Donald Trump has said Russia’s strikes on Ukraine are “what anybody would do” hours before Moscow launched an huge missile attack which killed at least 14 Ukrainians.
Speaking in the Oval Office on Friday, Mr Trump said he is “finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine” than Russia and that he still believes Russian president Vladimir Putin is committed to peace.
The comments came hours before Russia launched a deadly overnight missile and drone attacks on Ukraine has left at least 14 dead and 37 injured, according to Kyiv.
At least 11 people were killed and 30 wounded, including five children, when Russian forces launched strikes on the eastern city of Dobropillia using ballistic missiles, multiple rockets and drones, the Ukrainian interior ministry said on Saturday.
Another three civilians were killed in a drone attack on the Kharkiv region in the northeast, the ministry added Telegram messenger.
The ministry published photos of partially destroyed buildings engulfed in fire and rescuers removing rubble from the buildings, with eight multi-storey buildings and 30 cars damaged.
Earlier on Friday, Mr Trump said he is “strongly considering” widespread sanctions and tariffs on Russia until Moscow and Kyiv agree a peace deal.
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Key Points
- At least 14 killed and 37 wounded in Russian missile strike on Ukraine, Kyiv says
- Russia's Kirishi refinery hit by debris during Ukrainian drone attack
- Ukrainian forces fighting in Russia almost cut off
- Trump wants to end war 'as soon as possible', Rubio tells Ukraine
- Trump says it 'may be easier to deal with Russia than Ukraine'
- Trump considers 'large-scale sanctions on Russia'
Ukraine supporters focus on hope and resilience as US relations sour and war carries on
10:07
,
Alex Croft
The theme of “hope” was chosen long before this year’s deterioration of Washington-Kyiv relations, but participants at an international Ukrainian studies conference said that hope is needed more than ever — not only in Ukraine but in the United States itself.
Religious leaders, scholars, artists and diplomats have been gathering at the University of Notre Dame in Indiana since Thursday for a three-day conference focused on “Revolutions of Hope: Resilience and Recovery in Ukraine.”
But hope may be hard to summon at a conference that brought together supporters of Ukraine’s resistance to Russia’s ongoing military assaults.
Read the full report:
Strikes show 'Russia's goal is unchanged', says Zelensky
09:29
,
Alex Croft
Russia’s deadly strikes on Ukraine this morning show Moscow’s goal is unchanged despite supposed efforts towards peace, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
Speaking on Telegram after Russian missile, drone and rocket strikes killed at least 14 people in Ukraine’s eastern city of Dobropillia, Mr Zelensky called on tighter sanctions for Russia.
“Such strikes show that Russia's goals are unchanged,” he wrote.
“Therefore, it is very important to continue to do everything to protect life, strengthen our air defence, and tighten sanctions against Russia. Everything that helps Putin finance the war must break down.”
Russia's Kirishi refinery attacked by Ukrainian drones, governor says
09:00
,
Stuti Mishra
A tank at Russia's Kirishi refinery, one of the country's largest, was damaged by falling debris during a Ukrainian drone attack, the governor of the northwestern Leningrad region said on Saturday.
Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) refinery is one of the top two refineries in Russia. It refines about 17.7 million tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian crude, or 6.4 per cent of the total, according to industry sources.
"Air defences shot down one drone on approach, the other was destroyed over the territory of the enterprise," Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said on Telegram.
"When the debris fell, the external structure of one of the tanks was damaged," he said.
No one was injured, he said.
The refinery produces about 2.3 million tons of gasoline - 5.3 per cent of Russia's total - 7.6 per cent of its diesel fuel, 16.3 per cent of its fuel oil and 3.4 per cent of the country's aviation fuel, according to industry sources.
Ukraine’s military says it shot down 79 of 145 drones launched by Russia overnight
08:37
,
Tara Cobham
Ukraine’s military has said it shot down 79 of 145 drones launched by Russia overnight.
Britain and Philippines committed to rules-based order, UK's Lammy says
08:36
,
Tara Cobham
British foreign minister David Lammy said on Saturday that Britain and the Philippines were committed to a rules-based international order.
