Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Paris on Thursday for talks with Emmanuel Macron, as tensions with Moscow escalated after Vladimir Putin accused the UK of involvement in a Ukrainian strike on a Russian facility.
The Ukrainian president is expected to discuss the battlefield situation and military support from France and other European partners, as well as efforts to increase pressure on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine, Macron’s office sources have told Reuters.
Moscow lashed out furiously at Britain overnight after UK-made Storm Shadow missiles were used in a Ukrainian strike on a factory in western Russia's Bryansk that killed seven people.
Ukraine has rejected Russia's claim that the strike hit civilian infrastructure, saying the facility in question was producing components for Russian missiles.
Earlier, Ukraine said its troops controlled almost all of the Dnipropetrovsk region after liberating 400 square kilometres in counterattacks.
Officials said it undermined Russia’s attempted strategy of seizing a strip of territory beyond its stated claims in the Donbas, to serve as a “buffer zone” and support further offensive operations.
Read MorePutin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Hungary’s opposition party sees lead narrow as critical election nears for Orbán
Trump officials point out ‘tactical error’ they made in build-up to Iran war: ‘This was it’
Key Points
- Russia blames UK for Ukrainian strike that killed seven dead
- Zelensky arrives in Paris for talks with Macron, sources say
- Zelensky says Storm Shadows hit major Russian missile control factory
- Ukraine says Hungary fact-finding mission has no official status
- Zelensky says Ukraine has received deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles from Germany
- Russia confirms Ukrainian strike on Bryansk, says seven dead
- Zelensky warns Russia could support Iran with missiles
Zelensky says Trump needs to put more pressure on Russia not Ukraine
10:30 , Shweta SharmaIn an interview with Politico, Volodymyr Zelensky said Donald Trump needs to put “more pressure on Russia, not on me.”
“We need negotiations. We support them,” he told the outlet. “We don’t trust Russia, but I think, and I trust that Americans really want to finish with this war. I hope that they will help us, but we need more pressure on Russia, not on me.”
The comments come a week after Trump expressed renewed frustration with Zelensky, saying Ukraine’s leader needed to “get on the ball” and strike a deal, and suggesting he believed Vladimir Putin was more ready to negotiate a truce.
Zelensky said talks with Trump’s envoys in December suggested the US could offer some form of security guarantee for Ukraine as part of a peace deal, but details remain unclear.
“President Trump told me, ‘Do you trust that our security guarantees can be stronger than Nato?’ I said, ‘Yes, it depends on you for today. It depends on you, Mr president. God bless if we will have stronger security guarantees than Nato. But what will be after you? And what will be after me?'” Zelensky said.
ICYMI: Kremlin says Britain was involved in Ukrainian missile strike on Russia
10:00 , Shweta SharmaThe Kremlin said on Wednesday it was clear that British specialists were involved in a deadly Ukrainian strike on the Russian city of Bryansk using Storm Shadow missiles.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov added that Russia’s “special military operation” would continue to prevent what he called such “barbaric” attacks.
A Ukrainian strike on Tuesday using Storm Shadow missiles on Bryansk killed at least seven people and injured 37 more.
Ukraine has not denied carrying out the attack, saying it struck a key factory producing components for Russian missiles, and therefore a legitimate military target.
Russia's Gazprom says overnight attacks on two gas pumping stations were foiled
09:52 , Shweta SharmaRussia’s energy giant Gazprom said that two of its gas pumping stations, Russkaya and Beregovaya, were targeted by air strikes overnight but the attacks were foiled.
The Russian defence ministry said earlier that Ukrainian drones had attempted to attack the Russkaya station overnight.
The stations are part of a network that sends gas via the TurkStream and Blue Stream pipelines to Europe.
EU threatens to pull Venice Biennale funding over Russia's return
09:36 , Shweta SharmaThe EU has threatened to withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale if organisers go ahead with plans to allow Russia to reopen its pavilion at this year’s edition.
