Volodymyr Zelensky is set to meet with US negotiators on Wednesday in order to discuss the state of peace negotiations put on ice by the raging war in Iran.
The Ukrainian president said he would meet with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner - Donald Trump's son-in-law - as well as Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte to review progress in talks.
The US, Russia and Ukraine have held three rounds of high-level, trilateral talks in Abu Dhabi and Geneva this year in a bid to negotiate an end to Europe's bloodiest conflict since World War Two.
A fourth round of talks due this month was postponed due to the Iran conflict, with Ukraine and Russia no closer to agreement over the vital question of territory in eastern Ukraine.
Ahead of talks on Wednesday, Russia fired 339 unmanned aerial vehicles, including some 200 Shahed drones, at Ukraine, according to the responding air force.
Zelensky wrote on social media that Shahed strikes hit “purely civilian facilities” in Lutsk. There were still drones over Ukraine, he said just before 10am UK time.
“We proposed a ceasefire for Easter -- in response we’re getting ‘shaheds’,” he said in a post.
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Key Points
- Ukraine to ask Trump's team to relay Easter truce offer to Russia, says Zelensky
- Russia says 29 killed in military transport plane crash in Crimea
- Moscow rejects Ukraine's Easter ceasefire, but says it is looking for peace
- Ukraine calls Hungary's collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a 'disgrace'
- Zelensky rebuffs Kremlin's threats over Ukrainian territory
- Fire at Russian petrochemicals plant kills at least three
More than two dozen sanctioned ships pass through UK waters since crackdown on shadow fleet
10:32 , Arpan RaiMore than two dozen ships sanctioned for being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet have passed through UK waters since prime minister Keir Starmer last week authorised the military to detain vessels used by Moscow to export oil.
The figures based on ship tracking data analysed by Reuters show that oil tankers sanctioned by Britain are continuing to travel along England's southern coast in the same numbers as before the announcement.
British officials said almost a week ago that the military was preparing to board the vessels for breaches of sanctions and the government hoped the announcement would force the ships to take longer routes away from British waters.
Russia called it a "deeply hostile move" and said it could retaliate.
EU's Kallas says European ministers should work for Europe, not for Russia
10:20 , Arpan RaiThe European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday European ministers should work for Europe, not Russia, in reference to leaked audio purported to be of a phone call between Hungary's and Russia's foreign ministers.
A recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org has revealed an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to the recording published by Vsquare, Lavrov called Szijjarto to remind him of a promise to help remove the sister of a Russian businessman from the EU's sanctions list.
In the English-language audio, Szijjarto responds that Hungary and Slovakia would submit a proposal the following week to remove the woman from the list.
"We will do our best in order to get her off," Szijjarto says in the recording.
Vsquare also reported on a separate call, for which it did not provide audio, in which Szijjarto allegedly told Russia's deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin that he was working to repeal EU sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
Russia deliberately redirected drones to Baltic nations, says Ukraine
10:05 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s intelligence shows Russia deliberately redirected drones towards Baltic nations and Finland to create regional tensions in the recent aerial offensive, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
A Ukrainian drone carrying an unexploded warhead crashed in Finland on Sunday, marking the first time the conflict with Russia has directly impacted Finnish soil, according to a preliminary assessment by Finnish police.
Ukraine has since apologised for the incident, explaining that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had gone astray during its war with Russia, most likely due to electronic interference from Moscow.
"We have intelligence data confirming that in all these cases, these were deliberate and targeted actions by Russia," Sybiha said in a press conference in Kyiv alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Ukraine, the foreign minister said, has never intentionally directed drones toward these countries and is working with partners to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Moscow rejects Ukraine's Easter ceasefire, but says it is looking for peace
09:45 , Arpan RaiRussian officials have said Moscow was sceptical of the idea of an energy truce, hours after Volodymyr Zelensky said he would lower pressure on Russia’s oil infrastructure if Russia agrees for a truce over Easter.
"In the statements by Zelensky that we have read, we have not seen any clearly formulated initiative regarding an Easter truce," Peskov told reporters.
“Zelensky must take responsibility and make the appropriate decision so that we achieve peace, not merely a ceasefire," Peskov added, saying the longer Zelensky delayed the higher the price of peace would be for Ukraine.
The recent wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy installations, particularly at Baltic Sea ports, as well as a disputed strike on a major pipeline and the seizure of oil tankers at sea, has halted at least 40 per cent of Russia's oil export capacity, according to Reuters calculations based on market data.