Lammy, who is in the Philippines for an official visit, also said both countries have stood together in supporting Ukraine and advocating for a free and open Indo-Pacific region.
"Today, we're charting a new course for our relationship amidst a lot of global volatility, and we must strengthen ties with like minded partners, like the Philippines," Lammy said in a joint press conference with his Philippine counterpart.
The Philippines and Britain signed a joint framework agreement to enhance cooperation across multiple areas, including defence, regional security, and climate action, paving the way for deeper collaboration in addressing shared challenges and opportunities.
Lammy and Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Enrique Manalo signed the deal, and both underscored their countries' commitment to expanding economic ties and promoting stability in the Indo-Pacific region.
"We are countries that are committed to international law. We are countries that are committed to the rules-based order. We are countries that take our obligations under the UN Charter seriously," Lammy said.
For his part, Manalo expressed his country's appreciation for Britain's "firm support of a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region," adding that both nations have agreed to continue participation and exchanges in joint military exercises.
Russia's Kirishi refinery hit by debris during Ukrainian drone attack
08:33
,
Tara Cobham
A tank at Russia's Kirishi oil refinery, one of the country's largest, was damaged by falling debris during a major Ukrainian drone attack, the governor of the northwestern Leningrad region said on Saturday.
Surgutneftegaz's Kirishinefteorgsintez (KINEF) refinery is one of the top two refineries in Russia. It refines about 17.7 million metric tons per year (355,000 barrels per day) of Russian crude, or 6.4 per cent of the country's total.
"Air defences shot down one drone on approach, the other was destroyed over the territory of the enterprise," Alexander Drozdenko, governor of the Leningrad region, said on Telegram.
"When the debris fell, the external structure of one of the tanks was damaged," he said.
No one was injured, he said.
A source at the refinery told Reuters that debris fell on the tank but nothing caught fire, adding that specialists were dealing with the wreckage.
US revokes some satellite imagery access for Ukraine
08:00
,
Stuti Mishra
The US government has suspended Ukraine’s access to certain satellite imagery, as part of president Donald Trump’s administration’s move to halt intelligence sharing with Kyiv, US aerospace firm Maxar Technologies said on Friday.
Maxar said it had disabled Ukrainian users’ access to satellite imagery through the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery (GEGD) program, a US government platform that provides access to commercial satellite images collected by the United States.
"The US government has decided to temporarily suspend Ukrainian accounts in GEGD," Maxar said, referring further questions to the US National Geospatial-Intelligence Agency (NGA).
The NGA confirmed the suspension, saying: "In accordance with the administration’s directive on support to Ukraine, NGA has temporarily suspended access to the Global Enhanced GEOINT Delivery system, or GEGD, which is the primary portal for access to US government-purchased commercial imagery."
This decision follows a broader intelligence freeze imposed by Washington, as the Trump administration seeks to pressure Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky into negotiating a ceasefire with Russia.
John Ratcliffe, director of the CIA, said on Wednesday that intelligence-sharing with Ukraine had been suspended as part of this strategy.
Maxar, whose commercial satellite images have been crucial for Ukraine in tracking Russian troop movements, emphasized that this suspension affects only GEGD users and does not extend to other customer programs.
"We take our contractual commitments very seriously, and there is no change to other Maxar customer programs," the company said in a statement.
The move is the latest in a series of shifts in US policy under Mr Trump, as his administration reassesses Washington’s support for Ukraine amid ongoing conflict with Russia.
UPDATE: At least 14 killed and 37 wounded in Russian missile strike on Ukraine, Kyiv says
07:46
,
Tara Cobham
At least 11 people were killed and 30 wounded, including five children, in Russian missile and drone attacks on Ukraine's eastern city of Dobropillia overnight , Ukrainian Interior Ministry has said.
Another three civilians were killed in a drone attack on the Kharkiv region in the northeast, the ministry added on Saturday.
The ministry said Russian forces attacked Dobropillia with ballistic missiles, multiple rockets and drones, damaging eight multi-storey buildings and 30 cars.
"While extinguishing the fire, the occupiers struck again, damaging the fire truck," the ministry said on the Telegram messenger.
