the outcome of the election remains uncertain due to the many undecided voters.
His opponent, Peter Magyar, has said his party would curb corruption, unlock billions of euros in frozen European Union funds to boost the economy, and firmly anchor Hungary in the EU and Nato.
While most polls have shown a Tisza lead, Fidesz points to other surveys that still show it on course to victory, though its opponents say these have mainly been conducted by institutes with financial or personal ties to the ruling party.
But even if Magyar wins the elections, he is unlikely to represent the pro-Ukrainian alternative Brussels is hoping for.
Magyar often sounds strikingly similar to Orban when it comes to Ukraine. He has opposed fast-tracking Ukraine’s EU membership, said he would deny military help to Kyiv, and signalled he would put Ukraine's EU accession to a referendum – which could derail the process entirely.
Russia responds to Zelensky’s Easter ceasefire offer with massive drone attack
04:50 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky has said Russia responded to his offer for a temporary ceasefire over Easter with airstrikes and drone attacks.
“Russia is responding [to the Easter ceasefire offer] with Shahed drones and continues its terrorist operations against our energy sector, against our infrastructure,” he said, adding that he had discussed ways of advancing diplomacy with US negotiators.
“A silence over Easter could be exactly the signal that tells everyone that diplomacy can be successful,” he said.
Moscow said that it was looking for peace and not just a brief ceasefire. Russia’s foreign ministry also rejected Zelensky’s Easter truce proposal as a PR stunt.
Trump threatens to stop supplies to Ukraine if Europe won't join his Iran war
04:21 , Arpan RaiDonald Trump has threatened to stop supplying weapons for Ukraine if his European allies do not join his “coalition of the willing” to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, people aware of the discussions said.
Trump has demanded that Nato countries deploy their navies to help him reopen the Strait, through which a fifth of the world’s oil passes and where traffic is now halted by Iran, reported the Financial Times.
At least three officials aware of the discussions said that Trump dangled the threat of ending the weapons supply for Ukraine under PURL, a Nato-led weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine.
European nations have resisted Trump’s push and said the Iran conflict was “not our war”.
The Nato secretary general, Mark Rutte, urged a group of key European nations who are Ukrainian allies – France, Germany and the UK – to release a statement that they are ready for any appropriate measures.
“We express our readiness to contribute to appropriate efforts to ensure safe passage through the Strait [of Hormuz],” the statement read.
“It was Rutte who insisted on the joint statement because Trump had threatened to withdraw from Purl and from Ukraine in general. The statement was then quickly put together, and other countries joined in afterwards because there was not enough time to invite everyone to sign up straight away,” an official aware of the discussions told FT.com.
Russia claims to have taken full control of Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine
03:57 , Arpan RaiThe Russian defence ministry said on Wednesday that its forces had taken full control of the Luhansk region in eastern Ukraine, suggesting they had wrested control of a small sliver of land which had remained beyond their reach since 2022.
A Ukrainian military spokesperson said there had been no battlefield changes in the area in the last six months.
More than 99 per cent of Luhansk, one of four Ukrainian regions Russia claimed as its own in 2022 – something Kyiv and most Western countries have rejected as an illegal land grab – has long been under Russian control.
"Units of the ‘West’ military grouping have completed the liberation of the Luhansk People's Republic," the defence ministry said in a statement, using Moscow's preferred name for the region.
Luhansk is one of two regions - along with Donetsk - which make up the wider industrialised Donbas area.
The Kremlin on Wednesday reiterated its demand that Ukrainian forces withdraw from the part of Donetsk which Moscow does not control to end what it called the "hot phase" of the war, a demand Kyiv has repeatedly dismissed as absurd.
Ukraine's drone interceptors deliver results in the Middle East, Zelensky says
02:00 , Oisin McilroyUkrainian drone interceptors and military expertise are delivering results in the Middle East, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday.
Zelensky said that Ukraine was already cooperating with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Jordan, and was also in contact with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.
The government team was also in talks on potential engagements with Turkey and several other countries, he said.
Watch: Russia appears to reject Zelensky’s Easter truce offer
01:00 , Oisin McilroyFinnish president told Trump a 'more European NATO' taking shape
Thursday 2 April 2026 00:01 , Oisin McilroyFinnish President Alexander Stubb told U.S. President Donald Trump in a phone call on Wednesday that "a more European NATO" was taking shape and that Europe was "shouldering responsibility", Stubb's office said in an emailed statement.