Ukraine calls Hungary's collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a 'disgrace'
09:29 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s foreign minister has called Hungary’s collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a “disgrace”.
A new leaked audio clip has revealed that Hungary's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart discussed EU sanctions, days before an election that could determine whether Hungary sticks to its pro-Moscow course.
The recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org purports to capture an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.In a Facebook video, Szijjarto said wiretapping of his phone calls was a "huge scandal."
“These are not conversations. This is obsequious reporting to Russian patrons. Disgusting, it is a disgrace, and it really should be subject to investigation,” Andrii Sybiha said.
The episode underscores unease among EU officials that Hungary is serving Russia's interests and working from within the bloc to undermine EU efforts to aid Ukraine. Orban says he aims to keep Hungary out of the war and protect its interests.
Zelensky rebuffs Kremlin's threats over Ukrainian territory
09:10 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said Russia's threats to seize more Ukrainian territory outside the Donbas made it clear that their long-term goals went well beyond the region.
Russia is insisting that Ukraine give up the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region it has been unable to conquer during four years of war, something Zelensky has steadfastly refused to consider. Russia already controls around four-fifths of the industrialised region.
Russia, he said, had told the US it could conquer the remainder of the Donbas in two months as Moscow pressed to wrap up talks before the US Congressional mid-term elections later this year.
"I'm surprised anyone can believe this," he said, adding that Ukraine was also keen to reach a "diplomatic solution" but would only agree to a ceasefire "where we currently stand".
Kyiv says it can keep defending its remaining "fortress belt" of industrial towns and cities in the Donbas for years, citing the glacial pace of Russia's frontline advances since 2023 as its soldiers run into a defensive wall of Ukrainian drones.
Insurers to appeal billion-dollar ruling on jets stranded in Russia after Ukraine invasion
08:50 , Arpan RaiInsurers including Chubb, Fidelis, and Lloyd's have been granted permission to appeal a London High Court ruling that favoured AerCap, the world's largest aircraft lessor, in a dispute over jets stranded in Russia following the invasion of Ukraine.
The High Court had ruled in June that AerCap could recover just over $1 billion from its "war risks insurers".
That figure, however, fell short of the approximately $2 billion that the lessor had sought under a broader “all-risks” clause.
The initial judgment largely sided with leasing companies in a multibillion-dollar legal battle against insurers, marking one of London's most significant insurance disputes.
Chubb, Fidelis, and Lloyd's will now take their case to the Court of Appeal, with the hearing anticipated to last up to five days.
Insurers to appeal billion-dollar ruling on jets stranded in Russia
Fire at Russian petrochemicals plant kills at least three
08:30 , Arpan RaiA large fire broke out at a petrochemicals plant in Russia's Tatarstan region yesterday, killing at least three people, including a firefighter, and injuring dozens.
Sibur, the company that owns the sprawling Nizhnekamskneftekhim complex, said two employees had been killed in the accident, with 68 injured. At least 21 people remained hospitalised, three in serious condition.
The branch of Russia's emergencies ministry in Tatarstan said one firefighter died from injuries sustained from a nearby explosion. Three others were injured.
Sibur said a gas mixture had exploded following a loss of pressure at a facility producing synthetic rubber and plastics. It said it was not clear what had caused the gas to ignite.
Ukraine to ask Trump's team to relay Easter truce offer to Russia, says Zelensky
08:10 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said he would ask US mediators to pass Kyiv's offer of an Easter ceasefire for strikes on energy infrastructure to Russia, after the Kremlin said it lacked any detailed proposals.
On Monday, Zelensky said that some of Ukraine's allies had sent Kyiv "signals" about the possibility of scaling back its long-range strikes on Russia's oil sector as global energy prices surge.
Zelensky stated Ukraine was ready to reciprocate if Russia stopped attacking the Ukrainian energy system.
"I will definitely convey this proposal to the US tomorrow, and I will definitely ask them to pass it on to the Russian side," Zelensky told reporters at an event to mark the fourth anniversary of a massacre in Bucha, a town near the capital Kyiv.
"If they attack us, we will respond. If they agree to stop the attacks on our energy infrastructure, we will reciprocate."
The Ukrainian president is set to meet with the US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as well as Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in a virtual interaction today.
