Ukraine-Russia conflict newest: Europe condemns Trump’s oil sanctions transfer as Zelensky bemoans Middle East battle
European leaders have condemned Donald Trump’s decision to temporarily ease sanctions on Russian oil as Vladimir Putin’s forces continued to bombard Ukraine.
Volodymyr Zelensky said Russia fired 430 drones and nearly 70 missiles in a massive attack overnight into Saturday morning.
He said the strikes primarily targeted Kyiv’s energy infrastructure but hit a host of other civilian buildings, killing at least four people.
Poland briefly scrambled its jets in response.
Earlier, Trump issued a 30-day waiver on war-related sanctions to allow countries to buy Russian oil and petroleum products.
Zelensky warned the move could divert as much as $10bn to Putin’s war chest. European Council president Antonio Costa called it “very concerning”, and German chancellor Friedrich Merz criticised it as the “wrong” decision.
Zelensky expressed frustration over waning attention on the Ukraine war amid the crisis with Iran, saying it was “understandable that the attention of the world is moving to the Middle East” but that “it’s not good for us”.
Russia convicts 19 people over Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149
The March 22 rampage at Crocus City Hall, one of the capital’s most devastating attacks in years, saw four gunmen open fire on concert-goers before setting the venue ablaze. A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the atrocity.
All 19 defendants received substantial prison terms following the verdict. Fifteen were sentenced to life imprisonment, one was given 22 and a half years, and three others were handed 19 years and 11 months each.
Zelensky says Russia is exploiting war in Middle East to intensify attacks
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky warned that Russia could try to exploit the war in the Middle East to intensify attacks on Ukraine and urged faster implementation of agreements to boost air defence.
In remarks on Saturday, Zelensky said all agreements on missile supplies must be implemented as quickly as possible, stressing that expanding the production of air defence missiles was a critical priority.
“Russia will try to exploit the war in the Middle East to cause even greater destruction here in Europe, in Ukraine,” he said.
Zelensky called for Europe to accelerate the production of air defence missiles, particularly systems capable of intercepting ballistic threats, as well as other defence technologies needed to protect civilians.
He said Europe was capable of ensuring a reliable level of protection if it moved quickly to strengthen its defence production.
Zekensky says Ukraine hit with 430 drones and nearly 70 missiles
Volodymyr Zelensky said Russians launched around 430 drones of various types and a significant number of missiles overnight.
There were 13 ballistic missiles alone, and the total number of missiles in this attack was 68, he said on X.
Ukrainian emergency crews were undertaking operations to tackle massive Russian attacks in Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv regions.
“The main target for the Russians was the energy infrastructure of the Kyiv region, but unfortunately, there were also direct hits on and damage to ordinary residential buildings, schools, and civilian businesses,” he said.
“As of now, four people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Many people have been injured, and some are still seeking medical assistance.”
Trump rejects Ukraine’s help with drones
US President Donald Trump said the United States does not need help with drone defence when asked whether Ukraine was helping providing such assistance.
Trump made the comments in an interview on Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that aired on Friday.
Team of Ukraine experts were sent to Qatar, the UAE and Saudi Arabia earlier this week to give advice on how to combat drones, given their experience during the war with Russia.
Zelensky said his country had “the greatest experience in the world in countering attack drones”.
Trump admits that Putin could be helping Iran despite what his envoy claimed
Donald Trump has admitted that Russian president Vladimir Putin could be helping Iran in its military efforts against the US, contrary to claims made previously by his envoy to the Middle East.
“I think he might be helping them a little bit, yeah, I guess, and he probably thinks we’re helping Ukraine, right?” Trump said, speaking to Fox News’ Brian Kilmeade in a Friday interview. “Yeah, we’re helping them also.”
Recap: Russia-Ukraine talks in limbo as US negotiator refuse to travel amid Iran war
President Volodymyr Zelensky says three-sided peace talks with Russia and the US are stalling after the Americans sought a postponement due to the war in Iran.
Zelensky, whose comments were quoted by various Ukrainian media outlets at the end of a visit to France, said the US side had indicated its negotiators were not permitted to leave the United States in view of circumstances in the Middle East.
He said discussions about the next round were akin to a soap opera “because of the war in the Middle East”.
“The Americans said they were ready to meet, but only in America as the war and the security situation barred them from leaving the US,” the state news agency Ukrinform quoted Zelensky as saying.
The Ukrainian delegation, he said, was ready to meet in Miami or Washington, but Russia rejected the proposal and suggested meeting in Turkey or Switzerland, a proposal ruled out by the US.
“We immediately said that we were ready for a meeting next week. We are preparing for a meeting in America, in Switzerland, in Turkey, and even, if they are not afraid, in the Emirates,” Zelensky was quoted as saying.
Ultimately, he said, staging the next round of talks depended on the US side. Washington’s negotiating team has been led by special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, president Donald Trump’s son-in-law.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on Zelensky’s remarks.
Russia convicts 19 people over Moscow concert hall attack that killed 149
The March 22 rampage at Crocus City Hall, one of the capital’s most devastating attacks in years, saw four gunmen open fire on concert-goers before setting the venue ablaze. A faction of the Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the atrocity.
All 19 defendants received substantial prison terms following the verdict. Fifteen were sentenced to life imprisonment, one was given 22 and a half years, and three others were handed 19 years and 11 months each.
In pictures: Two killed in Russian strikes on Kyiv
Two people were killed and four were injured in the Brovary district after a Russian strike.
Another person was injured in the Vyshhorod district, according to the governor.
The drone and missile strike sparked a massive fire, forcing evacuations.
Zelensky shares video of firefighters tackling massive fire
Volodymyr Zelensky said Russians launched around 430 drones of various types and a significant number of missiles overnight.
There were 13 ballistic missiles alone, and the total number of missiles in this attack was 68, he said on X.
Ukrainian emergency crews were undertaking operations to tackle massive Russian attacks in Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv regions.
“The main target for the Russians was the energy infrastructure of the Kyiv region, but unfortunately, there were also direct hits on and damage to ordinary residential buildings, schools, and civilian businesses,” he said.
“As of now, four people have been reported killed. My condolences to their families and loved ones. Many people have been injured, and some are still seeking medical assistance.”
Drones strike Russian oil refinery
Drones struck Russia’s Krasnodar Krai overnight on Wednesday, hitting the Afipsky oil refinery and sparking a large fire, according to Russian media and local officials.
Residents said they heard dozens of explosions beginning around 1am local time as air defence systems were activated and sirens sounded across the region
.Local authorities said the refinery was damaged, which they attributed to falling drone debris, adding that no casualties had been reported.
The strike reportedly hit a key processing unit at the facility, igniting a major blaze and causing a gas leak from a nearby overpass structure.
The Afipsky refinery – one of the largest in southern Russia – has been targeted repeatedly in previous drone attacks. The plant processes about 6.25 million tonnes of oil annually, accounting for around 2.1 per cent of Russia’s refining output.
Russian authorities also reported a separate drone attack on the Port Kavkaz facility in Krasnodar Krai, where three people were injured and a technical vessel was damaged after drone debris fell on the dock complex.
The port, located on the Chushka Spit in the Kerch Strait, is one of Russia’s largest passenger ports and serves the Kerch ferry crossing linking Russia with Russian-occupied Crimea.
Residents also reported another drone strike in the city of Tolyatti in Russia’s Samara region targeting the KuibyshevAzot chemical plant, though the extent of the damage there remains unclear.
Source: independent.co.uk
