Ukrainian negotiators are set to meet US officials on Thursday to discuss the country’s post-war reconstruction, after the last round of trilateral talks in Geneva ended abruptly and without clear progress.
Volodymyr Zelensky told reporters that the teams will discuss a US ‘prosperity package’ and work towards another trilateral meeting involving Russia.
The Ukrainian president said following a call with Donald Trump on Wednesday that he expected the next round of trilateral peace talks to follow in March.
"We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps," Zelensky wrote on social media.
"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war."
Russia continued to pound Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, injuring around 20 people in the eastern and southern regions and damaging residential buildings, according to local authorities.
Ballistic and cruise missiles were directed at Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv in the east of the country, while drones attacked Zaporizhzhia in the south.
Read MoreUkraine reveal major new defence tactic in bid to combat Russia threat
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Zelenskyy says Ukrainian officials to meet Trump envoys in Geneva for more Russia talks
Key Points
- Ukraine reveal major new defence tactic in bid to combat Russia threat
- Ukraine to cover 4,000km of roads with anti-drone nets by year-end
- Russia used British island territories to route $8bn of trade since invasion – report
- Russia unlikely to launch a new major offensive on Ukraine amid major battlefield losses
- Putin plans mandatory reserve call-ups amid rising troops casualties – ISW
Russia 'fires 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine'
08:27 , James ReynoldsVolodymyr Zelensky said this morning that Russia had fired 420 drones and 39 missiles at Ukraine overnight.
“Destruction has been recorded in eight regions, with many private homes and apartment buildings damaged,” he wrote on social media.
“As of now, dozens of people are reported injured as a result of this attack, including children.”
Around 20 injured in Russia strikes against Ukraine overnight
08:01 , James ReynoldsRussia struck Ukraine with missiles and drones overnight, injuring about 20 people in the eastern and southern regions, local authorities said.
Ballistic and cruise missiles were directed at Kyiv, the wider region and Kharkiv in the east, while drones attacked Zaporizhzhia in the south.
At least 14 people were injured in the Kharkiv region, including a seven-year-old boy, Kharkiv Governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram, adding that the city itself had been attacked by two missiles and 17 drones.
Four Ukrainian journalists killed working in Ukraine last year: report
07:28 , James ReynoldsFour Ukrainian journalists were killed by Russian forces last year, according to a report.
The Committee to Protect Journalists released new figures on Wednesday, finding a record 129 journalists and media workers were killed in the course of their work in 2025.
Russia's embassy in Washington did not respond specifically to the CPJ report, but referred to past Russian Foreign Ministry statements accusing Kyiv of responsibility for the deaths of more than 60 individuals working in Russian media since 2014.
Russia has previously denied deliberately targeting journalists and Ukraine denies targeting Russian reporters.
The New York-based organisation found Israel was responsible for two-thirds of the deaths last year, killing 86 journalists - claims the IDF “strongly rejects”.
Russia questions how Trump's Board of Peace will work with UN Security Council
07:19 , Arpan RaiRussia has questioned how president Donald Trump's Board of Peace would work with the United Nations Security Council, which has served as the fulcrum of collective international peacemaking since the end of the Second World War.
"The charter of the Board of Peace defines itself as a new international structure designed to replace 'mechanisms that have too often proved ineffective'," Russian foreign ministry official Kirill Logvinov told state news agency TASS.
"It is clear that this approach raises questions about how the Board of Peace will coexist with the United Nations and its Security Council, which is the only universally recognised body for maintaining international peace and security,” the Russian ministry said, posing signs of objection to Trump’s peace body.
Trump first proposed the board in September, when he unveiled his plan to end Israel's war in Gaza. Later, he said its remit would expand to tackle other conflicts globally - efforts traditionally overseen by the United Nations.
The board's mandate never mentions Gaza, Logvinov, the director of the ministry's international organisations department, added in an interview.
The US is the only permanent member of the UNSC to have joined the board. The other council members are Russia, China, Britain and France.
At least 20 injured in overnight attacks on Ukraine, including Zelensky's hometown
07:05 , Arpan RaiAt least 20 people have been injured in eastern and southern Ukraine after Russia attacked the country with missiles and drones last night, causing damage to residential buildings, local authorities said on Thursday.
Ballistic and cruise missiles were directed at Kyiv, the Kyiv region and Kharkiv in the east of the country, while drones attacked Zaporizhzhia in the south.