The officials will discuss the status of US-brokered peace negotiations with Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Russia says 29 killed in military transport plane crash in Crimea
08:00 , Arpan RaiA Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea, killing 29 people on board, due to a possible technical malfunction, Russia's defence ministry said early on Wednesday, according to news agencies.
TASS news agency, quoting the ministry, said communication with the aircraft was lost at about 6pm local time (1500 GMT) on Tuesday on a planned flight over Crimea.
The peninsula, covered in sweeping mountains leading down to the coast of the Black Sea, was illegally annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.
“The defence ministry reported that a search team found the site of the catastrophe," TASS reported. "According to a report from the site, six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed.”
The ministry report did not say how many people were on board, but it made no mention of any survivors on the An-26, a light tactical military transport that has for decades been a mainstay that can carry cargo and up to 40 passengers over short and medium distances.
"There was no impact on the aircraft," TASS quoted the ministry as saying, implying that objects like missiles, drones and birds were not involved.
“The preliminary cause of the crash is a technical malfunction. A commission from the military is working at the site," it said.
Finnish police says drone detected on Tuesday near Russian border was not Finnish
07:40 , Arpan RaiAn unmanned aerial vehicle detected in Finland on Tuesday near the border with Russia was not Finnish, a Finnish police spokesperson said this morning.
The drone incursion into the Baltic nation came just two days after a Ukrainian drone carrying an unexploded warhead crashed in Finland, marking the first time the conflict with Russia has directly impacted Finnish soil, according to a preliminary assessment by Finnish police.
Identified as a Ukrainian AN196 drone with a 6.7-metre (22-foot) wingspan, it was subsequently destroyed in a controlled detonation.
Debris froma second drone, also thought to be Ukrainian, was found in the municipality of Luumaki, east of the town of Kouvola, and officers were investigating whether it detonated when it crashed, police added.
Ukraine has since apologised for the aerial accident and stated that intelligence shows Russia deliberately redirected drones towards Baltic nations to stir tensions.
EU's Kallas says European ministers should work for Europe, not for Russia
07:20 , Arpan RaiThe European Union's top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday European ministers should work for Europe, not Russia, in reference to leaked audio purported to be of a phone call between Hungary's and Russia's foreign ministers.
A recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org has revealed an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.
According to the recording published by Vsquare, Lavrov called Szijjarto to remind him of a promise to help remove the sister of a Russian businessman from the EU's sanctions list.
In the English-language audio, Szijjarto responds that Hungary and Slovakia would submit a proposal the following week to remove the woman from the list.
"We will do our best in order to get her off," Szijjarto says in the recording.
Vsquare also reported on a separate call, for which it did not provide audio, in which Szijjarto allegedly told Russia's deputy energy minister Pavel Sorokin that he was working to repeal EU sanctions targeting Russia's shadow fleet of oil tankers.
Hungary’s foreign minister discussed lifting EU sanctions with Russia in leaked phone call
07:00 , Arpan RaiA leaked audio recording of Hungary's foreign minister discussing EU sanctions with his Russian counterpart has surfaced days before a pivotal election, potentially altering its pro-Moscow course.
Released by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org on Tuesday, the clip allegedly captures an August 2024 call between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Russia's Sergei Lavrov.
Reuters could not independently verify its authenticity, though Mr Szijjarto, on Facebook, called the wiretapping a "huge scandal".
The leak follows PM Viktor Orban's recent investigation order into alleged wiretapping of Mr Szijjarto, to contain fallout from media reports on Hungary's Russia ties.
This underscores EU unease that Hungary serves Russia's interests, undermining bloc efforts to aid Ukraine. Mr Orban maintains his aim is to keep Hungary out of the war and protect its interests.
Mr Orban, a veteran nationalist, faces his toughest election in 16 years on 12 April. The centre-right Tisza party leads most independent polls significantly.
EU state’s foreign minister discussed lifting sanctions with Russia
Watch: At least two killed in fire at big Russian petrochemicals plant
06:35 , Arpan RaiWatch: Ukrainian drone strikes regional administration building in Russia's Belgorod
06:15 , Arpan RaiRussia sets two-month ultimatum for Ukraine to leave Donbas, says Zelensky
06:00 , Arpan RaiRussia has set a deadline for Ukraine to voluntarily withdraw from the Donbas region as a condition for ending the war, Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Zelensky said the Kremlin has set the withdrawal of Ukrainian forces from the East as a precondition for a ceasefire on the frontlines, speaking to press yesterday.