Russia’s pavilion at the art fair was closed after Moscow’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which led to Russian artists and institutions being excluded from major European cultural events.
“Member states, institutions and organisations must act in line with EU sanctions and avoid giving a platform to individuals who have actively supported or justified the Kremlin’s aggression against Ukraine,” an EU statement said.
It added that the Commission would examine further action, “including the suspension or termination of an ongoing EU grant to the Biennale Foundation”, which organises the contemporary visual arts event that runs from May to December in Venice’s historic shipyards, known as the Arsenale.
Biennale president Pietrangelo Buttafuoco described the festival as “a space of coexistence for the whole planet” without censorship that should remain open even to countries in conflict.
However, Italy’s culture minister Alessandro Giuli said the government disagreed with the Biennale Foundation’s “entirely autonomous” decision.
Prime minister Giorgia Meloni has been a staunch supporter of EU sanctions against Russia, although before the invasion the co-ruling League party had close ties with Vladimir Putin’s United Russia party.
Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha and deputy prime minister Tetyana Berezhna urged the international art community to remain vigilant over Russia’s use of culture as a tool of propaganda.
“The Venice Biennale is one of the world’s most authoritative art platforms, and it must not become a stage for whitewashing the war crimes that Russia commits daily against the Ukrainian people and our cultural heritage,” they said.
Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest. A wartime ban blocks sales
09:00 , Shweta SharmaMidway through last year, the Trump administration reportedly brushed off an offer from Ukraine for assistance in strengthening defense systems against a lethal, widely used Iranian drone.
Now, with Iranian drones having killed multiple US troops, American officials consider ignoring the initial outreach a major misstep.
"If there's a tactical error or a mistake we made leading up to this [war in Iran], this was it," a US official told Axios.
Last August, Ukrainian officials reportedly tried to sell the U.S. battle-proven technology to take on Iran’s low-cost, unnamed, one-way Shahed attack drones, which Russia has made a major part of its arsenal for the war in Ukraine.
Trump officials point out ‘tactical error’ they made ahead of Iran war: ‘This was it’
Ukrainian 'machine gunner robot' sees off waves of Russian attacks
08:30 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian defence technology company DevDroid's Droid TW-7.62 robotic platform was used by soldiers from the Disney Squad unit during an engagement in which Russian infantry attempted to advance on Ukrainian defensive positions.
According to DevDroid, the system first detected two Russian drones positioned near a road leading to the Ukrainian position. Described as "waiting drones", they were destroyed before the robot opened fire on approaching infantry.
The company said the system then identified two Russian soldiers moving towards Ukrainian lines. One was killed by machine-gun fire and the other was wounded during the exchange.
Russian forces subsequently shelled the area with artillery in what appeared to be an attempt to destroy the robotic platform.However, DevDroid said the system remained operational and fired at another group of Russian troops advancing towards the position, forcing them to withdraw and allowing Ukrainian forces to hold their ground.
The Droid TW-7.62 is a reconnaissance and strike unmanned ground system designed to carry a KT-7.62 machine gun. The platform includes a ballistic computer intended to improve accuracy and incorporates elements of artificial intelligence capable of detecting, tracking and engaging targets.
Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
08:00 , Shweta SharmaDonald Trump has shrugged off Russia supplying intelligence to his enemies in Iran and rewarded the Kremlin with the option of lifting oil sanctions against Moscow. The latest moves by the US president beg the question “whose side is he on” – and not for the first time.
The most recent concession to Vladimir Putin came after the first telephone call between the two presidents this year – one that the Kremlin says was initiated by the Oval Office to the Russian president.
With an eye on the oil markets, Trump said that he thought the war against Iran would end soon, adding it was “very complete”, before declaring hours later that the fight would continue as we “haven’t won enough”.
His “secretary of war”, Pete Hegseth, then had a go at clearing things up, promising that Tuesday would see the heaviest strikes by the US and Israel so far and warned that Iran would suffer catastrophic consequences if it throttled Gulf oil exports.
Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Hungary accuses Zelensky of lying over visit
07:30 , Shweta SharmaHungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto has accused Volodymyr Zelensky of lying after the Ukrainian president said he did not know what a Hungarian delegation was doing in Ukraine.
Hungary’s foreign minister said on Facebook that Kyiv had been officially informed about the visit in advance.
“Zelensky claims he did not know about the arrival of the Hungarian delegation in Ukraine because the Hungarian government did not coordinate the visit with Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. But what is the reality? Yesterday we officially informed the Ukrainians that a Hungarian delegation led by Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek would visit Ukraine to inspect the condition of the Druzhba oil pipeline, and we also requested a meeting with Ukraine’s energy minister,” Szijjarto said.
He also shared a document dated 10 March showing a request from the Hungarian embassy in Kyiv to Ukraine’s foreign ministry stating that the delegation would be in the capital on Thursday and Friday. The embassy asked Ukrainian authorities to help arrange a meeting between the delegation and Denys Shmyhal, Ukraine’s first deputy prime minister and energy minister.
He further accused Ukraine of blocking oil supplies to Hungary at a time when maritime oil transport faces major uncertainty, arguing that the only alternative to the Druzhba pipeline is sea routes.“Therefore, the Ukrainian oil blockade is nothing less than a grave crime against Hungary,” he said.
Earlier, Zelensky said that as far as his administration was concerned, the Hungarian officials were visiting in a "private" capacity.
Zelensky says Trump needs to put more pressure on Russia not Ukraine
07:00 , Shweta SharmaIn an interview with Politico, Volodymyr Zelensky said Donald Trump needs to put “more pressure on Russia, not on me.”
“We need negotiations. We support them,” he told the outlet. “We don’t trust Russia, but I think, and I trust that Americans really want to finish with this war. I hope that they will help us, but we need more pressure on Russia, not on me.”
The comments come a week after Trump expressed renewed frustration with Zelensky, saying Ukraine’s leader needed to “get on the ball” and strike a deal, and suggesting he believed Vladimir Putin was more ready to negotiate a truce.
Zelensky said talks with Trump’s envoys in December suggested the US could offer some form of security guarantee for Ukraine as part of a peace deal, but details remain unclear.
“President Trump told me, ‘Do you trust that our security guarantees can be stronger than Nato?’ I said, ‘Yes, it depends on you for today. It depends on you, Mr president. God bless if we will have stronger security guarantees than NATO. But what will be after you? And what will be after me?'” Zelensky said.
Witkoff says he met Putin's envoy Dmitriev
06:57 , Shweta SharmaA senior envoy for Donald Trump said he had met a Russian delegation led by an aide to Vladimir Putin, in a rare high-level contact between officials from the two countries as diplomatic efforts to address the war in Ukraine continue.
Steve Witkoff, Trump’s special envoy, said last night that the meeting took place in Florida with a Russian delegation headed by Kirill Dmitriev, who serves as Putin’s envoy.
Posting on X, Witkoff said the Russian delegation met a US team that included himself, Jared Kushner and White House senior adviser Josh Gruenbaum.
“Today in Florida, the Russian delegation led by Special Envoy Kirill Dmitriev met with the US delegation, including Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, Jared Kushner, and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum,” Witkoff wrote.
He did not provide details about the discussions, limiting his statement to a brief summary.
“The teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch,” he added.
The meeting comes as Washington signals growing interest in reviving diplomatic channels related to Russia’s war against Ukraine.
Zelensky arrives in French capital, sources say
06:20 , Shweta SharmaUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has arrived in Paris today to meet French president Emmanuel Macron, sources at the French president’s office said.
“The two leaders will discuss the current situation, the support of France and European partners to help Ukraine defend itself, and ways to increase pressure on Russia, particularly by targeting its shadow fleet,” the source told Reuters on Thursday.