The ministry published photos of partially destroyed buildings engulfed in fire and rescuers removing rubble from the buildings.
Dobropillia, home to about 28,000 people before the war, is in the Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine, 22 kilometres (13.67 miles) from the front line north of the key hub of Pokrovsk, which the Russian troops have been attacking for weeks.
The ministry also said at least three were killed and 7 injured in a separate drone attack on Kharkiv region overnight.
Ukrainian military said Russia attacked Ukraine overnight with two Iskander-M ballistic missiles and one Iskander-K cruise missile as well as 145 drones.
They said air forces shot down one cruise missile and 79 drones. The military said another 54 drones did not reach their targets likely due to electronic countermeasures.
Russian strike on eastern Ukraine kills 11
07:10
,
Stuti Mishra
At least 11 people have been killed and 30 injured in a night-time attack launched by on the eastern Ukrainian town of Dobropillia.
The strike on Friday targeted the town north of Pokrovsk, a key frontline in Russia’s offensive through eastern Ukraine.
Earlier, regional governor Vadym Filashkin reported four deaths but the death toll was later revised.
Eight residential buildings and an administrative building were damaged in the attack, the regional emergency service reported. The town lies north-west of Russian-held Donetsk city.
Trump threatens Russia with ‘large scale’ sanctions – full report
07:00
,
Jane Dalton
How Zelensky went from war hero to Trump’s punching bag
05:56
,
Jane Dalton
Trump wants to end war 'as soon as possible', Rubio tells Ukraine
05:30
,
Stuti Mishra
US secretary of state Marco Rubio told Ukraine that president Donald Trump is determined to end the Russia-Ukraine war as soon as possible, according to a statement from the State Department.
"The secretary underscored President Trump is determined to end the war as soon as possible and emphasized that all sides must take steps to secure a sustainable peace," Mr Rubio told Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha on Friday, according to the State Department.
Mr Rubio also held a separate call with French foreign minister Jean-Noël Barrot earlier in the day to discuss the war.
Mr Trump has made it clear that he wants to end the war, which began when Russia invaded Ukraine more than three years ago. He has also pushed for Europe to take greater responsibility for its own security.
However, his administration has taken steps that have complicated Ukraine’s position. Trump recently paused military aid and intelligence sharing with Kyiv, using it as leverage to push Ukraine into a ceasefire deal. This move followed a tense Oval Office meeting with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky last week.
While European leaders have publicly backed Mr Zelensky after his confrontation with Trump, their ability to support Ukraine remains closely tied to US policy.
In addition to his efforts to force a ceasefire, Mr Trump has said he is "strongly considering" new sanctions on Russia, including financial restrictions and tariffs, to push for a peace deal.
US considers how to ease Russia energy sanctions quickly
04:40
,
Jane Dalton
The US government is studying ways it could ease sanctions on Russia's energy sector as part of a broad plan to enable Washington to deliver swift relief if Moscow agrees to end the Ukraine war, Reuters is reporting.
Russia is among the world's largest oil and gas producers, and the US has sought to starve it of cash for the war by targeting the industry with sanctions, and by leading a multilateral effort to cap the price of Russian oil exports to $60 a barrel.
The White House has asked the Treasury Department to explore options for easing energy sanctions ahead of expected talks between President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, two sources said.
That work would allow Washington to reverse the sanctions quickly in the event of a peace deal, according to the sources. The US would not lift the sanctions without Russian concessions, they said.
Lack of ceasefire deal could lead to World War Three, Trump warns
03:25
,
Jane Dalton
President Trump said he didn’t know whether Ukraine wanted “to settle” when asked why the US would not provide the country with air defences.
"If they don't want to settle, we're out of there," he said, warning that it could end up as World War Three if a ceasefire deal is not negotiated.
Asked why Europe had not come up with its own peace plan, he said "they don't know how to end the war" but added that he did have an idea of how to bring it to an end.
Watch: Trump 'finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine'
01:00
,
Jane Dalton
Ukrainian forces fighting in Russia almost cut off
Friday 7 March 2025 23:58
,
Jane Dalton
Tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops who smashed into Russia last summer and took control of a swath of territory there are nearly encircled by Russian forces and cut off from their main supply lines, open-source maps show.
