Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has criticised the repeated visits made by Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow to meet Vladimir Putin, saying it was “disrespectful” that they had not once travelled to Kyiv.
Former real estate magnate turned diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have flown to Moscow several times and met Putin as recently in January. In December, they spoke for four hours before the American diplomats toured the Russian capital.
Witkoff and Kushner are yet to travel to Ukraine even once, having only hosted the Ukrainian delegation in Miami.
“It's disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it's just disrespectful. I understand we have complex logistics... If they don't want to, we can meet in other countries," Zelensky said.
Meanwhile, the EU appeared close to unlocking a €90bn loan to Ukraine, after Hungary’s outgoing PM Viktor Orban said he would stop vetoing the measure as soon as Kyiv restores a key oil pipeline. There were reports that the Druzbha line could reopen later today.
Key Points
- Ukraine patrol police chief resigns after officers flee from shooting spot
- Ukraine to replace soldiers with 25,000 ground robots in bid to save lives
- Ukraine attacks Russian oil refineries after Trump removes sanctions on Moscow’s oil
- Russia loses more than 1.3 million troops in Ukraine war since invasion, says Kyiv
- Hungary's Magyar kicks off early EU talks to unblock funds for Ukraine
Zelensky says Trump’s envoy visiting Moscow and not Kyiv is ‘disrespectful’
06:14 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said the regular visits from US president Donald Trump’s envoys to Moscow and not Kyiv were “disrespectful” at a time when peace talks between Russia and Ukraine have stagnated.
Former real estate magnate turned diplomat Steve Witkoff and Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner have flown to Moscow several times and met Russian president Vladimir Putin as recently in January. In December, they spoke for four hours before the American diplomats toured the Russian capital.
A smiling Putin told Witkoff he was glad to see him and asked him about his and Kushner's walk around Moscow, which included a stroll across Red Square past the mausoleum of Soviet founder Vladimir Lenin to the towers of the Kremlin.
They are yet to travel to Kyiv even once, however, having only hosted the Ukrainian delegation in Miami.
“I consider their arrival is needed by them, not us... It's disrespectful to come to Moscow and not Kyiv, it's just disrespectful. I understand we have complex logistics... If they don't want to, we can meet in other countries," Zelensky said.
“We should not make the arrival of Jared and Wikoff some sort of special sensation because, first of all, we are in contact with them," Zelensky said in his interview to Ukrainian outlet ICTV.
“They are in contact (with us) over the phone, and it is over the phone that they express their desire to continue communication and negotiations."
Hungary's Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible
05:45 , Arpan RaiHungarian election winner Peter Magyar has called on Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky to reopen the damaged Druzhba pipeline as soon as it is functional, and for Russia to resume oil shipments through it.
Hungary's outgoing government, led by prime minister Viktor Orban, and Slovakia have been in a dispute with Ukraine over the suspension of Russian oil supplies over Ukrainian territory through the Soviet-era pipeline. Kyiv says the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.
"If on the Ukrainian side the Druzhba pipeline is ready for oil shipments, then they should kindly reopen it as they had promised," Magyar told a news conference after the first meeting of his parliamentary group.
"And from Russia, we expect them to start feeding oil (into the pipeline) in line with the contracts, because this will not work without either."
The pipeline could open today, according to a report by Bloomberg, restoring oil flow between Hungary and Russia.
Germany and France propose limited 'associate' membership of EU for Ukraine
05:32 , Arpan RaiWar-hit Ukraine should only be granted limited “symbolic” benefits and some form of "associate" membership of the EU as part of a peace deal to end the war with Russia, according to German and French proposals.
Though Paris and Berlin have drafted their own suggestions for what a fast-tracked integration into the EU might look like for Ukraine, according to the FT, both fall some way short of Ukrainian hopes.
According to Germany’s proposal, Kyiv would be allowed to sit in on ministerial and leaders’ meetings but would not have voting rights and would receive “no automatic application” of the shared EU budget.
The French proposal, which would described Ukraine as a country with "integrated state status", would exclude Kyiv from EU farming subsidies.
Both say this status could be granted quickly to Ukraine once the war is over, and that it would be a stepping stone towards full integration into the bloc – a process that would still require Kyiv to navigate extensive bureaucratic hurdles.
A Ukrainian official told the FT that Kyiv was wary of watered-down membership being offered as a poor substitute for true EU member status, but accepted that some elements could be useful.
“We call it ‘shadow membership’,” the official said.
