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.
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 09:30
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.
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 09:00
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.
Firefighters work at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Brovary, Kyiv region (REUTERS)
Firefighters work at a warehouse and production facility at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Brovary, Kyiv region (REUTERS)
Fire and smoke rise at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Brovary, in Kyiv region (REUTERS)
Fire and smoke rise at the site of a Russian missile and drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in the town of Brovary, in Kyiv region (REUTERS)
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 08:30
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.”
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 08:05
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.
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 07:50
Poland scrambles aircraft as Russia strikes Ukraine
Polish and allied aircraft were deployed early on Saturday as Russia carried out strikes in neighbouring Ukraine.
Poland’s armed forces said its aircraft were scrambled to ensure the safety of Polish airspace and that no violation of that airspace was observed.
The operational command of the Polish armed forces later confirmed in a post on X that the operations by its aircraft had ended.
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 07:33
Four killed in Russian air attack on Kyiv region, officials say
At least four people were killed and 15 wounded in an overnight Russian air attack outside the Ukrainian capital Kyiv, officials said on Saturday.
The attack targeted residential buildings, educational institutions, enterprises and critical infrastructure facilities in four districts of the Kyiv region, Mykola Kalashnyk, head of the regional military administration, said.
Damage reports were still coming in and the number of victims was rising, he added.
Russian forces have carried out regular air strikes on Ukrainian towns and cities far behind the front line of their four-year-old war, including on energy facilities and other critical infrastructure.
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 07:13
Sweden investigates Russian captain after dramatic coastguard operation
Swedish authorities have launched an investigation into the Russian captain of a stateless vessel in the Baltic Sea, following a coastguard operation that saw the ship boarded and taken control of. This marks the second such incident in Swedish waters within a week.
The captain, a Russian national, is under suspicion for the use of false documents, serious crimes, and violations of Sweden‘s maritime act, according to the prosecution authority.
Senior prosecutor Adrien Combier-Hogg stated: “What we are doing now is, among other things, to continue with the search on board, conduct interrogations and investigate suspected false documents.” He confirmed that no detentions have been made in connection with the case so far.
The 228-meter-long tanker, named Sea Owl I, was reportedly flying the Comorian flag, though the coastguard suspects it was operating under a false flag. The vessel is also listed on the sanctions lists of several nations, including the European Union.
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 07:00
Russia offers to sell back energy to Ukraine from captured nuclear plant
Russia intends to control the relaunch operations at the Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant when it is safe to do so and could sell its electricity to Ukraine, the head of the Russian state nuclear corporation said on Friday.
The comments by Rosatom chief Alexei Likhachev highlighted the gulf between Moscow and Kyiv on the status of the plant, which Russian forces captured in the first weeks of the war in 2022.
The fate of the plant in southern Ukraine is one of the key issues in peace talks. US president Donald Trump has proposed American ownership or management of Ukrainian nuclear plants, including Zaporizhzhia.
The plant’s six reactors are currently shut down and being kept cool to ensure safety, but Russia’s Likhachev said preparations were being made to restart them when security conditions allowed.
He said Russia had issued operating licences for two of the units, a third was coming soon, and licences for the rest were also being prepared.
“We are ready to restart work, the necessary equipment is ready,” Likhachev told reporters after a meeting with Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency.
“As soon as the opportunity arises, we will begin starting up and operating the station under IAEA supervision,” he said.
Likhachev described a scenario in which Rosatom would operate the plant but “commercial aspects can be viewed multilaterally”.
“Under certain conditions there could be discussion of supplying electricity, including to Ukraine,” he added.
With 6 gigawatts of capacity, the plant could also be used to power data centres, Likhachev said. “Here, we may well have new partners… we are talking about the United States, among others.”
Grossi told reporters: “We need peace, we need calm. No nuclear power plant can operate under the threat of any violent or kinetic act against it. But of course, you cannot start up a nuclear power plant overnight.”
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 06:30
Trump says US does not need Ukraine’s help with drone defence
US president Donald Trump said the United States does not need help with drone defence when asked whether Ukraine was providing such assistance.
Speaking in an interview on Fox News Radio’s “The Brian Kilmeade Show” that aired on Friday, he said: No, we don’t need their help in drone defence.
“We know more about drones than anybody. We have the best drones in the world, actually.”
Shweta Sharma14 March 2026 06:00