He added that Russians have informed the American side that they intend to seize Donbas within two months. If Ukraine does not leave Donbas by that time, “the terms of peace will change”.
Zelensky said he was surprised at how the Americans can still trust the words of the Russians.
“A logical question arises. This is my question to my American colleagues: If their (the Russians') goal is only Donbas, then why do they say that after capturing Donbas, they will move further and there will be new terms,” said Zelensky.
Russia deliberately redirected drones to Baltic nations, says Ukraine
05:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s intelligence shows Russia deliberately redirected drones towards Baltic nations and Finland to create regional tensions in the recent aerial offensive, foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
A Ukrainian drone carrying an unexploded warhead crashed in Finland on Sunday, marking the first time the conflict with Russia has directly impacted Finnish soil, according to a preliminary assessment by Finnish police.
Ukraine has since apologised for the incident, explaining that the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) had gone astray during its war with Russia, most likely due to electronic interference from Moscow.
"We have intelligence data confirming that in all these cases, these were deliberate and targeted actions by Russia," Sybiha said in a press conference in Kyiv alongside EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
Ukraine, the foreign minister said, has never intentionally directed drones toward these countries and is working with partners to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Moscow rejects Ukraine's Easter ceasefire, but says it is looking for peace
05:30 , Arpan RaiRussian officials have said Moscow was sceptical of the idea of an energy truce, hours after Volodymyr Zelensky said he would lower pressure on Russia’s oil infrastructure if Russia agrees for a truce over Easter.
"In the statements by Zelensky that we have read, we have not seen any clearly formulated initiative regarding an Easter truce," Peskov told reporters.
“Zelensky must take responsibility and make the appropriate decision so that we achieve peace, not merely a ceasefire," Peskov added, saying the longer Zelensky delayed the higher the price of peace would be for Ukraine.
The recent wave of Ukrainian drone attacks on Russian energy installations, particularly at Baltic Sea ports, as well as a disputed strike on a major pipeline and the seizure of oil tankers at sea, has halted at least 40 per cent of Russia's oil export capacity, according to Reuters calculations based on market data.
Ukraine calls Hungary's collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a 'disgrace'
05:15 , Arpan RaiUkraine’s foreign minister has called Hungary’s collusion with Russia on EU sanctions a “disgrace”.
A new leaked audio clip has revealed that Hungary's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart discussed EU sanctions, days before an election that could determine whether Hungary sticks to its pro-Moscow course.
The recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org purports to capture an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov.In a Facebook video, Szijjarto said wiretapping of his phone calls was a "huge scandal."
“These are not conversations. This is obsequious reporting to Russian patrons. Disgusting, it is a disgrace, and it really should be subject to investigation,” Andrii Sybiha said.
The episode underscores unease among EU officials that Hungary is serving Russia's interests and working from within the bloc to undermine EU efforts to aid Ukraine. Orban says he aims to keep Hungary out of the war and protect its interests.
In pictures: Ukrainian servicemen of Air Assault Forces board a Mi-8 helicopter to conduct parachute jumps training, at a training center
05:00 , Bryony Gooch Zelensky rebuffs Kremlin's threats over Ukrainian territory
04:56 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said Russia's threats to seize more Ukrainian territory outside the Donbas made it clear that their long-term goals went well beyond the region.
Russia is insisting that Ukraine give up the remaining parts of the eastern Donbas region it has been unable to conquer during four years of war, something Zelensky has steadfastly refused to consider. Russia already controls around four-fifths of the industrialised region.
Russia, he said, had told the US it could conquer the remainder of the Donbas in two months as Moscow pressed to wrap up talks before the US Congressional mid-term elections later this year.
"I'm surprised anyone can believe this," he said, adding that Ukraine was also keen to reach a "diplomatic solution" but would only agree to a ceasefire "where we currently stand".
Kyiv says it can keep defending its remaining "fortress belt" of industrial towns and cities in the Donbas for years, citing the glacial pace of Russia's frontline advances since 2023 as its soldiers run into a defensive wall of Ukrainian drones.
Fire at Russian petrochemicals plant kills at least three
04:45 , Arpan RaiA large fire broke out at a petrochemicals plant in Russia's Tatarstan region yesterday, killing at least three people, including a firefighter, and injuring dozens.
Sibur, the company that owns the sprawling Nizhnekamskneftekhim complex, said two employees had been killed in the accident, with 68 injured. At least 21 people remained hospitalised, three in serious condition.