At least 14 people were injured in the Kharkiv region, including a seven-year-old boy, Kharkiv governor Oleh Syniehubov said on Telegram, adding that the city itself had been attacked by two missiles and 17 drones.
Zaporizhzhia governor Ivan Fedorov said that at least seven people were injured in the overnight attack on the city and that Russian drones damaged 19 apartment buildings, while another 500 homes were left without heating due to damage to infrastructure.
Fedorov published photographs of houses with holes in the walls, destroyed private homes and smashed shops.
The Ukraine Air Force is yet to disclose the total number of missiles and drones used in the attack on Ukraine, and the main targets that were struck.
Watch:
06:45 , Arpan RaiRussia attacks Ukrainian cities with missiles and drones overnight
06:35 , Arpan RaiRussia has launched a major overnight attack on Ukraine with missiles and drones, regional officials from Kyiv, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia and Kryvyi Rih confirmed.
The first explosions were reported in Kyiv around 4am local time, reported the Kyiv Independent as Ukrainian air defence said it was engaging incoming targets.
Russia was attacking the Ukrainian capital with both, ballistic missiles and drones, said Kyiv city military administration head Tymur Tkachenko.
He also urged the residents to remain in shelters until the air raid alert was lifted.
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko also said defences were operating in the city and asked residents to stay in safe locations as the air defences continued to intercept drones.
Russians describe senior officers ordering brutal execution of fellow soldiers
06:20 , Arpan RaiRussian troops have described the harrowing moments they saw their fellow soldiers executed for refusing to obey orders.
The men report being tortured for declining to take part in assaults they describe as verging on suicide missions in Ukraine in a new BBC documentary, The Zero Line: Inside Russia’s War.
As the war enters its fifth year, the UK Ministry of Defence estimates that 1.2 million Russian troops have been killed or injured.
Dima, a 34-year-old father and former dishwasher repairman, said he witnessed his comrades executed on the order of a highly decorated commander and saw the bodies of 20 others lying in a pit after being “zeroed”. The term is Russian slang for executing one of your own.
“I see it – just two metres, three metres. Just murders, just click, clack, bang. It’s not a drama, it’s not a movie, it’s real life,” he said.
Russians describe senior officers ordering brutal execution of fellow soldiers
Zelensky-Putin meeting for peace talks approved by Trump
06:10 , Arpan RaiThe next round of trilateral peace talks on end the war in Ukraine should lead to a meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Volodymyr Zelensky said after a phone call with US president Donald Trump.
Zelensky said Trump has backed the move.
"We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps," Zelensky wrote on X.
"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war,” he said.
The phone call discussed three-sided talks with Russia and the United States that would take place early next month. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also took part in the phone call.
Zelensky said the two leaders discussed both meetings. He thanked the United States for its "active involvement" in the peace process and for missiles for air defence systems that were helping Ukraine endure winter-time attacks.
I just spoke with @POTUS Donald Trump. Envoys of President Trump – Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also on the call. Our teams work intensively and I thanked them for all their work and for their active involvement in the negotiations and the efforts to end the war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 25, 2026
We also… pic.twitter.com/OrEScsVf3I
Putin plans mandatory reserve call-ups amid rising troops casualties
06:00 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin is faced with force generation issue to supply troops in the Ukraine war and is now looking to prepare for “domestically unpopular” measures to continue fighting.
The Russian government is struggling to find funds to "continue to pay the large cash incentives that it has used to generate the necessary number of volunteers" to fight, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said.
It added that Moscow is facing "critical" manpower and military financing issues, with its casualty rate surpassing its recruitment rate for the first time in January.
“Putin is having to reassess Russia’s force generation mechanisms to determine how Russia can continue to send the number of troops to the front lines needed to sustain the incessant offensive operations he demands. Putin is clearly considering and preparing for domestically unpopular measures such as rolling involuntary reserve callups,” it said.
Big Oil made nearly £346bn in profits since Ukraine war began, analysis shows
05:50 , Arpan RaiFive oil supermajors have made just under $500bn (£346bn) in profits since the Russian invasion of Ukraine, an analysis of company earnings shows, even as households across Europe have continued to grapple with elevated energy bills four years into the war.
The figure comes from a review by the advocacy group Global Witness of earnings reported by Shell, BP, Chevron, Exxon Mobil, and Total Energies between February 2022 and January 2026.