Trump told Reuters on Wednesday he intended to say in an address to the nation later that he was considering withdrawing the U.S. from the NATO military alliance.
"Constructive discussion and exchange of ideas on NATO, Ukraine and Iran. Problems are there to be solved, pragmatically," Stubb wrote in a social media post.
Zelensky praised 'positive' fresh talks with US mediators
Wednesday 1 April 2026 23:11 , Rebecca WhittakerPresident Volodymyr Zelensky criticised Russia for answering his offer of an Easter truce with airstrikes on Wednesday but he praised the "positive" fresh talks with US mediators aimed at resolving the war.
He held talks remotely on Wednesday with US special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner - President Donald Trump's son-in-law - and US Senator Lindsey Graham as part of ongoing efforts to end the conflict.
In his nightly video address after the call, Zelensky thanked America for its efforts to bring peace and said the Ukrainian and US teams had agreed to strengthen a document outlining US security guarantees for any future peace deal.
"This is precisely what could pave the way for a reliable end to the war," Zelensky said.
Watch: Zelensky gives update on Kushner and Witkoff talks
Wednesday 1 April 2026 23:05 , Rebecca WhittakerZelensky says Russia responded to proposed Easter ceasefire with strikes
Wednesday 1 April 2026 23:00 , Daniel KeanePresident Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Russia had responded to Ukraine's proposed Easter ceasefire by launching more strikes against his country's energy infrastructure.
"Russia responds with 'Shaheds' (Iranian-designed drones) and continues its terrorist operations against our energy sector, against our infrastructure," Zelensky said in his nightly video address, adding he had discussed ways of advancing diplomacy in talks with U.S. negotiators.
"Other signals are needed, and a silence over Easter could be exactly the signal that tells everyone that diplomacy can be successful."
Trump threatened to stop weapons for Ukraine unless Europe joined Hormuz coalition - reports
Wednesday 1 April 2026 22:00 , Oisin McilroyUS President Donald Trump threatened to stop supplying weapons for Ukraine in order to pressure European allies to join a "coalition of the willing" to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, the Financial Times reported on Wednesday, citing people briefed on the discussions.
According to the report, Trump threatened to stop supplies to PURL, NATO's weapons procurement initiative for Ukraine funded by European countries..
Watch: Russian gymnast turns back during Ukrainian national anthem after Ukraine’s victory
Wednesday 1 April 2026 21:00 , Oisin McilroyZelenski and Rutte hold talks with US negotiators, source says
Wednesday 1 April 2026 20:00 , Oisin McilroyUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky started online talks with U.S. negotiators on Wednesday, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters.
NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte also joined the talks with special envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner - the son-in-law of U.S. President Donald Trump - and U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham, according to the source.
Ukrainian authorities say three injured in drone strike on civilian vehicle in Kherson
Wednesday 1 April 2026 19:00 , Oisin McilroyKherson Oblast authorities said three people were hurt by a Russian drone strike today in city of Kherson, near the Dnipro river.
The attack reportedly occurred at 4:40pm, injuring two men, aged 40 and 46, as well as a 65-year-old woman.
Officials say they made their own way to hospital and currently being examined by medial personnel.
Ukrainian officials charge Russian singer in absentia for supporting Russian aggression
Wednesday 1 April 2026 18:00 , Oisin McilroyUkraine’s Security Service and Prosecutor General's Office have charged a Russian singer in absentia for participating in Russian propaganda.
The officials believe Nikolay Baskov part of a circle of artists close to Russian President Putin.
"It has been documented how, at the international economic forum in St. Petersburg in 2023, Baskov, together with other propagandists, presented cash certificates to Russian Armed Forces militants for the destruction of Ukrainian tanks,” the Security Service said.
According to the officials, Baskov also visited occupied territory in Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts to perform concerts for the Russian military.
Ukraine “working closely” with Middle Eastern states to combat Iranian strikes
Wednesday 1 April 2026 16:30 , Oisin McilroyPresident Zelensky has said Ukraine is working with Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar to share weaponry and intelligence on how to resist Iranian drone and missile attacks.