Watch: Three injured as Russian night strike hits Ukraine’s Velykyi Burluk, rescuers battle blaze
05:26 , Arpan RaiUkraine claims attacks on Russian warships in occupied Crimea
04:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine's GUR military intelligence has struck two "large" Russian landing ships in Russian-occupied Crimea, it said yesterday.
At the time of the strike, which occurred overnight on Sunday, the ships that are part of the Russian Black Sea Fleet were in Sevastopol Bay, GUR said.
EU set to unlock €90bn loan for Ukraine with Orban’s exit
04:35 , Arpan RaiThe European Union and Hungary are aligned on the need to clear a €90bn loan for Ukraine, Hungarian outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán said.
The Kremlin-friendly leader was the only impediment to the critical funding being pushed through by the EU, and his successor Peter Magyar has said he seeks smoother ties with Brussels and while looking out for Budapest’s financial interests.
Almost 10 days after losing the elections, Orbán yesterday said Hungary will lift its objections to the loan as it has “received an indication from Ukraine” via Brussels that Kyiv was ready to restore oil deliveries via the damaged Druzhba pipeline that runs from Russia via Ukraine.
Kyiv says the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.
“Once oil deliveries are restored, we will no longer stand in the way of approving the loan,” said Orbán, who earlier claimed the repair of the pipeline as a condition to clear the loan but has repeatedly caused obstruction in the coalition’s relief work for Ukraine.
The pipeline is set to be opened today, clearing the way for the loan, reported Bloomberg.
Russia flies bombers over Baltic Sea
04:05 , Arpan RaiRussia's defence ministry said it flew Tu-22M3 long-range bombers in a planned flight over neutral waters in the Baltic Sea, the Interfax news agency reported.
Russia carried out a similar exercise earlier this year in January, saying such flights are in compliance with international law.
Moscow claims that all flights of aircraft of Russia’s Air Forces are carried out in strict accordance with international rules for the use of airspace.
Its forces conducts regular flights over neutral waters, including the Arctic Ocean, the North Atlantic Ocean, the Pacific Ocean, the Baltic and the Black Seas.
Russia says it detains a German woman with a bomb in her rucksack
04:00 , James ReynoldsRussia's security service said on Monday it had detained a 57-year-old German woman with a bomb in her rucksack as part of what it framed as a false-flag operation directed by Ukraine.
Unverified footage showed a woman lying on the tarmac in a car park next to a rucksack, while armed men pointed their weapons at her. Sappers were shown blowing up the rucksack.
The FSB said the woman, who had a bomb with the equivalent of 1.5 kg of TNT, was targeting a law enforcement facility in the Stavropol region as part of a false flag operation directed by Ukraine.
The FSB said it had also detained a citizen from a country in Central Asia who thought he was acting on behalf of a "terrorist organisation" and had been due to detonate the bomb.
Russian interior minister arrives in North Korea for talks
03:59 , Arpan RaiRussian interior minister Vladimir Kolokoltsev arrived in North Korea for talks on cooperation between the two allies, the ministry's spokesperson Irina Volk said early on Tuesday.
"Issues of cooperation between the two countries in the field of law enforcement will be considered," Volk wrote on Telegram. Pictures showed the minister being greeted on arrival in Pyongyang.
Russia and North Korea have forged closer relations since Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and in 2024 signed a "Comprehensive Strategic Partnership Treaty" during a visit to Pyongyang by Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The pact includes a mutual defence provision.
Under the terms of the treaty, North Korea sent some 14,000 soldiers to fight alongside Russian forces in western Russia's Kursk region after a large Ukrainian incursion.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian strike kills 16-year-old in Chernihiv
03:00 , James ReynoldsRussia's defence ministry said on Monday that Tu-22M3 long-range bombers carried out a planned flight over neutral waters of the Baltic Sea, Interfax news agency reported.
Magyar calls on Ukraine to restart Druzhba as soon as possible
01:00 , James ReynoldsHungarian election winner Peter Magyar called on Ukraine to reopen the damaged Druzhba pipeline as soon as it is functional, and for Russia to resume oil shipments through it.
Hungary's outgoing government, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orban, and Slovakia have been in a dispute with Ukraine over the suspension of Russian oil supplies. Kyiv says the pipeline was shut due to a Russian attack in late January.
“If on the Ukrainian side the Druzhba pipeline is ready for oil shipments, then they should kindly reopen it as they had promised,” Magyar told a news conference after the first meeting of his parliamentary group.
“And from Russia, we expect them to start feeding oil (into the pipeline) in line with the contracts, because this will not work without either.”