South Korea pledges to accelerate crackdown on illegal car exports to Russia
05:48 , Shweta SharmaSouth Korea’s customs authorities said on Thursday they would step up a crackdown on illegal car exports to Russia after discovering a growing number of vehicles being sent via third countries such as China, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan.
Illegal vehicle exports from South Korea to Russia jumped more than five-fold to 149.2bn won ($100.78bn) last year compared with 2024, when Seoul tightened export restrictions in response to Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Korea Customs Service said in a statement.
Some traders falsely reported to customs that the cars were being exported to neighbouring countries such as Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan even though the final destination was Russia, it said.
Others bought new cars, “disguised” them as used vehicles and shipped them to Russia through third countries.
A customs official said many of the vehicles were German premium brands imported into South Korea. Since 2024, Seoul has required vehicles with engines larger than 2.0 litres to obtain a permit before they can be exported to Russia.
Those who break the law face a prison term of up to seven years or a fine of up to five times the value of the goods.
Tens of thousands of cars are being exported from China to Russia under grey-market schemes that often circumvent Western and Asian government sanctions and automakers’ commitments to exit the Russian market, Reuters reported in February.
Drone debris sparks fire at oil depot in Russia's Krasnodar region, authorities say
05:32 , Shweta SharmaA drone attack by Ukraine sparked a fire at an oil depot in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region, local authorities said on Thursday.
The regional task force said no one had been injured.
Russia’s defence ministry said 80 Ukrainian drones had been intercepted and destroyed over Russian regions overnight.
Zelensky says Hungary team arrived on 'private trip' amid row over pipeline
05:21 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky has said he does not know what the Hungarian delegation is doing in Ukraine, and they arrived on a private trip.
Zelensky said he received information about the visit of the delegation from Hungary to inspect the Druzhba oil pipeline.
"And what is the delegation doing here? I don't know. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs told me that, well, some people arrived. They categorised it as a private trip."
Hungary sends Druzhba pipeline fact-finding mission to Ukraine amid deepening row
04:59 , Shweta SharmaHungary has sent a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to investigate the suspension of oil transit through the Druzhba pipeline, a deputy minister said on Wednesday, as a long-running row between Kyiv and Budapest deepened with the outbreak of conflict in the Middle East.
Ukraine has denied that Hungary has any official standing to conduct an investigation.
Russian oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline to Hungary and Slovakia have been suspended since late January following damage that Kyiv says will take time to repair.
The issue has become the focus of a diplomatic clash between Budapest and Kyiv, with hostile rhetoric towards Ukraine taking centre stage in veteran nationalist prime minister Viktor Orbán’s campaign ahead of today’s election.
Last month, Hungary vetoed new European Union sanctions on Russia and also blocked a large loan for Ukraine over the dispute.
“The government has set up a delegation that is expected to conduct a fact-finding mission on the Druzhba pipeline,” Hungarian deputy energy minister Gábor Czepek said in a video posted on his official Facebook page showing him at the border with Ukraine.
“Our job is to assess the status of the pipeline and create the conditions for its restart.
”Ukraine's foreign ministry said the Hungarian fact-finding mission had no official status and its members entered as tourists.
"This group of people does not have an official status or scheduled official meetings on the territory of Ukraine, so it is definitely incorrect to call them a 'delegation'," spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said.
Hungary and Slovakia, the only EU countries still importing Russian oil, have accused Ukraine of deliberately delaying the resumption of oil flows for political reasons.
Zelensky says three Ukrainian teams of drone experts are in Middle East
04:33 , Shweta SharmaVolodymyr Zelensky said three Ukrainian teams have travelled to the Middle East, made up of experts, military personnel and engineers.
He said the military teams had already begun communication and work on the ground.
Ukraine’s national security and defence council secretary, Rustem Umerov, has also arrived in the United Arab Emirates to discuss areas of cooperation and is expected to visit several other countries, including Saudi Arabia.