According to the group’s calculations, the five companies recorded combined profits of $467bn (£346bn) over the four-year period. Their earnings spiked sharply in the year following Russia’s invasion as oil and gas prices surged through the global energy crisis triggered by the conflict.
That total is close to the $524bn (£388bn) estimated cost of rebuilding Ukraine, according to international assessments cited in the analysis.
Big Oil has made nearly £346bn in profits since Ukraine war started
Watch: Trump says he is 'working very hard to end the slaughter' in Ukraine
05:33 , Arpan RaiA look at spider-web like anti-drone nets in Ukraine trapping Russian drones
05:30 , Arpan Rai Hungary's Orban claims Ukrainian plot and orders extra security at energy sites
05:12 , Arpan RaiHungarian prime minister Viktor Orban ordered extra security at critical energy infrastructure sites after claiming Ukraine was attempting to disrupt Hungary's energy system.
In a video posted to social media, Orban, who maintains the closest relationship with the Kremlin of any European Union leader, said the Ukrainian government was using "an oil blockade" to exert pressure on Hungary and that Hungarian national security services showed Ukraine was "preparing further actions to disrupt the operation of Hungary's energy system."
He didn't provide details or evidence for his claims.
“We will deploy soldiers and the necessary equipment to repel attacks near key energy facilities," Orban said.
"The police will patrol with increased forces around designated power plants, distribution stations and control centers,” he said.
Budapest has recently accused Kyiv of deliberately holding back Russian oil deliveries through the Druzhba pipeline, which crosses Ukraine's territory. Ukrainian officials have denied the allegations, saying the pipeline, which feeds refineries in Hungary and Slovakia, was hit in a Russian drone attack.
Orban has in recent weeks launched an aggressive anti-Ukraine campaign ahead of elections in April which will likely be the toughest he's faced in his 16 years in power.
He has cast the neighboring country as a grave threat to Hungary's security, and himself as the only guarantor of its safety.'
Zelensky says more than 1,700 Africans fighting for Russia
04:49 , Arpan RaiMore than 1,700 Africans are fighting for Russia in its war in Ukraine, Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, adding that Moscow was using deception to trick them into fighting.
Speaking alongside his counterpart from Ghana, Sybiha said that discussions were taking place with governments across Africa to prevent their citizens from being drawn into such schemes. Ghana will chair the African Union regional bloc next year.
"We clearly see that Russia is trying to drag African citizens into a deadly war," Sybiha told a news conference. "According to our data, there are currently over 1,780 citizens from the African continent fighting in the Russian army."
The African fighters came from 36 different countries spread across the continent, he added.
Russian authorities have denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in the armed forces.
However, reports of African men being lured into Russia with promises of jobs and ending up on Ukraine's front line have become more frequent in recent months, creating tensions between Moscow and some of the countries involved.
Ukraine reveal major new defence tactic in bid to combat Russia threat
04:22 , Arpan RaiUkraine is set to significantly ramp up its defences against Russian attacks with plans to deploy anti-drone nets across 4,000 kilometres of roads in frontline areas.
The anti-drone nets will be installed by the end of 2026, defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov announced on Wednesday.
This urgent measure comes as Russian remotely piloted aircraft increasingly target military supply routes, rear bases, hospitals, infrastructure, and civilian traffic deeper within Ukrainian territory.
While a growing number of protective nets have been installed over the past year, Fedorov stressed the need for further expansion.
Ukraine reveal major new defence tactic in bid to combat Russia threat
Musk blocking Russia’s drones from using Starlink has delivered ‘enormous’ boost to Ukraine, says frontline general
04:03 , Arpan RaiRussia’s drone campaign in Ukraine has been cut by up to 40 per cent, allowing Ukraine to regain territory, after Elon Musk blocked Russia’s access to his Starlink satellite network, according to one of Ukraine’s frontline generals.
Brigadier General Andrii Biletski, commander of Ukraine’s 3rd Army Corps, says the impact of SpaceX switching off Starlink in areas of Ukraine now held by Russia’s invading forces has been “enormous”.
“After the blocking of Starlink for the Russians, the level of their efficiency compared to ours has sharply decreased, because Starlink is practically irreplaceable as a combat communication system,” he tells The Independent.