Ukraine's situation in Russia's Kursk region has deteriorated sharply in the past three days, the maps show, after Russian forces retook territory as part of a gathering counteroffensive that has nearly cut the Ukrainian force in two.
The precarious situation for Ukraine raises the possibility that its forces may be forced into a retreat or risk being captured or killed at a time when Kyiv is under mounting pressure from the US to agree a ceasefire.
"The situation (for Ukraine) is very bad," Pasi Paroinen, a military analyst with the Finland-based Black Bird Group, told Reuters.
"Now there is not much left until Ukrainian forces will either be encircled or forced to withdraw. And withdrawal would mean running a dangerous gauntlet, where the forces would be constantly threatened by Russian drones and artillery," he said.
"If Ukrainian forces are not able to restore the situation quickly, this could be the moment where the Kursk salient begins to finally close into an encircled pocket."
Trump 'flip-flopping approach dangerous'
Friday 7 March 2025 22:52
,
Jane Dalton
The Lib Dems have condemned President Trump’s “flip-flopping” on Ukraine’s security.
Responding to Mr Trump’s statement that Russia is “pounding” Ukraine and that he’s considering new sanctions on Moscow, Helen Maguire, Liberal Democrat defence spokesperson and Iraq veteran, said: “This is yet more proof of Trump’s flip-flopping approach to Ukraine's defence and security.
"While we welcome his renewed focus on targeting Russia, the aggressor, what is to stop his opinion from changing again tomorrow?
“This dangerous and inconsistent messaging is further proof that the Trump administration is an unreliable partner - and why we must strengthen relations with our European and Commonwealth allies.”
Starmer and Macron 'compare notes'
Friday 7 March 2025 22:14
,
Jane Dalton
Sir Keir Starmer and French president Emmanuel Macron have spoken to "compare notes" on their work to get a lasting peace in Ukraine on Friday evening, Downing Street said.
The two leaders, who have been leading efforts to form a "coalition of the willing" to protect Kyiv, spoke on Friday evening, No 10 said.
Intensive contacts happening between Kyiv and US, says Zelensky
Friday 7 March 2025 21:50
,
Jane Dalton
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says intensive contacts took place between US officials and Kyiv’s on Friday.
"Today the most intensive work has been going on all day with President Trump's team at different levels - many calls," Mr Zelensky said in his nightly video address.
"The topic is clear - peace as quickly as possible, the most reliable security possible. Ukraine is committed to being as constructive as possible."
We continue working with partners who seek peace just as we do, focusing on the necessary steps. Next week, there will be a lot of work here in Europe, with the U.S., and in Saudi Arabia – we are preparing a meeting to accelerate peace and strengthen the foundations of security.… pic.twitter.com/RDoGpHNwUl
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 7, 2025
Russia claims to down dozens of Ukrainian drones
Friday 7 March 2025 21:05
,
Jane Dalton
Russian air defence units downed 43 Ukrainian drones over parts of southern Russia over a two-and-a-half-hour period late on Friday, the defence ministry said.
A statement said 21 of the drones were intercepted over Krasnodar region, east of Ukraine and nine were destroyed over Bryansk region.
The region's governor, Alexander Bogomaz, said six hit the town of Starodub, near the Ukrainian border, injuring a woman and setting ablaze an industrial plant. Homes were evacuated.
The popular Russian media outlet Mash, reporting on Telegram, said one person died in the attack on the plant, which it said was a food-processing facility.
Kyiv and US foreign ministers in 'constructive call'
Friday 7 March 2025 21:00
,
Jane Dalton
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha says he had a "constructive call" with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio, to discuss a forthcoming bilateral meeting in Saudi Arabia.
"Ukraine wants the war to end, and US leadership is essential for achieving lasting peace. We also discussed ways to advance our bilateral cooperation," Mr Sybiha posted.
US president Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, said on Thursday he was in discussions with Ukraine for a peace agreement framework.
Moscow attacks kill five people in Donetsk
Friday 7 March 2025 20:45
,
Jane Dalton
Russian attacks on a series of villages killed five residents of eastern Ukraine's Donetsk region on Friday, prosecutors say.
