Ukraine-Russia war latest: Starmer says ‘focus must remain’ on European conflict after meeting Zelensky – UK Times

Europe could leverage helping US president Donald Trump in the Middle East by asking for his support on Ukraine in exchange, Finnish president Alexander Stubb has said.

Stubb was speaking at Chatham House yesterday and during a question and answer round with reporters, he suggested that such a deal would be a good idea.

On being asked: “ Why doesn’t Europe go to Trump and say, if you want assistance in the Gulf, here’s what we want you to do on Ukraine?” Stubb replied: “I think it’s a really good idea,” adding after a pause: “No, I think it’s actually a really good idea.”

The Finnish leader said he would consider it further and discuss options with his team.

Ukraine has sent 201 experts in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type attack drones to the Middle East and Gulf region, Volodymyr Zelensky said.

“Right now, there are 201 Ukrainians in the Middle East and Gulf region, and another 34 are ready to deploy,” Zelensky said during an address to the parliament yesterday.

“These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against such drones.”

Zelensky said Ukrainian teams have already arrived in the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Saudi Arabia, while additional personnel are en route to Kuwait.

Ukraine has developed extensive expertise in countering Iranian-made Shahed-type attack drones since Russia began using them widely in attacks on Ukrainian cities and infrastructure after launching a full-scale war in February 2022.

Ukraine has accepted the European Union’s offer of technical support ‌and funding to restore oil flows through the damaged Druzhba pipeline on Tuesday but also signalled any resumption of Russian crude deliveries to Hungary and Slovakia was still weeks away.

In a letter to the EU released yesterday, ​Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky said repair work on the pipeline was nearing completion and that ​the pumping station was expected to be restored in 30-45 days, “in the absence ⁠of any further attacks by Russia”.

Ukraine’s acceptance of support to renew Druzhba drew a tepid response, ​with Hungary’s foreign minister calling it a “political game”.

Hungary and Slovakia have been cut off from Russian oil deliveries ​via the Druzhba since late January after Kyiv said a Russian strike hit pipeline equipment in western ​Ukraine and would require time for repairs.

Turkey has offered to host the next round of peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, its foreign ministry has announced.

Turkish foreign minister Hakan Fidan has proposed a venue to Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavov during a phone call yesterday.

Fidan underlined the risks posed by the prolonged war for both regional countries and the international order, while the ministers also addressed issues related to energy security, the ministry said.

Russia’s foreign ministry said the conversation between Fidan ‌and ⁠Lavrov covered Russian-Turkish energy cooperation, with particular emphasis on securing the Blue Stream and TurkStream gas pipelines amid what Moscow described as Ukraine’s ⁠attempts to damage their infrastructure.

Last week Russia said that it had foiled Ukrainian attacks on its gas ⁠pumping stations, operated by Gazprom, that form part of the network delivering gas ⁠to Europe through TurkStream and Blue Stream.

Ukraine is capable of producing around 2,000 ⁠interceptor drones per day and can supply half ⁠that ​amount to ⁠its allies to ⁠help bolster their ​defences, president ⁠Volodymyr Zelensky ‌said.

Addressing parliament in ‌London, he added that Kyiv has ⁠already sent more than 200 Ukrainian air-defence experts to the Middle East and is already working on underwater drones and those capable of operating on oceans.

Vladimir Putin cannot be allowed to benefit from the Iran war, the prime minister told Volodymyr Zelensky during his visit to the UK.

Sir Keir Starmer said Russia should not reap the rewards of higher global oil prices and benefit from the easing of sanctions as a result of Middle East instability.

Zelensky, who also met the King during his trip, thanked the UK for support during a “difficult winter” for his country, during which (Russian president) Putin’s forces targeted critical energy infrastructure during freezing conditions.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky met with Nato secretary general Mark Rutte on Tuesday to discuss “strengthening air defence” for Ukraine.

“I met with @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte,” Zelensky wrote on X on Tuesday.

“We discussed many different topics, but first and foremost strengthening air defence and protecting our people from Russian attacks.

“We are very grateful for the PURL initiative, which allows us to purchase missiles for the Patriots from the United States. We will work to bring new countries into this initiative and increase contributions.

“Of course, we also discussed the situation around Iran and its impact on Ukraine and all of Europe. Russia must not gain any benefit from this or any opportunity to prolong its war against Ukraine.”

Sappers examine the site of a Russian missile strike which hit a post office storehouse in Zaporizhzhia, Ukraine on Tuesday 17 March.

At the 2026 Oscars ceremony, actor Sean Penn joined a small coterie of male performers who have three Academy Awards to their name. But the 65-year-old, who was named Best Supporting Actor for his brilliant portrayal of a racist military officer in Paul Thomas Anderson’s One Battle After Another, wasn’t among the stars gathered at Los Angeles’ Dolby Theatre on Sunday night.

“Sean Penn couldn’t be here this evening, or didn’t want to, so I’ll be accepting the award on his behalf,” Succession star – and last year’s Best Supporting Actor winner – Kieran Culkin quipped after opening the golden envelope.

So where was Penn on one of the biggest nights of his acting career? According to a report from the New York Times, the actor, who previously earned Oscars for Mystic River in 2004 and for Milk in 2009, chose to skip the ceremony in order to head to Europe.

Katie Rosseinsky reports:

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said on Tuesday that Ukraine is capable of producing around 2,000 interceptor drones per day and can supply half that amount to its allies to help bolster their defences.

Addressing the British parliament in London, he added that Kyiv has already sent more than 200 Ukrainian air-defence experts to the Middle East and is already working on underwater drones and those capable of operating on oceans.