Sam Kiley reports from Kyiv:
Starlink blocking Russia’s drones has given ‘enormous’ boost to Ukraine, says general
Russia used British island territories to route $8bn of trade since invasion – report
03:44 , Arpan RaiRussian firms allegedly used Britain’s secretive island territories to conduct $8bn (£5.9bn) of trade since launching the full-scale invasion of Ukraine, according to a new report.
These included flow of goods ranging from oil-drilling equipment to luxury yachts linked to Moscow’s political elite.
The Russian office of the anti-corruption group, Tranparency International, operating in exile, has looked at least 29,000 transactions of trade deals involving more than 150 luxury yachts, dozens of aircraft and equipment destined for Russia’s money-churning oil sector.
The report looked at the role played by the British overseas territories in enforcing sanctions designed to turn the screw on the Kremlin.
The report allegedly identified yachts linked to allies of Vladimir Putin, drilling kit for Kremlin-backed oil projects, coal linked to Ukraine’s pro-Russian ex-president and a jet linked to the Chechen warlord Ramzan Kadyrov.
Russia unlikely to launch a new major offensive on Ukraine amid major battlefield losses
03:24 , Arpan RaiRussia cannot afford to launch a new major offensive in Ukraine owing to its heavy battlefield losses, according to western officials and military analysts.
Russia’s battlefield losses have crossed its monthly recruitment of 30,000 to 35,000 new contract soldiers for three consecutive months, Western officials told Bloomberg on condition of anonymity.
The losses could spark a fresh round of mobilisation for Russian manpower.
“We’ve seen a casualty uptick which is disproportionate in scale and some of the economic situation in Russia is starting to become quite precarious, especially as we move into summer,” British Armed Forces minister Al Carns said, reported Bloomberg.
This trend shows Moscow’s capacity to launch a major new offensive looks weakened, the officials said.
Putin plans mandatory reserve call-ups amid rising troops casualties – ISW
03:15 , Arpan RaiRussian president Vladimir Putin is faced with force generation issue to supply troops in the Ukraine war and is now looking to prepare for “domestically unpopular” measures to continue fighting.
The Russian government is struggling to find funds to "continue to pay the large cash incentives that it has used to generate the necessary number of volunteers" to fight, Washington-based think tank the Institute for the Study of War said.
It added that Moscow is facing "critical" manpower and military financing issues, with its casualty rate surpassing its recruitment rate for the first time in January.
“Putin is having to reassess Russia’s force generation mechanisms to determine how Russia can continue to send the number of troops to the front lines needed to sustain the incessant offensive operations he demands. Putin is clearly considering and preparing for domestically unpopular measures such as rolling involuntary reserve callups,” it said.
Ukraine to cover 4,000km of roads with anti-drone nets by year-end
03:02 , Arpan RaiUkraine will accelerate the placement of anti-drone nets over roads in frontline areas, aiming to cover 4,000km of roads by the end of this year, defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
A growing number of nets have been installed over the past year, but more are needed, Fedorov said, adding that an additional 1.6bn hryvnias (£27m) had been allocated from the budget to bolster protection measures and counter Russian drones.
Nets can snag propellers and prevent drones from reaching their targets - high-value equipment, soldiers or civilians.
“In just one month, we increased the speed from 5km per day in January to 12km in February. This significantly improved the safety of military movements and ensured stable functioning of frontline communities," Fedorov said.
"In March, we plan to close 20km of roads per day. By the end of the year, we plan to install another 4,000 km of anti-drone protection on roads.
"Ukraine would also expedite the construction of fortifications in the northeastern regions of Kharkiv and Sumy and the northern Chernihiv regions, bordering Russia, Fedorov said.
Russia has been targeting military supply routes and rear bases deeper and deeper into Ukraine with the remotely piloted aircraft.
More talks between US and Ukrainian negotiators in Geneva today
02:58 , Arpan RaiRustem Umerov, the secretary of the National Security and Defence Council and head of Ukraine's negotiating team will meet in Geneva today with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.
Russia's TASS news agency, quoting a diplomatic source, said president Vladimir Putin's envoy Kirill Dmitriev would be flying to Geneva on Thursday to meet US negotiators, but gave no further details. There was no official Russian comment.
Proceeding with the reconstruction of Ukraine after the destruction wrought by Russian aerial strikes and frontline combat has become a major element in broader talks on how to end the war, which entered its fifth year this week.
Kyiv hopes to attract about $800bn of public and private funds over the next 10 years to rebuild the country.