Zelensky's comments came ahead of his meeting with the president of the German Bundestag, Julia Klockner.
Kyiv has sought to leverage its experience in intercepting Russian drones to assist Gulf countries that are facing attacks from the same Iranian-designed Shahed drones used by Russia against Ukraine.
Zelensky says Ukraine has received deliveries of Patriot interceptor missiles from Germany
03:50 , Shweta SharmaUkraine has received deliveries of crucial Patriot missiles from Germany, according to reports.
Kyiv’s allies agreed to provide the air defence missiles at the latest meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group in the Ramstein format last month, and Berlin delivered its share on 10 March, Zelensky said ahead of a meeting with Julia Klockner, president of Germany’s Bundestag.
Zelensky also highlighted Germany’s financial support for Ukraine’s military, describing Berlin as the largest supporter of the country’s armed forces.
German outlet Der Spiegel reported on 10 March that Ukraine is expected to receive 35 PAC-3 interceptor missiles in the coming weeks.
German defence minister Boris Pistorius secured an agreement with European allies to deliver 30 PAC-3 missiles to Ukraine, in addition to five PAC-3 missiles Berlin will provide from its own stockpiles, the outlet reported.
"While the world is looking towards Iran, we Germans are looking towards Ukraine; we have not forgotten you. And that's why I deliberately came here this time — to clearly say that, in the fifth year of the war of aggression you are enduring, we are not growing tired. And we know this is not just Ukraine's fight," Klockner said.
Russia confirms Ukrainian strike on Bryansk, says seven dead
03:09 , Shweta SharmaRussia confirmed on Wednesday that Ukraine had carried out a strike on the western Russian city of Bryansk and accused it of using UK-provided missiles in the attack.
Bryansk regional governor Alexander Bogomaz said one more person had died in the attack, bringing the total number of fatalities to seven, with 42 people injured.
Ukraine said it had targeted a key plant producing missile components, while Moscow called it a “terrorist attack”, accusing Kyiv of deliberately targeting civilians.
Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the attack and accused Britain of overstepping international legal norms by providing the missiles in question.
The Russian Investigative Committee said at least eight missiles struck Bryansk, including seven UK-made Storm Shadow missiles, damaging more than 70 infrastructure facilities and vehicles.
In a statement, the ministry claimed the attack was intended to derail efforts toward a peace process and fuel an escalation of the conflict.
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
03:00 , Daniel KeaneThe Kremlin has always swiftly dismissed any claims that the Russian president has a severe illness.
Joe Middleton and Bryony Gooch look at a history of Putin’s rumoured health issues below.
The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Zelensky says Storm Shadows hit major Russian missile control factory
02:00 , Daniel KeaneUkraine struck a plant in Russia's Bryansk region that makes control systems for Russian missiles, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"An operation has just successfully taken place — a plant in Bryansk was hit. This plant manufactures control systems for all types of missiles of the Russian Federation,” Zelensky told an online media briefing on Wednesday.
The Kremniy El plant is a major Russian microelectronics manufacturer.
The strike used air-launched British Storm Shadow missiles.
Von der Leyen says it is 'not the moment' to relax sanctions on Russia
01:00 , Daniel KeaneEuropean Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said capping the oil price would help limit Russia's revenues and that now was not the time to relax sanctions against Russia.
"This is not the moment to relax sanctions on Russia," she said in a post on X, after she took part in a call with G7 leaders to discuss the impact of the Iran war on oil and gas markets.
She added that, along with the European Council's President Antonio Costa, they had both reiterated the immediate priority is to keep energy flows moving, especially through the Straits of Hormuz, and that they both backed the International Energy Agency's decision to release 400 million barrels of oil.
"We both welcomed today's decision by the IEA make 400 million barrels of emergency reserve oil available to ease tensions in global energy supply," added Von der Leyen.