Recap: Ukraine police chief resigns following supermarket shooting
Monday 20 April 2026 23:59 , James ReynoldsThe national head of Ukraine’s police patrol division, Yevhen Zhukov, has resigned after a video showed officers running away during a shooting in Kyiv.
Six people were killed in the mass shooting while another eight, including a child, were injured, according to Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko.
“The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger," Zhukov said.
Meanwhile, Ukraine's defence ministry said it was working to procure 25,000 ground robotic systems to be deployed to the frontline in the first half of this year, its defence ministry said.
“Our goal — 100 per cent of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said.
Last week, president Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Ukraine’s army robots were able to recapture land from surrendering Russian forces in a battlefield first.
Ukraine clears the way for 90bn euro loan with pipeline repair
Monday 20 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsUkraine expects oil to start flowing through the Druzhba pipeline again by Tuesday, paving the way for the country to unlock a massive 90 billion euro loan from the EU, according to a report.
Sources familiar with the matter told Bloomberg that tests of the pipeline are set to go ahead this week, following urgent repairs.
The pipeline was damaged in a Russian attack in January, leading Hungary to veto the much-needed loan offered by the European Union. Landlocked Hungary depends on the pipeline for a steady flow of Russian oil.
Outgoing prime minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Putin and a longtime thorn in Kyiv’s side, signalled on Sunday that he would be willing to lift the veto if Ukraine can get the pipeline up and running again.
EU diplomats told POLITICO that the loan could be approved as soon as Wednesday if the oil transit resumes in time.
Kyiv shooting death toll rises to seven
Monday 20 April 2026 22:20 , James ReynoldsA man hit in a Kyiv shooting on Saturday has died in hospital, bringing to the seven the toll of those killed in the incident, Prosecutor General Ruslan Kravchenko said on Monday.
A Russian-born man opened fire on passersby with an automatic rifle on Saturday before barricading himself in a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police.
"Sadly, a man died in hospital today from injuries he sustained and became the seventh victim of the terrorist act," Kravchenko said.
Kravchenko said an armed police patrol team had been called to the scene, but failed to act to stop the shooter or help the wounded.
"Instead, the patrol team, equipped with firearms and all the legal grounds to use them, in fact left the scene," he wrote.
"Because of the police officers' failure to take action, the man continued to move unhindered down the street and shoot at defenceless pedestrians."
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but wild animals are thriving like never before
Monday 20 April 2026 21:00 , Harriette Boucher
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – wild animals are thriving like never before
Russia detains German woman after bomb discovered in her rucksack
Monday 20 April 2026 20:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia's Federal Security Service stated on Monday that it had detained a 57-year-old German woman with a bomb in her rucksack as part of what it cast as a false-flag operation directed by Ukrainian intelligence.
Unverified footage showed a woman lying down on the tarmac in a car park while armed men pointed their weapons at her - and a rucksack that was beside her. Sappers were then shown blowing up the rucksack.
The FSB claimed the German woman, who had a bomb with the equivalent of 1.5 kg of TNT, was targeting a law enforcement facility in the Stavropol region as part of a false flag operation directed by Ukraine.
The FSB said it had also detained a citizen from a country in Central Asia who thought he was acting on behalf of a "terrorist organisation" and had been due to detonate the bomb.
"The actions of the man were coordinated by employees of the Ukrainian special services under the guise of members of one of the international terrorist organisations banned in Russia," the FSB said.
German woman with bomb in her rucksack detained in Russia over alleged Ukraine plot
Pope Leo calls for 'weapons to fall silent' in Ukraine and commends ceasefire in Lebanon
Monday 20 April 2026 19:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia lost billions of dollars in oil revenue due to strikes last month
Monday 20 April 2026 18:00 , Harriette BoucherUkrainian strikes on Russian oil infrastructure led to oil revenues losses of at least $2.3 billion (around £38 million) last month, Volodymyr Zelensky has said.
“In March alone, Russia’s oil revenue losses from our long-range capabilities are estimated at no less than $2.3 billion in just one month,” he stated in his nightly video address.
The Ukrainian leader said he was “grateful to all our warriors for their precision” and said Ukraine would continue its attacks in April.
Firefighters battle blaze after Russian strike kills 16-year-old in Chernihiv
Monday 20 April 2026 17:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia has suffered more than 1.3 million casualties since 2022
Monday 20 April 2026 16:00 , Harriette BoucherRussia has suffered more than 1.3m military losses since its invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
In an update by Ukraine’s Ministry of Defence there had been 1,319,270 casualties as of Monday.