Ukrainian officials are pitching Ukraine as a future European Union member and a lucrative investment destination but funds depend on a ceasefire and a peace deal.
Zelensky said Ukrainian and US negotiators would also discuss the details of prisoner-of-war exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.
Zelensky-Putin meeting for peace talks approved by Trump
02:50 , Arpan RaiThe next round of trilateral peace talks on end the war in Ukraine should lead to a meeting of the Ukrainian and Russian presidents, Volodymyr Zelensky said after a phone call with US president Donald Trump.
Zelensky said Trump has backed the move.
"We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps," Zelensky wrote on X.
"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war,” he said.
The phone call discussed three-sided talks with Russia and the United States that would take place early next month. US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner also took part in the phone call.
Zelensky said the two leaders discussed both meetings. He thanked the United States for its "active involvement" in the peace process and for missiles for air defence systems that were helping Ukraine endure winter-time attacks.
I just spoke with @POTUS Donald Trump. Envoys of President Trump – Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner were also on the call. Our teams work intensively and I thanked them for all their work and for their active involvement in the negotiations and the efforts to end the war.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 25, 2026
We also… pic.twitter.com/OrEScsVf3I
Recap: Ukraine to cover 4,000km of road with anti-drone nets, says government
02:00 , Rebecca WhittakerUkraine is accelerating the placement of anti-drone nets over roads in frontline areas, according to the country’s defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
“In just one month, we increased the speed from 5 km per day in January to 12 km in February. This significantly improved the safety of military movements and ensured stable functioning of frontline communities,” Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
“In March, we plan to close 20 km of roads per day. By the end of the year, we plan to install another 4,000 km of anti-drone protection on roads.”
Watch: Trump says he is 'working very hard to end the slaughter' in Ukraine
01:00 , Rebecca WhittakerUkraine front line mapped: The 745 miles at the heart of the war with Russia
00:00 , Rebecca Whittaker Ukraine front line mapped: The 745 miles at the heart of the war with Russia
Ireland planning closer cooperation with Nato amid Russia threat
Wednesday 25 February 2026 22:00 , Daniel KeaneIreland plans to boost radar and subsea surveillance capabilities and increase cooperation with Mato members amid growing hybrid threats in the North Atlantic, the country said in its first maritime security strategy on Wednesday.
Ireland is neutral and has the EU's lowest level of defence spending, but has been criticised for its lack of capability to monitor and defend territorial waters.
But there are growing concerns about the threats posed by Russia's "shadow fleet" of vessels that may be being used also for espionage and sabotage, the document said.
The Department of Defence strategy calls for closer cooperation with NATO members Britain and France and says Ireland should look to participate in activities with the Joint Expeditionary Force grouping of 10 North Atlantic NATO member states.
Umerov to meet with Witkoff and Kushner tomorrow
Wednesday 25 February 2026 21:00 , Daniel KeaneRustem Umerov, the secretary of the National Security and Defence Council, and head of Ukraine's negotiating team, will meet in Geneva on Thursday with US special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's son-in-law.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian and U.S. negotiators would discuss the details of a prisoner-of-war exchanges between Ukraine and Russia.
Ukrainian and Russian negotiators met last week in Geneva for their third U.S.-mediated meeting so far this year but failed to reach any breakthrough on key sticking points, including territory.
Ukraine expects new talks with Russia, US will lead to leaders' meeting
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:42 , Alex RossUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that Kyiv expected the next session of trilateral talks in March tolead to a meeting of the countries' leaders.
Mr Zelensky posted on social meda after coming off a phone call to Donald Trump.
He said: "We expect this meeting to create an opportunity to move talks to the leaders' level. President Trump supports this sequence of steps.
"This is the only way to resolve all the complex and sensitive issues and finally end the war."
Musk cutting Starlink to Russia’s drones has delivered ‘enormous’ boost to Ukraine, says frontline general
Wednesday 25 February 2026 20:00 , Sam KileyRussia’s drone campaign in Ukraine has been cut by up to 40 per cent, allowing Ukraine to regain territory after Elon Musk blocked Russia’s access to his Starlink satellite network, according to one of Ukraine’s frontline generals.
Andrii Biletski, commander of Ukraine Third Corps, says the impact of SpaceX switching off Starlink in areas of Ukraine now held by Russia’s invading forces had been “enormous”.