US and Russian teams met in Florida and discussed 'variety of topics,' Witkoff says
00:01 , Daniel KeaneA Russian delegation led by President Vladimir Putin's special envoy Kirill Dmitriev met with a U.S. delegation in Florida on Wednesday, U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff said.
He added that the teams discussed a "variety of topics" and agreed to stay in touch.
Sea drones target oil tankers in the Middle East
Wednesday 11 March 2026 22:47 , Daniel KeaneNaval drones have been used in at least two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf region since war erupted between the US, Israel and Iran, according to maritime authorities and analysts, demonstrating a dangerous new threat in the key shipping lane.
The emergence of the use of explosive-laden unmanned surface vessels, which Ukraine has used with great effect in its war with Russia, comes as Iran threatens to block oil shipments from transiting the key Strait of Hormuz, the chokepoint for one-fifth of the world's oil.
The first sea-based drone attack was on March 1 when a crude oil tanker, the MKD VYOM, was hit about 44 nautical miles off Oman, killing one crew member, Britain’s maritime agency said.
The United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency said in a public advisory that an unmanned surface vessel struck the Marshall Islands-flagged tanker just above the waterline, triggering an explosion and fire in the engine room.
Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Wednesday 11 March 2026 21:00 , Bryony Gooch Vladimir Putin suffers coughing fit in video deleted by the Kremlin
Recap: Zelensky says Ukraine has sent delegation to Gulf region amid Iran strikes
Wednesday 11 March 2026 20:00 , Bryony GoochZelensky says weaponising culture never helps as Russia allowed to reopen pavilion for Venice Biennale
Wednesday 11 March 2026 19:00 , Bryony GoochVenice Biennale has come under scrutiny for plans that allow Russia to reopen its pavilion at this year's edition.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said, in an interview with Caolan Robertson: “We know the end of Hitler. We understand the end of Putin. Weaponizing sports, music, film and art festivals – like Venice Biennale – never helps.
“Across various cultural platforms – even during children's animation festivals – the Russians stuff their movies with propaganda to indoctrinate their society from a very young age. But it never helps. I'm sure their nation will face a tragic end.”
We know the end of Hitler. We understand the end of Putin. Weaponizing sports, music, film and art festivals – like Venice Biennale – never helps. Across various cultural platforms – even during children's animation festivals – the Russians stuff their movies with propaganda to…
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2026
Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest
Wednesday 11 March 2026 18:00 , Bryony Gooch Ukraine’s low-cost killers draw both US and Gulf interest. A wartime ban blocks sales
Watch: Russian anthem played at medal ceremony for first time in 12 years
Wednesday 11 March 2026 17:00 , Bryony GoochThe history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Wednesday 11 March 2026 16:30 , Bryony Gooch The history of health claims that have dogged Vladimir Putin
Recap: European Commission threatens to withdraw funding from Venice Biennale
Wednesday 11 March 2026 16:00 , Bryony GoochThe European Commission has threatened to withdraw funding from the Venice Biennale art exhibition if organisers proceed with plans to allow Russia to reopen its pavilion at this year's edition.
Russia's pavilion at the art fair was closed after Moscow's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, which triggered the exclusion of Russian artists and institutions from major European cultural events.
"Member States, institutions and organisations institutions and organisations must act in line with EU sanctions and avoid giving a platform to individuals who have actively supported or justified the Kremlin's aggression against Ukraine," an EU statement said.
Recap: Putin discusses Middle East conflict with UAE counterpart
Wednesday 11 March 2026 15:30 , Bryony GoochRussian president Vladimir Putin discussed the conflict in the Middle East with his United Arab Emirates counterpart, Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the Kremlin said in the statement. "The leaders continued to exchange views on the dangerously deteriorating situation in the Middle East, which is having serious consequences for Iran and Arab countries," the Kremlin said.
"The Russian president stressed the need to stop further escalation of the conflict and resolve it through negotiations," it said.