It also claimed to have taken out 11,884 tanks, 24,422 fighting vehicles, 40,396 artillery systems and 435 aircraft.
German woman arrested in suspected suicide bomb attack in Russia
Monday 20 April 2026 15:01 , Harriette BoucherRussia’s FSB security service has arrested a German woman that was found with a homemade bomb in her backpack.
The woman was allegedly plotting to blow up a law enforcement building in Southern Russia.
In a statement published by local media, the FSB said the woman, who was born in 1969, had been recruited by a citizen of a central Asian country who was working for Ukrainian security services.
The agency said the bomb was supposed to detonate remotely, which would have killed the woman.
She was reprotedly arrested in the city of Pyatigorsk, while her recruiter, who was born in 1997, was also arrested.
Bulgaria's Russian-friendly ex-president to win parliamentary election
Monday 20 April 2026 14:00 , Harriette BoucherThe centre-left coalition of ex-president Rumen Radev has emerged as the clear winner of Bulgaria’s parliamentary election, the country’s central electoral commission said Monday, ending half a decade of political fragmentation.
During his presidency, Radev gained a reputation as being sympathetic to Russia. He repeatedly opposed EU efforts to send military aid to Ukraine for its war against Russia's full-scale invasion. He has often argued that supporting Ukraine risks drawing Bulgaria into the war and has favored reopening talks with Russia as a way out of the conflict.
Radev resigned from the mostly ceremonial presidency in January, a few months before the end of his second term, to launch a bid to lead the government in the more powerful role as prime minister.
His supporters are divided between those hoping he will put an end to the country’s oligarchic corruption and those lining up behind his Euroskeptic and Russia-friendly views.
Tired of political turmoil, Bulgarians give ex-president a convincing mandate for change
Ukraine says strike on Russia's Tuapse refinery started fire
Monday 20 April 2026 13:00 , Harriette BoucherUkraine's military said on Monday that an overnight strike on Russia's Tuapse oil refinery hit reservoir tank storage and started a fire.
The military has also hit an oil depot in Russian-occupied Crimea, the general staff said in a statement on the Telegram messaging app.
One dead after Ukrainian drone attack on Russian port
Monday 20 April 2026 12:00 , Daniel KeaneA Ukrainian drone attack on Russia’s Black Sea port of Tuapse has killed one person and sparked a large fire, Russian officials said.
"Tuapse was subjected to another massive drone attack," Veniamin Kondratiev, governor of the Krasnodar region, said on messaging app Telegram. "A fire occurred at the seaport."
Kondratiev said one man was killed at the port and another injured, while debris from drones damaged several city buildings.
Kyiv shooting death toll rises to seven, mayor says
Monday 20 April 2026 11:00 , Daniel KeaneA man hit in a Kyiv district shooting on Saturday has died in hospital, bringing the toll of those killed in the incident to seven, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Monday.
A Russian-born man opened fire on passers-by with an automatic rifle on Saturday before barricading himself in a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police.
"The victim was in extremely serious condition. The doctors fought for his life, but unfortunately they were unable to save him," Klitschko said on the Telegram messaging app.
Watch: Firefighters battle blaze after Russian strike kills 16-year-old in Chernihiv
Monday 20 April 2026 10:17 , Daniel KeaneChernobyl is too radioactive for humans – but animals are thriving like never before
Monday 20 April 2026 09:30 , Arpan RaiFour decades on from the nuclear disaster, Chernobyl remains too dangerous for humans. Yet, wildlife has moved back in.
Wolves now prowl the vast no-man’s-land spanning Ukraine and Belarus, and brown bears have returned after more than a century. Populations of lynx, moose, red deer, and even free-roaming dogs have rebounded.
Read more here:
Chernobyl is too radioactive for humans – wild animals are thriving like never before
Ukraine to replace soldiers with 25,000 ground robots in bid to save lives
Monday 20 April 2026 09:00 , Arpan RaiUkrainian military is working to procure 25,000 ground robotic systems to send in the warzone against invading Russian forces in the first half of this year, its defence ministry said.
Defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine will double the total procured robotic systems throughout 2025.
“Our goal — 100 per cent of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” he said, adding that the expansion follows a meeting with domestic manufacturers of unmanned ground systems, where the ministry outlined its goal of scaling robotic support across the battlefield.