The branch of Russia's emergencies ministry in Tatarstan said one firefighter died from injuries sustained from a nearby explosion. Three others were injured.
Sibur said a gas mixture had exploded following a loss of pressure at a facility producing synthetic rubber and plastics. It said it was not clear what had caused the gas to ignite.
Ukraine to ask Trump's team to relay Easter truce offer to Russia, says Zelensky
04:26 , Arpan RaiVolodymyr Zelensky said he would ask US mediators to pass Kyiv's offer of an Easter ceasefire for strikes on energy infrastructure to Russia, after the Kremlin said it lacked any detailed proposals.
On Monday, Zelensky said that some of Ukraine's allies had sent Kyiv "signals" about the possibility of scaling back its long-range strikes on Russia's oil sector as global energy prices surge.
Zelensky stated Ukraine was ready to reciprocate if Russia stopped attacking the Ukrainian energy system.
"I will definitely convey this proposal to the US tomorrow, and I will definitely ask them to pass it on to the Russian side," Zelensky told reporters at an event to mark the fourth anniversary of a massacre in Bucha, a town near the capital Kyiv.
"If they attack us, we will respond. If they agree to stop the attacks on our energy infrastructure, we will reciprocate."
The Ukrainian president is set to meet with the US negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner as well as Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in a virtual interaction today.
The officials will discuss the status of US-brokered peace negotiations with Russia over its war in Ukraine.
Russia says 29 killed in military transport plane crash in Crimea
03:56 , Arpan RaiA Russian An-26 military transport plane crashed into a cliff in Crimea, killing 29 people on board, due to a possible technical malfunction, Russia's defence ministry said early on Wednesday, according to news agencies.
TASS news agency, quoting the ministry, said communication with the aircraft was lost at about 6pm local time (1500 GMT) on Tuesday on a planned flight over Crimea.
The peninsula, covered in sweeping mountains leading down to the coast of the Black Sea, was illegally annexed by Russia from Ukraine in 2014.
“The defence ministry reported that a search team found the site of the catastrophe," TASS reported. "According to a report from the site, six crew members and 23 passengers on board were killed.”
The ministry report did not say how many people were on board, but it made no mention of any survivors on the An-26, a light tactical military transport that has for decades been a mainstay that can carry cargo and up to 40 passengers over short and medium distances.
"There was no impact on the aircraft," TASS quoted the ministry as saying, implying that objects like missiles, drones and birds were not involved.
“The preliminary cause of the crash is a technical malfunction. A commission from the military is working at the site," it said.
Ukraine attacks Russia's Ust-Luga port with drones again, governor says
03:00 , Bryony GoochUkrainian drones have damaged Russia's Baltic Sea port of Ust-Luga again, Alexander Drozdenko, the governor of Leningrad region, said this morning.
He also said three people, including two children, were treated for injuries, while several buildings were also damaged in the region in the drone attacks, which were continuing.
Experimental drone designed to take out Iran and Russia's 'Kamikaze' drones completes first tests
02:00 , Bryony GoochThe experimental 'Bird of Prey' interceptor drone, designed to tackle kamikaze drones like Iran's now infamous Shaheds, has completed its first demonstration test.
Airbus's new drone completed the demonstration at a military training area in northern Germany.
During the trial, the "Bird of Prey" drone was deployed in a realistic mission scenario, where it autonomously searched for, detected, and classified a medium-sized one-way attack, or "kamikaze", drone. After identifying the target, it engaged it using a Mark I air-to-air missile developed by defence technology start-up Frankenburg Technologies.
"Against the current geopolitical and military backdrop, defending against kamikaze drones is a tactical priority that urgently needs to be tackled," said Mike Schoellhorn, chief executive of Airbus Defence and Space.
"With our Bird of Prey and Frankenburg's affordable Mark I missiles, we are providing armed forces with an effective, cost-efficient interceptor, filling a crucial capability gap in today's asymmetric conflict theatres. The integration of Bird of Prey into Airbus' air defence battle management suite IBMS acts as a force multiplier."
"This is a defining step for modern air defence," said Kusti Salm, chief executive of Frankenburg Technologies. "Together with Airbus, it marks the first integration of a new class of low-cost, mass-manufacturable interceptor missiles onto a drone, creating a new cost curve for air defence and enabling defence against mass aerial threats at a fundamentally different scale."