“After the blocking of Starlink for the Russians, the level of their efficiency compared to ours has sharply decreased because Starlink is practically irreplaceable as a combat communication system,” the brigadier general tells The Independent.
Read our full story below.
Cutting Starlink to Russia’s drones is ‘enormous’ boost to Ukraine, says general
Ukraine to cover 4,000 km of roads with anti-drone nets by year-end, minister says
Wednesday 25 February 2026 19:00 , Daniel KeaneUkraine will accelerate the placement of anti-drone nets over roads in frontline areas, aiming to cover 4,000 kilometres of roads by the end of this year, Defence Minister Mykhailo Fedorov has said.
Russia has been targeting military supply routes and rear bases deeper and deeper into Ukraine with the remotely piloted aircraft.
Its drones have also struck hospitals, infrastructure and civilian traffic.
A growing number of nets have been installed over the past year, but more are needed, Fedorov said, adding that an additional 1.6 billion hryvnias ($37 million) had been allocated from the budget to bolster protection measures and counter Russian drones.
Watch: Trump says he is 'working very hard to end the slaughter' in Ukraine
Wednesday 25 February 2026 18:00 , Daniel KeaneIn pictures: Ukraine installs anti-drone nets to fend off Russian attacks
Wednesday 25 February 2026 17:25 , Maira Butt Ukraine to cover 4,000km of road with anti-drone nets, says government
Wednesday 25 February 2026 16:50 , Maira ButtUkraine is accelerating the placement of anti-drone nets over roads in frontline areas, according to the country’s defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov.
“In just one month, we increased the speed from 5 km per day in January to 12 km in February. This significantly improved the safety of military movements and ensured stable functioning of frontline communities,” Fedorov wrote on Telegram.
“In March, we plan to close 20 km of roads per day. By the end of the year, we plan to install another 4,000 km of anti-drone protection on roads.”
Croatia assessing legality of Russian oil imports, says EU
Wednesday 25 February 2026 16:15 , Maira ButtCroatia is assessing whether it can lawfully import seaborne Russian crude oil to supply to Hungary and Slovakia after the Druzhba pipeline supplying them via Ukraine was damaged, the European Commission said on Wednesday.
Supply was halted on 27 January due, which Kyiv has blamed on a Russian drone strike.
“Croatia has communicated that it is assessing the situation, whether it can lawfully accept Russian crude at its port, both under the EU and U.S. sanctions,” a European Commission spokesperson said.
Croatia has so far said its Adria pipeline can import more oil, but suggested there is no need for this supply to be Russian.
“Non-Russian oil is currently flowing normally through our system toward Hungary and Slovakia... it means that our friends and allies in Hungary and Slovakia have a secure and reliable route of supply,” Croatian Economy Minister Ante Susnjar said in a post on X on Tuesday.
Zelensky says repairs to Druzhba pipeline 'not fast' as Hungary and Slovakia protest
Wednesday 25 February 2026 15:43 , Maira ButtUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that repairs to the Druzhba pipeline cannot happen quickly amid complaints by Hungary and Slovakia over its use.
“Firstly, it's not that fast,” he told reporters, adding that Russian strikes had destroyed the pipeline linking the Black Sea port of Odesa with Druzhba.
“This is not their first strike, and they continue to hit the energy sector.”
He added: “They advise us to repair it, but they know that there have already been attacks on Druzhba. Our people were injured so that it would work.”
Shipments of Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off since 27 January, when Kyiv says a Russian strike hit pipeline equipment in western Ukraine. Slovakia and Hungary say Ukraine is to blame for the prolonged outage.
Putin wanted to rebuild Russia’s empire. He’s ended up as China’s lapdog instead
Wednesday 25 February 2026 15:08 , Maira ButtIt’s been four years of war. Four years of a Russian onslaught to extinguish Ukrainian independence, which Vladimir Putin thought would be over in days. For just over a year of this, I worked as a special adviser to a foreign secretary, with Ukraine as my main brief. And I don’t think it’s quite understood just how far the war has changed the course not just of Ukrainian history, but of Russian history.
One of the last things I did in government was to join a visit to the White House, where top British officials sought to get across just how much the Ukrainian army had changed for the better in 18 months. This is exactly what I had a chance to explain to US vice-president JD Vance – whose views on Ukraine, more nuanced than is assumed, are central to US policy.