Watch: Russian airstrike kills 4, injures 20 in Ukraine's Sloviansk
Wednesday 11 March 2026 15:00 , Bryony GoochAnalysis: Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Wednesday 11 March 2026 14:30 , Bryony Gooch Putin gives Trump easy way out of confused Iran war strategy – and he might take it
Zelensky warns Russia could support Iran with missiles
Wednesday 11 March 2026 14:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that Russia could help Iran with missiles.
He said in an interview with Caolan Robertson: “Russia started supporting the Iranian regime with drones. It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defense.
“What’s next? Given the situation, there is only one question: when and which country will be the first to support the Iranian regime by sending troops?
“As happened with Russia, when North Korea sent 10,000 soldiers, who are now deployed in Russia but can be sent to Ukraine. The same could happen in Iran – Russia could send troops there.”
Russia relies heavily on Iranian Shahed drones as part of its war effort in Ukraine.
Russia started supporting the Iranian regime with drones. It will definitely help with missiles, and it is also helping them with air defense. What’s next? Given the situation, there is only one question: when and which country will be the first to support the Iranian regime by… pic.twitter.com/L2BCG1sZ2C
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 11, 2026
Ukraine says Hungary fact-finding mission has no official status
Wednesday 11 March 2026 13:30 , Bryony GoochUkraine’s foreign ministry has said the Hungarian fact-finding mission has no official status in Ukraine as they entered the country as tourists.
Hungary sent a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to investigate the Druzhba pipeline outage, as Budapest looks to restart flows of oil amid rising global prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
Watch: Ukraine's military hits Russian missile plant in Bryansk
Wednesday 11 March 2026 13:00 , Bryony GoochBritain urges allies to seize 'shadow fleet' vessels
Wednesday 11 March 2026 12:30 , Bryony GoochBritain has urged its allies to seize "shadow fleet" vessels helping Russia evade oil sanctions as the Government increases pressure on Moscow to end the war in Ukraine.
Hundreds of ageing oil tankers said to be operating with unclear ownership have already been sanctioned by the UK, US and Europe for breaching sanctions on Russian oil.
But UK ministers want to go further following a series of tanker seizures in recent months, encouraging other European nations to take similar action.
As part of that effort, the attorney general and the defence secretary have held discussions with members of the multinational Joint Expeditionary Force (JEF) to unpick legal obstacles to further seizures.
Lord Richard Hermer and John Healey convened legal representatives from JEF nations earlier this week to discuss the legality of military action against the shadow fleet, following a meeting on military led by the Defence Secretary in Munich last month.
Mr Healey said: "As we enter the fifth year of Putin's illegal war in Ukraine, we're stepping up the pressure on Putin, by choking off the funds that fuel his invasion and targeting shadow fleet vessels.
"I'm proud of the UK's leading role in JEF, as we step up together to tackle the threats we face in this new era for defence."
Hungary sends Druzhba fact-finding mission to Ukraine, deputy minister says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 12:00 , Bryony GoochHungary has sent a fact-finding mission to Ukraine to investigate the Druzhba pipeline outage, officials said on Wednesday.
Budapest is looking to restart flows of oil amid rising global prices linked to the war in the Middle East.
The Druzhba pipeline has become the focus of an intense diplomatic clash between Budapest and Kyiv since oil stopped flowing in January, with hostile rhetoric towards Ukraine taking centre stage in veteran nationalist Viktor Orban's campaign ahead of an election on 12 April.
Last month, Hungary vetoed new EU sanctions on Russia and also a huge loan for Ukraine over the dispute.
"The government has set up the delegation that is expected to do a fact-finding mission on the Druzhba pipeline," Hungarian Deputy Energy Minister Gabor Czepek said in a recorded statement on Facebook. "Our job is to assess the status of the pipeline and create conditions for its restart."
Ukraine claims to have taken back hundreds of kilometres of territory from Russian troops
Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine has claimed that it has taken back control of almost all of the Dnipropetrovsk region and hundreds of kilometres of territory in counterattacks.