They said one resident was killed in the town of Pokrovsk, a focal point of Russian advances westward through Donetsk region.
Two others were killed in attacks on villages near the city of Kostyantynivka, further northeast and one other victim was identified as a resident of a village near the town of Kurakhove, which Russia's military said it captured in January.
Russian troops have been advancing slowly but steadily through Donetsk region as part of a drive to capture the Donbas, made up of Donetsk and Luhansk.
Opinion: Macron’s nuclear offer to Europe isn’t as simple as he thinks
Friday 7 March 2025 20:20
,
Jane Dalton
Millions of Ukrainians face conscription into Russian army
Friday 7 March 2025 19:34
,
Jane Dalton
Starmer pledges more defence collaboration with Turkey and Canada
Friday 7 March 2025 19:05
,
Jane Dalton
Sir Keir Starmer has spoken with the leaders of Turkey and Canada to promise closer collaboration on defence as Western nations “step up to counter egregious Russian aggression”, Downing Street says.
A spokesman added: “Updating on the intensive diplomacy between the US, UK, France and Ukraine, the prime minister welcomed the potential for peace talks in Saudi Arabia next week.“
The leaders also discussed the “Coalition of the Willing” and looked ahead to the Chiefs of Defence meeting in Paris on Tuesday. “It would be another important moment to drive forward planning, they agreed,” they said.
Zelensky to visit South Africa
Friday 7 March 2025 18:30
,
Jane Dalton
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky will visit South Africa next month for talks with South African leader Cyril Ramaphosa on finding "a path to peace" with Russia, a spokesperson for Ramaphosa has said.
Mr Zelensky's visit on April 10 will be a continuation of Ramaphosa's engagements with both Ukraine and Russia for "an inclusive peace process," a spokesperson said.
South Africa has adopted a neutral position in the war and has tried to act as a mediator, with limited success.
Ukraine uses new French jets
Friday 7 March 2025 18:10
,
Jane Dalton
For the first time, Ukraine deployed French Mirage-2000 warplanes delivered a month ago to help repel Russia’s attack on its energy infrastructure, according to the air force.
Ukraine's largest private gas producer, DTEK, said that the overnight bombardment in the Odesa region was Russia's sixth attack in the past two-and-a-half weeks on its facilities.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the energy supply was a legitimate target because it is "linked with Ukraine's military industrial complex and weapons production".
Poland's Tusk plans large-scale military training for all adult males 'in event of war'
Friday 7 March 2025 18:02
,
Holly Evans
Poland's Prime Minister Donald Tusk said Friday that his government is working on a plan to prepare large-scale military training for every adult male in response to the changing security situation in Europe.
He said there is a need for an army of 500,000 soldiers, which would include reservists.
"We will try to have a model ready by the end of this year, so that every adult male in Poland is trained in the event of war. So that this reserve is really comparable and adequate to potential threats," Tusk said in a major speech on security to the country's Sejm, the lower house of parliament.
Last year, the Polish government said the military encompassed around 200,000 soldiers and was to grow to 220,000 this year with the objective of increasing it to around 300,000. But security fears have grown far more dramatic in recent weeks, as Russia continues to pound Ukraine with missiles and drones, and as the Trump administration has withdrawn military and intelligence support for Ukraine while putting its commitments to NATO in question.
"Today we are talking about the need for a half-million army in Poland," Tusk said.
US meeting with NATO's secretary general next week, Waltz says
Friday 7 March 2025 17:53
,
Holly Evans
Speaking about U.S. diplomacy on the war in Ukraine, White House National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said the NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte is coming to a meeting next week.
“The president has had multiple conversations and a visit from President Macron of France, Prime Minister Starmer of the United Kingdom, we have the NATO Secretary General coming next week, we have this meeting with the Ukrainians, we have had it with the Russians, all of this in the president’s first month of his leadership. We will engage in the shuttle diplomacy,” Waltz said in the Oval office.