The president said work with Jordan is “ongoing”, while they are also “in contact” with Bahrain, Kuwait, and Iraq.
“The situation in this region is of global significance, and this is reflected in global markets, in the cost of living in every country without exception, as well as in technological challenges that cannot be left unaddressed,” Mr Zelensky said on his official Telegram channel.
“War makes weapons more dangerous. Our goal is greater collective security.”
He also pointed to the similar challenges faced by the Middle East now and those faced by Ukraine over the last four years of conflict with Russia, including Shahed drones and maritime blockades.
Italy proposes plan to get finishing companies to donate discarded nets for Ukrainian drones
Wednesday 1 April 2026 15:30 , Daniel KeaneItalian senators have proposed a plan to incentivise fishing companies that donate discarded nets to help shield Ukraine from Russian drone attacks, a document showed on Wednesday.
Ukraine has this year stepped up the installation of anti-drone nets over roads in frontline areas as it faces mass Russian drone attacks on hospitals, infrastructure and civilian traffic.
The nets are considered effective defensive tools because they can snag propellers and stop drones from reaching targets, including troops and civilians.
"Fishing nets used in the Mediterranean for millennia are an effective countermeasure against a weapon of death," Senator Ivan Scalfarotto of the small centrist Italia Viva party told a news conference.
Under the bill, Italian fishing companies would be exempt from disposal costs for the nets sent to Ukraine and would receive payments based on the weight of the material delivered.
Russian drone attack kills four in Ukraine's Cherkasy region
Wednesday 1 April 2026 14:30 , Daniel KeaneA Russian drone attack has killed four people in Ukraine's central Cherkasy region, Ihor Taburets, the regional governor, said.
He said on the Telegram app that the attack was still underway, urging residents to take shelter.
Russia urges France to release woman arrested for suspected espionage
Wednesday 1 April 2026 13:28 , Arpan RaiRussia urged France on Wednesday to release Anna Novikova, a Russian-French national detained last year on suspicion of espionage.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told reporters the charges against Novikova were fabricated and were "an example of the spy mania sweeping across Europe".
Novikova, 40, founded a humanitarian organisation which says it brings aid to people living in Russian-controlled parts of Ukraine.
She is suspected by prosecutors of approaching executives of French companies to obtain information about French economic interests, the prosecutors said.
Estonia says stray Ukrainian drones entered its territory
Wednesday 1 April 2026 12:30 , Daniel KeaneDrones detected in Estonia appear to have strayed from Ukraine while headed for Russia, the Baltic country's armed forces said.
Estonia had earlier on Tuesday said it detected drones inside and outside its airspace overnight, with broadcaster ERR reporting that debris from at least one drone was found.
An army spokesperson late on Tuesday said several drones had entered Estonia and the assessment was they had been "launched from the Ukrainian side to strike military targets on the territory of the Russian Federation near Estonia's borders", but had strayed into Estonia.
At least three Ukrainian civilians killed and 33 wounded in Russian strikes
Wednesday 1 April 2026 12:00 , Daniel KeaneAt least three Ukrainian civilians were killed and 33 others wounded in Russian strikes over the past 24 hours, according to local officials.
Overnight, Russia deployed 339 drones against Ukraine, including roughly 200 long-range Shahed-type drones, the Air Force reported.
Ukrainian defenses managed to shoot down 298 of the drones, but at least 20 got through and hit 11 different sites.
Debris from downed drones was also reported in five locations, the Air Force added.
Watch: Ukraine and Bulgaria working on gas corridor, says Zelensky
Wednesday 1 April 2026 11:29 , Daniel KeaneMore than two dozen sanctioned ships pass through UK waters since crackdown on shadow fleet
Wednesday 1 April 2026 10:32 , Arpan RaiMore than two dozen ships sanctioned for being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet have passed through UK waters since prime minister Keir Starmer last week authorised the military to detain vessels used by Moscow to export oil.
The figures based on ship tracking data analysed by Reuters show that oil tankers sanctioned by Britain are continuing to travel along England's southern coast in the same numbers as before the announcement.
British officials said almost a week ago that the military was preparing to board the vessels for breaches of sanctions and the government hoped the announcement would force the ships to take longer routes away from British waters.
Russia called it a "deeply hostile move" and said it could retaliate.