This comes just days after president Volodymyr Zelensky announced that in a rare historic battlefield first, Ukraine’s ground robotic systems of drones and ammunitions were able to recapture land from the Russian forces and saved 22,000 lives in the process.
Ukrainian forces carried out more than 9,000 logistics and evacuation missions using ground robots in March alone, and approximately 21,500 missions during the first quarter of 2026, according to the government.
Ukraine attacks Russian oil refineries after Trump removes sanctions on Moscow’s oil
Monday 20 April 2026 08:40 , Arpan RaiUkraine drone strikes targeted industrial areas in Novokuibyshevsk and Syzran in Russia's Samara region, local governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on Saturday.
He did not give further details, but the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a statement that it had hit major oil refineries in both cities.
It also said that its attacks had sparked fires at the Vystosk oil terminal in Russia's northwestern Leningrad region and an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, with the blazes later confirmed by Russian officials.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil facilities in the past, but the strategy has gained more attention since the Trump administration gave Russian oil a temporary waiver from sanctions to ease supply constraints.
The US treasury department extended its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments on Friday, despite complaints from Kyiv officials that Russia will use the additional revenue on new weapons to hit Ukraine harder.
The so-called general license means US sanctions will not apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil that has been loaded on tankers as of Friday. It extended a similar 30-day license issued in March for Russian oil that had been loaded by 11 March.
Hungary's Magyar kicks off early EU talks to unblock funds for Ukraine
Monday 20 April 2026 08:20 , Arpan RaiHungary's incoming prime minister Peter Magyar has announced talks with EU officials in Budapest, saying there is no time to waste in his efforts to unblock funds frozen by the bloc over disputes with his predecessor.
Magyar, whose landslide victory in the 12 April election spelled the end of nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban's 16-year rule, said he would kickstart the discussions by setting out points where he and the EU already agreed.
"I expect a constructive negotiation. It will not be easy because we have very little time," he told a news conference.
He said the chief of staff of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen would arrive at around 5pm local time as part of a high-level delegation.
“The aim is... to map out before the new government is formed what we agree on and what are the conditions that the next parliament can pass as a law and comply with European conditions," Magyar said.
The clearance of the funds will also pave for a critical loan for Ukraine, earlier blocked by Orban.
Markets have rallied on Magyar's victory with hopes that the EU will unblock billions of euros of funds and help an economy at near-stagnation.
Ukraine's military intelligence says it hit two Russian landing ships in Crimea
Monday 20 April 2026 08:05 , Arpan RaiUkraine's GUR military intelligence says it struck two "large" Russian landing ships in occupied Crimea.
The strike took place overnight on Sunday and involved two vessels from Russia's Black Sea Fleet in Sevastopol Bay, the GUR said.
Ukraine patrol police chief resigns after officers flee from shooting spot
Monday 20 April 2026 08:05 , Arpan RaiYevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine's Patrol Police – a division of the national police service whose duty is to patrol the streets – resigned yesterday after social media circulated a video showing patrol officers running away after hearing gunfire, leaving civilians without protection.
At least six people were killed and eight people, including a child, remain hospitalised in Kyiv after being wounded in a shooting, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
"The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger," online media outlet RBC Ukraine quoted Zhukov as saying.
"As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold," Zhukov added.
Earlier yesterday, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said the officers' behaviour was "a disgrace to the entire system". An investigation has been launched and decisions will be made regarding their superiors.
Europe needs defence system against ballistic weapons, says Ukraine
Monday 20 April 2026 07:45 , Arpan RaiUkraine is holding discussions with several European nations about the creation of a new defence system against ballistic weapons, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“I believe, and my idea is that we should have a European anti-ballistic missile defence system. We are in talks with several countries and are working in this direction," Zelensky told the national TV channel, Marathon.
"We need to build our own anti-ballistic missile defence system within a year," he added.
Zelensky said the task is extremely difficult but realistic, and added that he had already discussed it with key European countries, though he did not name them.
Defence against ballistic missiles is one of Ukraine's biggest challenges in the war with Russia, since only certain types of missiles used by the American Patriot system are capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
Russia uses ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure, destroying thermal power generation and electricity transmission systems.
Fire Point, maker of Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missile, told Reuters this month that it was in talks with European companies to launch a new air defence system by next year, creating a low-cost alternative to the increasingly hard-to-get Patriot system.
Patriot missiles are in short supply amid extensive deployment in the Gulf against Iranian attacks. And Europe's only anti-ballistic system, the Italo-French SAMP/T, is produced in relatively small numbers.