Ben Judah reports:
Putin wanted to rebuild Russia’s empire. He has ended up as China’s lapdog instead
Watch: Trump says he is 'working very hard to end the slaughter' in Ukraine
Wednesday 25 February 2026 14:30 , Maira ButtSix charged with smuggling combat drone technology to Russia
Wednesday 25 February 2026 14:00 , Maira ButtFour Belarusians and two Polish nationals have been detained and charged with attempting to smuggle devices to Russia that are used in the assembly of combat drones.
Polish prosecutors said the devices are used to automate the production of integrated circuits, also known as microchips.
Poland has been warning of Russian and Belarusian attempts to destabilise countries that back Ukraine since Russia invaded the neighbouring country four years ago.
On Wednesday, Polish prosecutors said the suspects were detained on 18 February and charged with attempting to smuggle strategically significant equipment through Belarus.
Six charged with smuggling combat drone technology to Russia
Zelensky thanks UK for funding and support package for Ukraine
Wednesday 25 February 2026 13:30 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has thanked Prime Minister Keir Starmer for providing Ukraine with support and funding, in a statement on X on Wednesday.
“Thank you to @Keir_Starmer and the United Kingdom for a new support package for Ukraine,” he wrote.
“It includes funding to restore our energy grid and expand generation capacity, humanitarian assistance for frontline communities, and a concrete contribution to holding Russia accountable for war crimes.
“ Britain has also approved its largest sanctions package since 2022, targeting Russia’s oil and gas revenues and its shadow tanker fleet.
“This is the path to make diplomacy effective – the noose must tighten so that Russia is forced toward peace. Thank you to the people of Britain for standing with Ukraine during all these years.”
Hungary's PM Orban accuses Ukraine of planning to disrupt energy system
Wednesday 25 February 2026 13:01 , Maira ButtPrime minister Viktor Orban has said that Ukraine is planning to disrupt the Hungarian energy system, according to Reuters.
It has prompted Hungary’s government to reinforce critical infrastructure by deploying soldiers and equipment.
Russia continues attacks on gas facilities for second day in row, says Naftogaz
Wednesday 25 February 2026 12:33 , Maira ButtRussian attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure have continued with strikes on the country’s gas storage and production facilities in the Kharkiv and Chernihiv regions for the second day in a row, according to state energy company Naftogaz.
The company said the attacks had caused damage but did not provide specific details.
Naftogaz said in a statement that the attacks caused damage but provided no specific details.
US unhappy with Ukrainian attacks on Russia that affect their 'economic interests', says Kyiv envoy
Wednesday 25 February 2026 12:03 , Maira ButtThe United States has expressed it is not happy with a Ukrainian attack on the Russian port of Novorossiysk on the Black Sea, according to Kyiv’s chief envoy and ambassador Olga Stefanishyna.
She said that the attacks had impacted American oil interests in Kazakhstan causing displeasure among US officials, according to the Seattle Times.
“This reach-out was not related to encouraging Ukraine from refraining to attack Russian military and energy infrastructure,” she told reporters in Washington.
“It was related to the very fact that American economic interest was affected there. It did happen, and we have taken the note.”
Russian firms moved $8bn of trade through British island territories since invasion of Ukraine
Wednesday 25 February 2026 11:27 , Maira ButtRussian companies have been able to shift $8bn (£5.9bn) worth of trade through British island territories since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine four years ago, according to the anti-corruption group, Transparency International.
The report highlights the flow of goods including oil-drilling equipment, private jets, yachts and other luxury goods, according to The Guardian.
Over 29,000 transactions were analysed in the report. More than 95 per cent of the trade was uncovered by scouring official date. The goods were routed through the British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, the Cayman Islands and Gibraltar.
Zelensky says to Trump: 'Stay on our side' as war enters fifth year
Wednesday 25 February 2026 10:53 , Maira ButtPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has urged Donald Trump to “stay on our side” as Russia’s war with Ukraine entered its fifth year.
“They have to stay with … a democratic country which is fighting against one person,” he told CNN.
“Because this person is a war. [Vladimir] Putin is a war. It’s all about himself. It’s all about one person. And the country, all his country is in the prison.”
He added: “If they really want to stop Putin, America’s so strong. We can’t just give him everything he wants. Because he wants to occupy us. If we will give him all he wants, we will lose everything — all of us, people will have to run away or be Russian.”