EU's Kallas says European ministers should work for Europe, not for Russia
Wednesday 1 April 2026 10:20 , Arpan RaiThe European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday European ministers should work for Europe, not Russia, in reference to leaked audio purported to be of a phone call between Hungary's and Russia's foreign ministers.
A recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org has revealed an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to the recording published by Vsquare, Lavrov called Szijjarto to remind him of a promise to help remove the sister of a Russian businessman from the EU's sanctions list.
In the English-language audio, Szijjarto responds that Hungary and Slovakia would submit a proposal the following week to remove the woman from the list.
"We will do our best in order to get her off," Szijjarto says in the recording.
Vsquare also reported on a separate call, for which it did not provide audio, in which Szijjarto allegedly told Russia's deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin that he was working to repeal EU sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
Russia deliberately redirected drones to Baltic nations, says Ukraine
Wednesday 1 April 2026 10:05 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s intelligence shows Russia deliberately redirected drones towards Baltic nations and Finland to create regional tensions in the recent aerial offensive, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
A Ukrainian drone carrying an unexploded warhead crashed in Finland on Sunday, marking the first time the conflict with Russia has directly impacted Finnish soil, according to a preliminary assessment by Finnish police.
Ukraine has since apologised for the incident, explaining that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had gone astray during its war with Russia, most likely due to electronic interference from Moscow.
"We have intelligence data confirming that in all these cases, these were deliberate and targeted actions by Russia," Sybiha said in a press conference in Kyiv alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Ukraine, the foreign minister said, has never intentionally directed drones toward these countries and is working with partners to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Moscow rejects Ukraine's Easter ceasefire, but says it is looking for peace
Wednesday 1 April 2026 09:45 , Arpan RaiRussian officials have said Moscow was sceptical of the idea of an energy truce, hours after Volodymyr Zelensky said he would lower pressure on Russia’s oil infrastructure if Russia agrees for a truce over Easter.
"In the statements by Zelensky that we have read, we have not seen any clearly formulated initiative regarding an Easter truce," Peskov told reporters.
“Zelensky must take responsibility and make the appropriate decision so that we achieve peace, not merely a ceasefire," Peskov added, saying the longer Zelensky delayed the higher the price of peace would be for Ukraine.
The recent wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy installations, particularly at Baltic Sea ports, as well as a disputed strike on a major pipeline and the seizure of oil tankers at sea, has halted at least 40 per cent of Russia's oil export capacity, according to Reuters calculations based on market data.
Ukraine calls Hungary's collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a 'disgrace'
Wednesday 1 April 2026 09:29 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s foreign minister has called Hungary’s collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a “disgrace”.
A new leaked audio clip has revealed that Hungary's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart discussed EU sanctions, days before an election that could determine whether Hungary sticks to its pro-Moscow course.
The recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org purports to capture an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.In a Facebook video, Szijjarto said wiretapping of his phone calls was a "huge scandal."
“These are not conversations. This is obsequious reporting to Russian patrons. Disgusting, it is a disgrace, and it really should be subject to investigation,” Andrii Sybiha said.
The episode underscores unease among EU officials that Hungary is serving Russia's interests and working from within the bloc to undermine EU efforts to aid Ukraine. Orban says he aims to keep Hungary out of the war and protect its interests.
Zelensky rebuffs Kremlin's threats over Ukrainian territory
Wednesday 1 April 2026 09:10 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said Russia's threats to seize more Ukrainian territory outside the Donbas made it clear that their long-term goals went well beyond the region.
Russia is insisting that Ukraine give up the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region it has been unable to conquer during four years of war, something Zelensky has steadfastly refused to consider. Russia already controls around four-fifths of the industrialised region.
Russia, he said, had told the US it could conquer the remainder of the Donbas in two months as Moscow pressed to wrap up talks before the US Congressional mid-term elections later this year.
"I'm surprised anyone can believe this," he said, adding that Ukraine was also keen to reach a "diplomatic solution" but would only agree to a ceasefire "where we currently stand".
Kyiv says it can keep defending its remaining "fortress belt" of industrial towns and cities in the Donbas for years, citing the glacial pace of Russia's frontline advances since 2023 as its soldiers run into a defensive wall of Ukrainian drones.