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Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the UK on Wednesday, a minister has said as the government reaffirmed its support for Ukraine despite the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, defence minister John Healey said the world faces “two conflicts on two continents, supported by an axis of aggression with similar tactics and similar technologies”.
He said that over the last month, the UK had supplied Ukraine with 3,500 drones, 18,000 artillery rounds and three million rounds of small ammunition.
“I say this to the Ukrainian people on behalf of the UK: we will not forget the war in Europe and our total determination to stand with Ukraine remains steadfast, and we will welcome President Zelensky to this country tomorrow,” he said.
It follows reports that the peace process between Ukraine, the US and Russia is “fizzling out” with Donald Trump preoccupied by the crisis in the Middle East.
Zelensky said the US had proposed hosting the next meeting between American, Ukrainian and Russian negotiating teams, which include US envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, but Moscow had refused to send a delegation.
Watch: Is the Netanyahu café video an AI deepfake after claims he died?Is the Netanyahu café video an AI deepfake after claims he died?
Alex Croft16 March 2026 20:31
Oil depot in southern Russia on fire after drone attack, authorities say
An oil depot in Russia’s southern Krasnodar region caught fire after a drone attack, local authorities reported this morning.
There were no injuries at the depot in the town of Labinsk, the authorities said. The region is regularly the target for Ukrainian drone attacks.
Alex Croft16 March 2026 19:28
African nations tiptoe around Russian networks recruiting citizens
Kenya’s foreign minister is visiting Russia this week under pressure back home to convince Moscow to stop recruiting Kenyans into its military, but Nairobi “ like other governments in Africa“ is unlikely to take too confrontational an approach.
Reports in recent weeks revealed the scope and scale of the recruitment of Africans into Russia’s depleted forces, often via third parties offering lucrative civilian jobs, triggering anger in countries like Kenya, Ghana and South Africa.
Families want more action to bring the recruits home but African governments, wary about overtly taking sides during Russia’s war in Ukraine, have avoided angering Moscow, mindful that the recruitment scandal has not yet triggered widespread public outcry or political heat.
“We want Kenyans stopped – they should not be enlisted at all,” Musalia Mudavadi, Kenya’s minister for foreign affairs, told Reuters ahead of his trip. “We are getting a lot of pressure from some of the affected families who are now gathering more courage to come forward and speak to the issue,” he said.
However, Mudavadi said he was pragmatic and realistic over the issue, describing Russia as a superpower with which Nairobi has had a long relationship.
“It’s not a confrontation,” he said. “This is about speaking to issues as they are and the distress that they’re causing to the Kenyan people, and we need a joint effort to be able to resolve it,” he said.
Alex Croft16 March 2026 18:30
Polish jets intercept Russian reconnaissance aircraft
Polish jets intercepted a Russian reconnaissance aircraft flying over the Baltic Sea on Friday, the Polish army’s operational command said on X.
“Polish fighter jets intercepted the Russian Il-20 aircraft conducting its ninth reconnaissance mission of the year in international airspace, without a filed flight plan and with its transponder turned off,” it added.
“The aircraft did not violate Polish airspace.”
Alex Croft16 March 2026 17:29
In pictures: Firefighters work at the site of buildings hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine
A firefighter works at the site of buildings hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine March 16, 2026 (Reuters)
A resident stands at the site of buildings hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia (Reuters)
Firefighters work at the site of buildings hit by a Russian drone strike, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine (Reuters)
(Reuters)
Shaheena Uddin16 March 2026 16:30
Zelensky to visit UK tomorrow, says defence minister
Volodymyr Zelensky will visit the UK on Wednesday, a minister has said as the government reaffirmed its support for Ukraine despite the ongoing US-Israeli war on Iran.
Speaking in the House of Commons on Monday, defence minister John Healey said the world faces “two conflicts on two continents, supported by an axis of aggression with similar tactics and similar technologies”.
He said that over the last month, the UK had supplied Ukraine with 3,500 drones, 18,000 artillery rounds and three million rounds of small ammunition.
“I say this to the Ukrainian people on behalf of the UK: we will not forget the war in Europe and our total determination to stand with Ukraine remains steadfast, and we will welcome President Zelensky to this country tomorrow,” he said.
Daniel Keane16 March 2026 15:53
War in the Gulf cannot be allowed to ‘turn into windfall for Putin’, Starmer says
As the US-Israeli war on Iran reaches its third week mark, Prime minister Keir Starmer has commented on the impact the conflict in the Gulf could have on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine.
Mr Starmer said: “It’s vital we continue to focus on supporting Ukraine. We cannot allow the war in the Gulf to turn into a windfall for Putin.”
PM Starmer has commented on the impact the conflict in the Gulf could have on the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine (AFP/Getty)
Shaheena Uddin16 March 2026 15:30
Zelensky says Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle East with drones
Volodymyr Zelensky has said Ukraine wants money and technology in return for helping Middle Eastern nations that have sought its expertise as they defend against Iranian kamikaze drones.
The Zelensky administration has already sent its specialists to the war-hit region as several of the US and Israel’s allies fight off incoming Iranian Shahed drones, which Ukraine has gained superiority over in the more than four-year-old war against Russia.
Zelensky told reporters that three teams were sent to the Middle East to conduct expert assessments and demonstrate how drone defences should operate. Earlier this week he said teams were sent to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia, as well as a US military base in Jordan.
Shaheena Uddin16 March 2026 15:00
In pictures: Ukrainian air defence firing at drones during a Russian drone and missile attack over Kyiv
This photograph shows Ukrainian air defence firing at drones during a Russian drone and missile attack over Kyiv, on March 16, 2026 (AFP/Getty)
(AFP/Getty)
(AFP/Getty)
Shaheena Uddin16 March 2026 14:30
Explosions in Kyiv after rare daytime drone assault
Explosions were heard across Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, on Monday as air defences engaged a barrage of Russian projectiles in a rare daytime attack.
The drones appeared to have been upgraded according to Ukrainian officials, as multiple explosions ripped through the city and drone debris crashed into the capital’s main square.
Ukrainian air defence units downed 194 out of 211 Russian drones, the air force said, adding that the morning attack was unusual in its timing and involved different types of drones targeting the central Kyiv region.
Russia’s drone strikes typically take place at night when drones are less easily detectable in the dark. They are usually pre-programmed so that they can be piloted once in flight for long-range attacks.
“Around 30 drones of various types were targeting the Kyiv region,” Yuri Ihnat, air force spokesperson, told Ukrainian TV.
“The not-so-good news is that these drones have communication channels – mesh networks and other channels – which the enemy can use to control them. The better news is that almost all of them were shot down.”
Shaheena Uddin16 March 2026 13:30