Ukraine-Russia conflict newest: Moscow’s battlefield features grind to a halt with forces making ‘worst progress in two years’
Russia made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March, its worst progress in two and a half years, new analysis shows
A new analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War shows that Ukraine’s frontline position is now the strongest it has been in a year, a development it attributed to its superiority in drone warfare and air defence.
“We have minimised the Russians’ advantage in manpower through the use of drones,” Ukrainian foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said.
“For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90 per cent of the targets that strike our cities… [Ukraine’s] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.”
This comes as Volodymyr Zelensky renewed calls for trilateral peace discussions with Russia despite US negotiators being preoccupied by the war in Iran.
The Kremlin has rebuffed the call for fresh talks between leaders, saying Vladimir Putin will only sit down with Zelensky to finalise an agreed peace deal.
No gains for Russia as Ukraine holds ‘strongest’ frontline position in a year, says Sybiha
Ukraine’s frontline position is now “the strongest” it has been in a year, the country’s foreign minister Andrii Sybiha said, crediting its superiority in drone warfare and air defence.
“We have minimised the Russians’ advantage in manpower through the use of drones,” Sybiha said.
He added: “For us, the situation on the battlefield is about strengthening our negotiating position. We can shoot down up to 90 per cent of the targets that strike our cities… [Ukraine’s] position on the battlefield is indeed the strongest, or the most solid, it has been over the past year.”
A new analysis of data from the Institute for the Study of War said that Russia made almost no territorial gains across the frontline in March, the first time Moscow has made such little progress in two and a half years.
Longer Iran conflict could make it harder for Ukraine to secure missile defences, says Zelensky
Ukraine could face increased risks in securing US anti-missile defences if the war in Iran goes on for an extended period of time, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has cautioned.
Speaking to CNN, Zelensky said Ukraine received limited numbers of such weaponry because US production was limited, but so far it had experienced no disruption in supplies or in provision of intelligence.
Zelensky said Ukraine was able to secure US weaponry through the PURL programme under which Nato countries can finance the purchase of weapons for Kyiv.
“Through this programme, we can include and buy anti-ballistic missiles for Patriot systems and some other weapons which is very important for us. We don’t have this…with our European neighbours,” Zelensky told CNN in English.
“And of course, (given) the big challenge in the Middle East war and Iran, all these packages are at risk.”
The United States, he said, had supplied “only a small number. We had not too much. We understand why, because the production in the United States is not so big.”
“And if the war will continue or a ceasefire is delayed…(this) will be not good. And maybe we will have more risks with anti-ballistics.”
Ukraine wants to name part of its nation ‘Donnyland’ to appease Trump – report
Ukrainian officials suggested renaming a section of the disputed Donbas region “Donnyland” to appeal to President Donald Trump’s ego and to get him “more on their side,” according to a report.
The moniker was suggested in an “attempt to convince the Trump administration to push back more against Russia’s territorial demands,” and was first mentioned “partly in jest” by a Ukrainian translator, according to The New York Times, citing four people familiar with the negotiations.
Donnyland, which is about 50 miles long and 40 miles wide, would appear to be a nod to the president’s fondness for putting his name on everything from federal buildings and skyscrapers to bank accounts and commemorative coins.
Kremlin says Putin can meet Zelensky – but there’s a precondition
Russian president Vladimir Putin can only meet Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky for the purpose of finalising agreements on the conflict, Russian news agencies quoted Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov as saying on Wednesday.
“The main thing is the goal of this meeting. Why should they meet? Putin has said he is ready for a meeting in Moscow at any moment,” TASS news agency quoted Peskov as telling Russian state television.
“The main thing is that there should be a reason to meet, and the main thing is that the meeting should be productive. And it can only be for the purpose of finalising agreements,” he said.
How will the EU’s 90 billion euro loan to Ukraine work?
A €90bn EU loan for Ukraine could be revived after outgoing Hungarian prime minister vowed to lift his veto on the plan.
EU leaders had decided in December to jointly borrow the money to lend to Ukraine to fund its defence for this year and next, using frozen Russian funds as a potential backstop to ensure that Moscow ultimately pays.
How will Europe lend the money?