Recap: EU foreign ministers reaffirm commitment to Ukraine's independence
01:00 , Bryony GoochThe foreign ministers of the European Union reaffirmed their commitment to Ukraine's independence on Tuesday in a joint statement released to mark their trip to Kyiv and Bucha.
The ministers stated their "unwavering commitment to ensuring full accountability of the Russian Federation, for any violations of international law in or against Ukraine" as they marked the fourth anniversary of the Bucha massacre.
Romanian state institutions face 10,000 cyberattacks daily, defence minister says
Wednesday 1 April 2026 00:00 , Bryony GoochRomanian state institutions are facing more than 10,000 cyberattacks daily, Defence Minister Radu Miruta said on Tuesday.
While Miruta offered no more details on specific targets, any disruption or suspected perpetrators, it is the most public insight Romanian authorities have given about the scale of the threat the EU and NATO member state continues to face. In December 2024 Romania's top court annulled a presidential election on suspicion of Russian interference in favour of a far-right frontrunner, denied by Moscow.
Declassified documents from secret services said they had identified over 85,000 cyberattacks around the election which aimed to exploit system vulnerabilities.
"We are observing each day more than 10,000 attacks against our institutions," Miruta told a conference held by the Economist that is covering subjects including defence, government policies and energy.
"The discussion is not only around cyberattacks, the discussion should also be around the way the digital transformation is used in order to introduce fake news, influence perceptions about very important national aspects."
He did not elaborate.
Bucha remains 'open wound' on soul of Ukraine and Europe, says German minister
Tuesday 31 March 2026 23:00 , Bryony GoochGerman foreign minister Johann Wadephul on Tuesday commemmorated the victims of the Bucha massacre, saying it remained an open wound for Ukrainians. Speaking in the Ukrainian capital, Wadephul said Bucha stood for "the targeted crimes against civilians that are an integral part of Russian warfare."
"Wherever (President Vladimir) Putin's Russia goes – it brings war crimes and barbarism. It remains an open wound on the soul of Ukraine and on the soul of Europe," Wadephul said.
Prosecutors arrest Ukrainian man on suspicion of spying for Russia
Tuesday 31 March 2026 22:00 , Bryony Gooch German prosecutors arrest Ukrainian man on suspicion of spying for Russia
Recap: Kremlin responds coolly to Zelensky idea of Easter energy attack truce
Tuesday 31 March 2026 21:00 , Bryony GoochThe Kremlin on Tuesday responded coolly to a proposal from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for an Easter energy attack truce, saying it had not seen detailed proposals on the issue and continued to favour an overall peace deal.
Speaking to reporters in a WhatsApp chat on Monday, Zelensky said that Ukraine was ready to reciprocate if Russia stopped attacking the Ukrainian energy system, and that Kyiv was open to an Easter ceasefire.
Stray Ukrainian drone that crashed carried warhead
Tuesday 31 March 2026 20:00 , Bryony Gooch Stray Ukrainian drone that crashed carried warhead
Hungary foreign minister discussed EU sanctions with Russia in leaked audio
Tuesday 31 March 2026 19:00 , Bryony GoochHungary's foreign minister and his Russian counterpart discussed EU sanctions in an audio clip released by an investigative news outlet on Tuesday, days before an election that could determine whether Hungary sticks to its pro-Moscow course.
The recording published by Warsaw-based Vsquare.org purports to capture an August 2024 phone call between Hungarian Foreign Minister Peter Szijjarto and Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
Reuters was unable to independently verify the authenticity of the audio but in a Facebook video Szijjarto said wiretapping of his phone calls was a "huge scandal."
The leak comes a week after Prime Minister Viktor Orban ordered an investigation into what he described as the wiretapping of Szijjarto, as his government sought to contain the fallout from media reports about Hungary's ties to Russia.
The episode underscores unease among EU officials that Hungary is serving Russia's interests and working from within the bloc to undermine EU efforts to aid Ukraine. Orban says he aims to keep Hungary out of the war and protect its interests.
Orban, a veteran nationalist leader, faces his toughest election in 16 years on April 12. The centre-right opposition Tisza party leads most independent opinion polls by a wide margin.
Recap watch: Bel Trew speaks to Bucha residents on anniversary of Russia's invasion
Tuesday 31 March 2026 18:00 , Bryony GoochAs Ukraine marks four years since the Bucha Massacre, here is a video of when The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew spoke to Bucha residents on the one year anniversary.