Zelensky issues stark warning Russia will pull Belarus back into Ukraine war
Monday 20 April 2026 07:28 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has issued a stark warning, saying that Kyiv believes Russia is preparing to once again draw its ally Belarus into the ongoing conflict.
Citing an intelligence report from Ukraine's top commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, Zelensky revealed concerns over "road construction in areas leading to Ukraine and the establishment of artillery positions... in the Belarusian border area".
He added: "We believe that Russia will once again try to involve Belarus in its war."
In response, Ukraine has reportedly issued instructions to warn the Belarusian leadership of "Ukraine's readiness to defend its land and independence".
Zelensky also suggested that intelligence indicates Russia is "attempting ... to carry out a regrouping of forces – most likely to compensate for a shortage of personnel", which he believes explains the increased military activity within Belarus.
Zelensky issues stark warning Russia will pull Belarus back into Ukraine war
Zelensky announces 10-year drone deal with Gulf nations
Monday 20 April 2026 07:06 , Arpan RaiUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has shared details of a landmark agreement with three key Middle Eastern nations, aimed at bolstering their drone capabilities against Iran.
“We have already reached 10-year agreements with three key countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. We already have requests from 11 countries – the Middle East and the Gulf, plus we’re also gradually turning our attention to the Caucasus,” he said on X last night.
Zelensky added: “Within this Drone Deal, there will be at least 10 different agreements covering various categories of Ukrainian weapons exports. Co-production is planned – the construction of our production lines both in Ukraine and in other countries.”
This will also include new technologies that Ukraine and its Gulf allies are “developing jointly with various countries, in which they are investing,” he said, adding that an annual funding agreement for a specific amount, along with a fixed number of years, has also been signed.
We have already reached 10-year agreements with three key countries: Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. We already have requests from 11 countries – the Middle East and the Gulf, plus we’re also gradually turning our attention to the Caucasus.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2026
Within this Drone…
IMF agreed raising tax on self-employed is 'not constructive', says Ukrainian PM
Monday 20 April 2026 06:37 , Arpan RaiUkrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said that the IMF had agreed during talks in Washington that the introduction of VAT tax on self-employed individuals was "not-constructive" due to the sensitivity of the issue in Ukraine.
The tax was part of a raft of reforms agreed with the Fund as conditions for an $8bn loan approved in February. Ukrainian officials have since warned that its introduction would prove highly unpopular and it lacked the required support in parliament.
“During the Spring Meetings, we found understanding from our partners that this is indeed a sensitive topic and a not-constructive idea," Svyrydenko said on the Telegram app, adding she had held consultations with both IMF and European officials.
“We will continue to work together on the necessary decisions and explore other alternative measures to ensure the revenue part of the budget for 2027."
Several Ukrainian legislators suggested on social media on Sunday that a decision regarding the tax had only been postponed, not cancelled.
Watch: Kyiv attack probed as officers accused of fleeing scene, says Zelenskyy
Monday 20 April 2026 06:23 , Arpan RaiWatch: Pope Leo calls for 'weapons to fall silent' in Ukraine and commends ceasefire in Lebanon
Monday 20 April 2026 05:40 , Arpan RaiUkraine to replace soldiers with 25,000 ground robots in bid to save lives
Monday 20 April 2026 05:24 , Arpan RaiUkrainian military is working to procure 25,000 ground robotic systems to send in the warzone against invading Russian forces in the first half of this year, its defence ministry said.
Defence minister Mykhailo Fedorov said Ukraine will double the total procured robotic systems throughout 2025.
“Our goal — 100 per cent of frontline logistics should be performed by robotic systems,” he said, adding that the expansion follows a meeting with domestic manufacturers of unmanned ground systems, where the ministry outlined its goal of scaling robotic support across the battlefield.
This comes just days after president Volodymyr Zelensky announced that in a rare historic battlefield first, Ukraine’s ground robotic systems of drones and ammunitions were able to recapture land from the Russian forces and saved 22,000 lives in the process.
Ukrainian forces carried out more than 9,000 logistics and evacuation missions using ground robots in March alone, and approximately 21,500 missions during the first quarter of 2026, according to the government.
One dead in 'massive' drone attack on Russia's Tuapse port
Monday 20 April 2026 05:12 , Arpan RaiOne man has died and another injured in a "massive" Ukrainian drone attack on Russia's Black Sea port of Tuapse, which has been set ablaze, local governor Veniamin Kondratiev said this morning citing preliminary information.
He also said debris from drones damaged several buildings in the city, including a kindergarten, primary school, church and residential apartment block.