The EU will provide interest-free loans for the years 2026-2027 based on EU borrowing on capital markets backed by the EU budget headroom, which is the difference between the maximum amount the EU can ask EU members to contribute and the amount it needs to cover foreseen expenses. Hungary, Slovakia and Czechia secured exemptions.
Ukraine is not expected to pay the money back itself, with the capital only due for repayment once Russia pays war reparations after the conflict ends. Russia has central bank assets that are frozen in the EU which are worth around €210bn that could be used for the repayment.
What will it cover?
The €90bn is to cover two-thirds of Ukraine’s needs for the next two years, estimated at 135 billion euros in total. Of the total, Ukraine will get €45bn in 2026 and another €45bn in 2027. Each year, €28bn will be for spending on military needs and €17bn on general budget needs.
One killed in Russian attack on civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr
Russian drones attacked civilian transport infrastructure in Ukraine’s Zhytomyr region west of Kyiv, killing one, the regional governor said this morning.
Governor Vitaliy Bunechko, writing on the Telegram messaging app, said that rescue workers, repair crews and law enforcement agencies were working at the site of the attack.
Zelensky says unblocking of 90bn loan is ‘right signal’
Volodymyr Zelensky said on Wednesday that the unblocking of a 90-billion-euro ($106-billion) European Union loan to Kyiv was “the right signal under the current circumstances”.
Writing on X, Zelensky said that incentives for Russia to end its war in Ukraine “can arise only when both support for Ukraine and pressure on Russia are sufficient.”
“Ukraine is fulfilling its obligations in relations with the European Union – even on such sensitive issues as the operation of the Druzhba oil pipeline.
“We expect that the European side will also deliver what is needed for the real protection of lives and for advancing Ukraine’s full European integration.”
Druzhba oil flow to Slovakia resumes after pipeline repaired
Slovakia has started receiving crude oil through the Druzhba pipeline in the early hours today, the country’s economy ministry said, confirming the end of a months-long outage after what Ukraine said was a Russian strike on the pipeline.
“The Economy Ministry informs that today at 2am (0000 GMT) the reception of oil to Slovakia through the Druzhba pipeline was resumed,” a ministry statement said.
The Druzhba pipeline has become one of the most politically charged pieces of infrastructure in Europe since the halt in Russian oil deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia in January.
Oil through the Ukrainian section of the pipeline started flowing on Wednesday, prompting Hungary to lift its veto on €90bn (£78bn) EU loan urgently needed by Ukraine.
Ukraine had said the halt was forced by the necessity to repair the pipeline. Hungary and Slovakia, meanwhile, accused Kyiv of dragging its feet.
Hungary and Slovakia continue to rely on Russian oil and gas and are trying to maintain supplies despite EU efforts to end Russian energy imports after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Seven injured in Russian attack on apartment building in Ukraine’s Dnipro
A Russian air attack has triggered a series of fires in an apartment block in Ukraine’s southeastern city of Dnipro, injuring seven people, including two children, in the early hours today, officials said.
Regional governor Oleksandr Ganzha said five people were being treated in hospital, including girls aged nine and 14.
Pictures posted on line by the governor showed several apartments ablaze and emergency crews using extendable ladders with a bucket to bring the flames under control.
Ganzha said fire also broke out in a store and a number of cars.
Turkey trying to revive Russia-Ukraine negotiations, Erdogan tells Nato chief
Turkey is making efforts to revive negotiations between Russia and Ukraine and bring together the leaders of the warring sides, Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan told Nato secretary general Mark Rutte in a meeting in Ankara, the Turkish presidency said on Wednesday.
Earlier on Wednesday, Kyiv said it had asked Turkey, a Nato member, to host a leaders’ level meeting with Russia. Ankara has maintained good ties with both Ukraine and Russia since Moscow’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
“Erdogan said we were engaged, as Turkey, for the Ukraine-Russia war to end with peace, and that we are working to revive negotiations and start talks at leaders’ level,” the presidency said in a readout of the meeting.
The Turkish president also told Rutte that maintaining transatlantic ties was “indispensable”, but that Ankara expected European Nato allies to take more responsibility for transatlantic security, the presidency said.
“Erdogan said Turkey was working to end the Ukraine-Russia war through negotiations and reach lasting peace, just as it is trying with regards to Iran,” the presidency said in a separate statement.
Source: independent.co.uk