Oleksandr Komarenko, head of the main operational directorate of the general staff of Ukraine's armed forces, told local media on Tuesday that their troops had already liberated more than 400 square kilometres of territory, Politico reported.
Russia’s deportation of Ukrainian children constitutes crimes against humanity, UN says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 11:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarRussia’s deportation and forcible transfer of Ukrainian children constitute crimes against humanity and war crimes, according to the UN.
According to a report by the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Ukraine, Russian authorities, including Vladimir Putin, were involved at the highest level in deporting thousands of children from occupied areas of Ukraine, mostly from the Donetsk and Luhansk regions.
Ukraine reports that nearly 20,000 children have been illegally sent to Russia and Belarus, while the UN Commission has identified 1,205 cases of children taken from Ukrainian territories in 2022.
Eighty per cent of these children have not yet been returned, and many parents and guardians remain unaware of their whereabouts.
Russian casualties ‘understated’, Zelensky says
Wednesday 11 March 2026 10:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarUkraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said intelligence obtained by Kyiv suggested that Russia has suffered about 1.31 million battlefield casualties since the full-scale invasion began.
He said the estimate comes from classified Russian assessments accessed by Ukrainian intelligence and added that there were reasons to believe the real numbers could be even higher.
“Our intelligence has obtained important documents regarding Russia’s own assessment of its losses on the battlefield. In particular, a change has been recorded in the killed-to-wounded ratio among Russian forces: out of 100 per cent of losses, 62 per cent are killed and 38 per cent wounded. In their classified official reports, the Russians themselves estimate their irrecoverable losses at 1 million 315 thousand killed and seriously wounded. We have reason to believe that these figures are understated,” Zelensky said in a social media post.
Saudi Arabia discussing ‘huge deal’ for Ukrainian weapons - report
Wednesday 11 March 2026 10:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarA Saudi arms company has agreed to buy interceptor missiles made in Ukraine, according to sources in Ukraine’s defence industry, The Kyiv Independent reported.
The two countries are also reportedly discussing a separate “huge deal” that could be finalised this week.
The talks come as Iran’s recent attacks across Gulf states have pushed countries in the region to strengthen their defences against ballistic missiles and Shahed drones, the outlet, citing sources, said.
Hungary’s parliament passes resolution opposing Ukraine’s bid to join EU
Wednesday 11 March 2026 09:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarHungary’s parliament has passed a resolution opposing Ukraine’s bid to join the EU.
The measure, backed by a large majority, urges the government not to support the start of membership talks and calls for Hungary to avoid sending money or weapons to Ukraine.
The move comes amid rising tensions between Budapest and Kyiv over disrupted oil flows through a pipeline running through Ukraine.
Ukraine became an EU candidate in 2022 after Russia’s invasion, and Volodymyr Zelensky has since pushed for EU membership.
Zelensky accuses Hungary of ‘banditry’ after shipment containing cash and gold worth $82m seized
Wednesday 11 March 2026 09:15 , Maroosha MuzaffarHungary has seized a shipment of Ukrainian cash and gold worth around $82m while it was being transported through the country.
Victor Orban, the prime minister, has ordered that the shipment be held for up to 60 days for investigation over suspected money laundering.
Ukraine’s president, Volodymyr Zelensky, accused Hungary of “banditry” and called on European leaders to speak out against the seizure.
This came after a dispute over gas supplies, in which Kyiv was accused by Hungary and Slovakia of stalling on oil pipeline repairs after it was hit in an apparent Russian drone attack.
Watch: How Putin will benefit from the war in Iran
Wednesday 11 March 2026 08:45 , Maroosha MuzaffarThe US president has shrugged off Russia supplying intelligence to his enemies in Iran and rewarded the Kremlin with the option of lifting oil sanctions against Moscow. The latest moves by the US president beg the question “whose side is he on” – and not for the first time.