Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged the European Union to collaborate with Ukraine in forming a military bloc aimed at countering Russian aggression. Speaking on a podcast hosted by Alistair Campbell, Zelensky criticized the United States for overlooking evidence of Russia’s support for Iran in targeting American bases in the Middle East.
In a separate interview with Italy’s national broadcaster RAI, Zelensky expressed his belief that negotiations involving Ukraine, the U.S., and Russia would resume. He also highlighted the importance of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s leadership for Ukraine.
During a session of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities, Zelensky announced a tripartite meeting aimed at discussing the cessation of hostilities in Ukraine, urging regions to begin preparations for winter. He noted that the Ukrainian Parliament had shown its resilience and that agreements had been reached with several Middle Eastern nations regarding energy supplies for the year.
Zelensky also indicated that Ukraine’s military responses to Russian attacks on its energy infrastructure would continue, suggesting that representatives from the Trump administration might visit Kyiv after Easter. He emphasized that fuel prices in Ukraine are not influenced by Hungary or Slovakia.
Meanwhile, Kirill Budanov, head of the President’s Office, stated that strikes on Russian oil terminals could impact upcoming negotiations, predicting significant developments from Russia in future talks.
U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed America’s military presence in Iran until a comprehensive agreement is reached, while Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf accused the U.S. of violating parts of the Iranian framework agreement prior to negotiations.
In Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu declared readiness to resume military action against Iran to achieve national objectives. This comes in the wake of a significant Israeli strike in Lebanon that resulted in over 250 fatalities and more than 1,100 injuries.
On the battlefield, the Ukrainian military reported 64 clashes since the start of the day, with heightened activity noted in the Kostiantynivka and Pokrovsk directions. Ukrainian forces have successfully increased their operational effectiveness, leading to a 29% rise in Russian losses due to drone strikes in March compared to February.
In Feodosia, following Ukrainian strikes, a third oil terminal reservoir is ablaze. Additionally, drone attacks targeted a crucial oil pipeline facility in Russia’s Krasnodar region.
As the conflict continues, the Ukrainian military’s air defense systems reportedly intercepted 99 out of 119 Russian drones during recent attacks. The impact of the ongoing war has also been felt in energy sectors, with power outages reported across several regions including Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, and Kharkiv.
In the wake of the conflict, Zelensky has met with representatives from the Hungarian community in Zakarpattia and awarded honors to several Ukrainian cities for their resilience. Additionally, the Ukrainian government has allocated funds for the modernization of school cafeterias and is working on expanding dual citizenship options.
Ukrainian President Zelensky has called for EU collaboration to form a military bloc against Russia and emphasized the need for renewed negotiations involving the U.S. and Russia. Amid ongoing conflict, significant military actions and energy agreements are shaping the current landscape in Ukraine.
