Ukraine has inaugurated its first defense drone manufacturing facility in the United Kingdom, marking a significant step in its military capabilities during the ongoing conflict with Russia. The factory, operated by Ukrspecsystems, is expected to enhance Ukraine’s ability to produce advanced unmanned aerial vehicles, which have proven effective in modern warfare.
President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Rustem Umerov, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council, will meet with U.S. representatives Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to discuss a recovery package for Ukraine, preparations for an upcoming trilateral meeting, and details regarding prisoner exchanges.
In a press conference with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre, Zelensky condemned recent nuclear threats from Russia as political pressure ahead of the trilateral talks involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia. He also reported that all missiles launched during a recent attack utilizing the ‘Flamingo’ system successfully reached their targets.
Ukraine has identified 230 priority sites for defense, according to Zelensky, who also noted Norway’s contribution of $970 million to the PURL program, aimed at bolstering Ukraine’s military capabilities. Støre emphasized the establishment of a strategic partnership between Norway and Ukraine, highlighting Norway’s acceptance of over 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
In a related development, the United Kingdom and France refuted Russian disinformation regarding claims that they were prepared to supply Ukraine with nuclear weapons. This misinformation was reiterated by Russia’s representative to the UN during a Security Council meeting.
The European Union has pledged €100 million in energy assistance to Ukraine, with plans to collaborate on a new winter energy strategy for 2026-2027, as stated by Ukrainian Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Olga Stefanishina revealed that Ukraine received an official warning from the U.S. regarding attacks on the Russian port of Novorossiysk, which reportedly impacted American economic interests.
As the conflict continues, the frontlines remain active, with 115 clashes reported since the start of the day, particularly in the Pokrovsk direction. Ukrainian special operations forces successfully targeted a Russian S-400 air defense system and destroyed a Pantsir-S1 in Crimea.
In the Sloviansk direction, Ukrainian forces eliminated Russian infantry groups attempting to infiltrate previously captured areas. Additionally, drone attacks targeted a chemical plant in the Smolensk region of Russia, which produces materials potentially applicable in both civilian and military sectors.
In terms of energy, power outages have been reported in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions following Russian strikes. The director of Yasno energy supply company, Serhiy Kovalenko, indicated that traditional power outage schedules in Kyiv are not expected to resume until at least April.
As Ukraine continues to face significant challenges, the government is also focusing on recovery efforts, with an estimated $33.5 billion needed for the education sector and $23.6 billion for healthcare restoration.
In international relations, Zelensky expressed gratitude to G7 leaders for their unwavering support and highlighted the recent decision by the European Commission to aid Ukraine’s energy sector as a key outcome of recent discussions.
Ukraine has launched its first drone manufacturing facility in the UK, enhancing its military capabilities amid ongoing conflict with Russia. President Zelensky is actively engaging with international partners for recovery support and condemns Russian nuclear threats as political pressure.