Tuapse is one of Russia's major southern ports, serving as an oil product export hub and also handles dry bulk cargo such as coal and fertiliser. It is also home to a major oil refinery of the same name owned by Rosneft, Russia's biggest oil producer.
Ukraine has increasingly attacked the facility in the past week, with the last attack on Thursday, killing two.
Ukraine attacks Russian oil refineries after Trump removes sanctions on Moscow’s oil
Monday 20 April 2026 05:00 , Arpan RaiUkraine drone strikes targeted industrial areas in Novokuibyshevsk and Syzran in Russia's Samara region, local governor Vyacheslav Fedorishchev said on Saturday.
He did not give further details, but the General Staff of Ukraine's Armed Forces said in a statement that it had hit major oil refineries in both cities.
It also said that its attacks had sparked fires at the Vystosk oil terminal in Russia's northwestern Leningrad region and an oil refinery in the southern Krasnodar region, with the blazes later confirmed by Russian officials.
Ukraine has repeatedly targeted Russian oil facilities in the past, but the strategy has gained more attention since the Trump administration gave Russian oil a temporary waiver from sanctions to ease supply constraints.
The US treasury department extended its pause on sanctions on Russian oil shipments on Friday, despite complaints from Kyiv officials that Russia will use the additional revenue on new weapons to hit Ukraine harder.
The so-called general license means US sanctions will not apply for 30 days on deliveries of Russian oil that has been loaded on tankers as of Friday. It extended a similar 30-day license issued in March for Russian oil that had been loaded by 11 March.
Hungary's Magyar kicks off early EU talks to unblock funds for Ukraine
Monday 20 April 2026 04:48 , Arpan RaiHungary's incoming prime minister Peter Magyar has announced talks with EU officials in Budapest, saying there is no time to waste in his efforts to unblock funds frozen by the bloc over disputes with his predecessor.
Magyar, whose landslide victory in the 12 April election spelled the end of nationalist prime minister Viktor Orban's 16-year rule, said he would kickstart the discussions by setting out points where he and the EU already agreed.
"I expect a constructive negotiation. It will not be easy because we have very little time," he told a news conference.
He said the chief of staff of European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen would arrive at around 5pm local time as part of a high-level delegation.
“The aim is... to map out before the new government is formed what we agree on and what are the conditions that the next parliament can pass as a law and comply with European conditions," Magyar said.
The clearance of the funds will also pave for a critical loan for Ukraine, earlier blocked by Orban.
Markets have rallied on Magyar's victory with hopes that the EU will unblock billions of euros of funds and help an economy at near-stagnation.
Ukraine patrol police chief resigns after officers flee from shooting spot
Monday 20 April 2026 04:28 , Arpan RaiYevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine's Patrol Police – a division of the national police service whose duty is to patrol the streets – resigned yesterday after social media circulated a video showing patrol officers running away after hearing gunfire, leaving civilians without protection.
At least six people were killed and eight people, including a child, remain hospitalised in Kyiv after being wounded in a shooting, mayor Vitali Klitschko said.
"The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger," online media outlet RBC Ukraine quoted Zhukov as saying.
"As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold," Zhukov added.
Earlier yesterday, interior minister Ihor Klymenko said the officers' behaviour was "a disgrace to the entire system". An investigation has been launched and decisions will be made regarding their superiors.
Russia loses more than 1.3 million troops in Ukraine war since invasion, says Kyiv
Monday 20 April 2026 04:18 , Arpan RaiRussia has lost at least 1,318,220 troops in Ukraine since the invasion in February 2022, the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine said over the weekend.
These include 1,070 casualties Russian forces suffered over the past day.
Russia has also lost 11,882 tanks, 24,420 armoured combat vehicles, 90,397 vehicles and fuel tanks, 40,324 artillery systems, 1,748 multiple launch rocket systems, 1,349 air defence systems, 435 aircraft, 350 helicopters, 247,131 drones, 33 ships and boats, and two submarines, the Ukrainian military said in its daily update.
Europe needs defence system against ballistic weapons, says Ukraine
Monday 20 April 2026 03:57 , Arpan RaiUkraine is holding discussions with several European nations about the creation of a new defence system against ballistic weapons, president Volodymyr Zelensky said.
“I believe, and my idea is that we should have a European anti-ballistic missile defence system. We are in talks with several countries and are working in this direction," Zelensky told the national TV channel, Marathon.
"We need to build our own anti-ballistic missile defence system within a year," he added.