Watch: Trump says he is finding it more difficult, to 'deal with Ukraine'
Friday 7 March 2025 17:49
,
Holly Evans
Starmer applauds 'historic' EU defence spending plan
Friday 7 March 2025 17:49
,
Jane Dalton
UK prime minister Sir Keir Starmer hailed the EU's "historic step forward" as he spoke to leaders after the bloc backed moves to free up hundreds of billions of euros for security.
He spoke to the president of the European Council, the president of the European Commission and the leaders of Canada, Turkey, Norway and Iceland on Friday after an EU Council meeting on Thursday.
"The Prime Minister applauded the progress the European Union had made at the European Council yesterday, saying it was a historic step forward and another sign of Europe stepping up," a Downing Street spokeswoman said.
He said closer collaboration between the European Union and its partners and a combined defence industrial base was "vital".
Trump warns lack of ceasefire deal could lead to World War Three
Friday 7 March 2025 17:44
,
Holly Evans
Speaking to reporters at the White House, President Trump said he didn’t know whether Ukraine “wants to settle” when asked why the US will not provide them with air defences.
"If they don't want to settle, we're out of there," he said, warning that it could end up as World War Three if a ceasefire deal is not negotiated.
Asked why Europe had not come up with its own peace plan, he said "they don't know how to end the war" but added that he does have an idea of how to bring it to an end.
Ukraine will struggle to hit Russian targets without US intelligence
Friday 7 March 2025 17:32
,
Jane Dalton
Putin is doing 'what anyone else would do', Trump says
Friday 7 March 2025 17:29
,
Holly Evans
Trump says he thinks that Putin is doing what "anyone else would do" and that he wants to get this war settled and ended.
“He is doing what anyone else would do, he wants to get it stopped. He's hitting harder than he's been hitting. Anyone in that position would be doing that now.”
The president says the conflict is now "hitting him harder than it has been".
He adds that Ukraine is taking tremendous punishment, but seemed uncertain on whether he believes Ukraine wants to settle, responding: "I think they do"
Trump says it 'may be easier to deal with Russia'
Friday 7 March 2025 17:23
,
Holly Evans
In an unexpected comment from Donald Trump, who was giving an update on the US economy, the US president said he is “finding it more difficult to deal with Ukraine”.
When asked if he still believes that Putin is committed to peace, he responded that he does.
He adds that to get a final peace deal, that it may be "easier to deal with Russia, which is odd, as they have all the cards".
He added that he was looking ahead to next week's meeting in Saudi Arabia, and that the US is trying to help Ukraine but says they "have to get on the ball, to get the job done".
Trump threatens Russia with ‘large scale’ sanctions – full report
Friday 7 March 2025 17:14
,
Jane Dalton
EU leaders downplay Trump doubts on Nato solidarity
Friday 7 March 2025 16:55
,
Jane Dalton
European Union leaders have downplayed scepticism from US president Donald Trump about solidarity among Nato members a day after they backed plans to spend more on defence amid wavering US support.
After European leaders committed to freeing up hundreds of billions of euros for security, Mr Trump said he was "not so sure" that the military alliance would come to the United States' defence if the country were attacked.
"We are loyal and faithful allies," French President Emmanuel Macron said in response, expressing "respect and friendship" towards US leaders.
Maris Riekstins, Latvia's ambassador to Nato, stressed the military alliance was the most important platform for addressing transatlantic security issues.
Following the talks in Brussels, Mr Trump expressed doubt that other allies would come to the defence of the US – although they did so after the September 11 2001 attacks.
It was the only case in which the Article 5 mutual defence guarantee was invoked.
Together in Brussels.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) March 6, 2025
For a solid and lasting peace.
For Europe’s security. pic.twitter.com/OKF1jXZgOM
Russia launches ‘massive missile and drone’ – full report
Friday 7 March 2025 16:30
,
Jane Dalton
Full details:
In pictures: German reservists train as Nato boosts its power
Friday 7 March 2025 16:05
,
Jane Dalton
Editorial: Europe must keep Trump from siding with Kremlin
Friday 7 March 2025 15:40
,
Jane Dalton
In case you missed it:
How Zelensky went from beloved war hero to Trump punch bag
Friday 7 March 2025 15:2