More than two dozen sanctioned ships pass through UK waters since crackdown on shadow fleet
Tuesday 31 March 2026 17:00 , Bryony GoochMore than two dozen ships sanctioned for being part of Russia's so-called shadow fleet have passed through UK waters since Prime Minister Keir Starmer last week authorised the military to detain vessels used by Moscow to export oil.
The figures based on ship tracking data analysed by Reuters show that oil tankers sanctioned by Britain are continuing to travel along England's southern coast in the same numbers as before the announcement.
British officials said almost a week ago that the military was preparing to board the vessels for breaches of sanctions and the government hoped the announcement would force the ships to take longer routes away from British waters. Russia called it a "deeply hostile move" and said it could retaliate.
In pictures: Smoke rising from damaged oil storage tanks after a Ukrainian attack in Primorsk, Russia
Tuesday 31 March 2026 16:00 , Bryony Gooch Zelensky worries Trump will push for territorial concession to end war after Iran conflict ends
Tuesday 31 March 2026 15:30 , Bryony GoochPresident Volodymyr Zelensky said he was worried that once the war with Iran ended, the Trump administration will resume its pressure on Kyiv to agree to territorial concessions in order to end the war.
He told Axios that while it was clear the US wanted to end the war in Ukraine, he remained concerned they would do it at the expense of territory.
"They want to end the war. My concern is that they see only one way to do it. I am sure the President Trump and his team want to end the war,” he explained.
“But why do we have to pay for this? We are not the aggressors. They don't see another way to stop Putin other than withdrawing Ukrainian troops from our territory. My concern is that nobody really values the danger of such a decision for our security," Zelensky said.
Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin docks at Cuban port
Tuesday 31 March 2026 15:00 , Bryony GoochThe Russian vessel Anatoly Kolodkin has docked at the Cuban port of Matanzas laden with 730,000 barrels of oil, marking the first time in three months that an oil tanker has reached the island.
The administration of US President Donald Trump had allowed the shipment to proceed despite its ongoing energy blockade.
Cubans including energy and mines minister Vicente de la O Levy cheered the ship's arrival.
A shortage of petroleum has exacerbated a deep economic crisis that has left the population mired in long blackouts and facing a severe shortage of food and medicine.
"Our gratitude to the Government and People of Russia for all the support we are receiving. A valuable shipment that arrives amidst the complex energy situation we are facing," Mr de la O Levy wrote on X.
Zelensky: Prolonged war in Middle east could hamper Ukraine's artillery
Tuesday 31 March 2026 14:30 , Bryony GoochPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has expressed concern that a prolonged war in Iran would hamper Ukraine’s weapons supply.
He told Axios: "I am not just concerned, I am sure we will have such challenges. Absolutely."
He conducted the interview having traveled to the Middle East, where he discussed possible Ukrainian security assistance with the leaders of Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Qatar and Jordan.
"Our advice, when they asked us, was to stop the war as soon as possible and sit for negotiations - even if they can't sit together with Iran - and find a diplomatic way to end the war. But it is up to the sides,” he said.
Russia is unlikely to run out of soldiers anytime soon – here’s why
Tuesday 31 March 2026 14:00 , Bryony Gooch Russia is unlikely to run out of soldiers anytime soon – here’s why
Zelensky: Russia 'wants long war' in the Middle East
Tuesday 31 March 2026 13:30 , Bryony GoochPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Russia will want a “long war” in the Middle East, as Vladimir Putin would only benefit from it.
"I am sure Russia wants long war,” he told Axios. “They have benefits: The US is focusing on the Middle East and may decrease military help to Ukraine. Sanctions are partially lifted. I see only benefits for Russia from the war with Iran continuing.”
In pictures: Artillerymen unload a military vehicle with shells for a howitzer in Pokrovsk
Tuesday 31 March 2026 13:00 , Bryony Gooch Watch: Ukraine and Bulgaria working on gas corridor, says Zelensky
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Tuesday 31 March 2026 12:00 , Bryony Gooch Russia targets VPNs used by millions in latest internet crackdown
Estonia detects air threat overnight, defence forces say
Tuesday 31 March 2026 11:30 , Bryony GoochEstonia's defence forces detected "potentially dangerous air activity" inside and outside the Baltic country's airspace overnight, the military said early on Tuesday.
"A preventive threat notification was sent out," and the threats had since passed, it added in a statement.