Zelensky said the task is extremely difficult but realistic, and added that he had already discussed it with key European countries, though he did not name them.
Defence against ballistic missiles is one of Ukraine's biggest challenges in the war with Russia, since only certain types of missiles used by the American Patriot system are capable of intercepting Russian ballistic missiles.
Russia uses ballistic missiles to attack Ukraine's energy infrastructure, destroying thermal power generation and electricity transmission systems.
Fire Point, maker of Ukraine's Flamingo cruise missile, told Reuters this month that it was in talks with European companies to launch a new air defence system by next year, creating a low-cost alternative to the increasingly hard-to-get Patriot system.
Patriot missiles are in short supply amid extensive deployment in the Gulf against Iranian attacks. And Europe's only anti-ballistic system, the Italo-French SAMP/T, is produced in relatively small numbers.
Pope Leo decries intensification of Ukraine war
Monday 20 April 2026 03:00 , Joe MiddletonPope Leo on Sunday decried the intensification of the war in Ukraine, calling “for the weapons to fall silent and for the path of dialogue to be followed”.
The pope made the appeal after a Mass outside Angola's capital Luanda that drew roughly 100,000 people.
The first US pope also praised the ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon, to end fighting between Israeli forces and Iran-backed Hezbollah, as a "reason for hope."
Pro-Russian candidate clear favourite in Bulgarian election
Monday 20 April 2026 02:00 , Joe MiddletonBulgaria went to the polls on Sunday, with a pro-Russian candidate clearly in the lead on a ticket of stamping out corruption.
Former President Rumen Radev, a eurosceptic former fighter pilot who opposes military support for Ukraine, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the parliamentary elections, after mass protests forced out the previous government in December.
"We need, finally, a path to democratic, modern European Bulgaria," Radev said after casting his ballot in Sofia, adding that he wants to "develop practical relations with Russia based on mutual respect and equal treatment."
Polls close at 8pm (5pm GMT). Exit polls are expected as the vote closes and preliminary results could come later on Sunday or Monday.
Head of Ukraine's street patrol police resigns over Kyiv shooting
Monday 20 April 2026 01:00 , Joe MiddletonYevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine's Patrol Police, resigned on Sunday after social media circulated a video showing patrol officers running away after hearing gunfire, leaving civilians without protection.
“The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger,” online media outlet RBC Ukraine quoted Zhukov as saying.
“As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold,” Zhukov added.
Earlier on Sunday, minister Klymenko said the officers' behaviour was “a disgrace to the entire system”. An investigation has been launched and decisions will be made regarding their superiors.
Head of Ukraine's street patrol police resigns over Kyiv shooting
Sunday 19 April 2026 23:59 , James ReynoldsYevhen Zhukov, the head of Ukraine's Patrol Police, resigned on Sunday after social media circulated a video showing patrol officers running away after hearing gunfire, leaving civilians without protection.
“The police officers acted unprofessionally and disgracefully. As police officers, they should have been helping and rescuing our citizens. But they failed to assess the situation properly and left civilians in danger,” online media outlet RBC Ukraine quoted Zhukov as saying.
“As a combat officer, I have decided to submit my resignation from the position I currently hold,” Zhukov added.
Earlier on Sunday, minister Klymenko said the officers' behaviour was “a disgrace to the entire system”. An investigation has been launched and decisions will be made regarding their superiors.
The latest: Eight remain in hospital after Kyiv shooting
Sunday 19 April 2026 23:00 , James ReynoldsEight people, including one child, remain hospitalised in Kyiv after being wounded in a shooting that killed six people, Mayor Vitali Klitschko said on Sunday.
A Russian-born man opened fire from an automatic rifle on passersby on Saturday before barricading himself in a supermarket with hostages, where he was shot dead by police.
Police stormed the supermarket after unsuccessfully trying to negotiate with the suspect for 40 minutes.
Klitschko said the wounded child, whose parents were killed in the shooting, was in moderate condition, while one of the adults was in critical condition.
In pictures: Police on site following attack in Kyiv
Sunday 19 April 2026 22:00 , James Reynolds
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said this week that the time has come for a conversation with the US about how Washington sees future economic ties with Russia.
Speaking at an event in Turkey, Lavrov also said that NATO is "not in the best state", but that Russia would not meddle in the alliance's internal affairs.
Russia has made renewed economic cooperation with the US a core part of its pitch for a diplomatic detente with the administration of US President Donald Trump.
Russia’s veteran foreign minister said that differences remain between the two countries.
