Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he had discussed the need for enhanced air defences and tougher sanctions on Russia with U.S. Senators Lindsey Graham (R-SC) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) during a meeting in Rome held alongside international talks on Ukraine.
In a post on Telegram early Friday, Zelenskyy stressed that Ukraine's current priority is boosting its air defence systems, especially as Russia plans large-scale drone assaults.
“Russia is preparing to launch up to 1,000 drones in a single attack,” he warned, adding that investing in interceptor drones was now essential.
He said discussions also focused on continued U.S. weapons support and potential joint production of defence systems. Ukraine, he noted, is ready to collaborate with European partners to secure large-scale U.S. defence packages aimed at protecting civilian lives.
Zelenskyy confirmed on Thursday that all necessary political approvals for renewed U.S. military aid had been received after a brief suspension last week. He also revealed new agreements with Germany and Norway for the purchase of three Patriot missile defence systems- two funded by Berlin, one by Oslo.
Russian attacks on Ukrainian cities have surged in recent weeks. On Wednesday night alone, Zelenskyy said Russia launched 18 missiles and about 400 drones, mainly targeting Kyiv. The night before, Ukraine faced a record 728-drone assault.
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Tuesday he had authorised the shipment of defensive weapons to Ukraine and was weighing further sanctions on Moscow, citing frustration with Russian President Vladimir Putin over stalled efforts to resolve the war.
Zelenskyy also held talks on Wednesday in Rome with Trump’s Ukraine envoy, Keith Kellogg, to discuss military aid.
In his Telegram update, Zelenskyy said he and the two senators also reviewed a proposed U.S. bill that would impose tougher sanctions not only on Russia but also on countries continuing to buy its key exports- such as oil, gas, and uranium.
He called the legislation a powerful tool to bring peace closer and give diplomacy a meaningful role. The proposed law includes a provision for a 500% tariff on imports from countries that still purchase major Russian commodities.
China has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with the UK after British border officials allegedly subjected Chinese travellers to lengthy questioni...
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U.S. President Donald Trump has criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for continuing to target Russia's energy infrastructure, while Russian strikes on Kyiv overnight killed at least one person and damaged a metro station.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Oslo earlier. Witkoff will also meet European officials.
French President Emmanuel Macron has condemned the violence, looting and vandalism that erupted during cost-of-living protests across France. Prime Minister Sébastien Lecornu held crisis talks on Monday, calling for partial curfews and raising the possibility of a state of emergency.
An oil tanker caught fire after striking a naval mine in the southern part of the Strait of Hormuz, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Navy said late Sunday.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said regional issues should be resolved through diplomacy and blamed the United States for insecurity and tensions in the Strait of Hormuz, speaking at a joint news conference with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Monday.
China has lodged a formal diplomatic protest with the UK after British border officials allegedly subjected Chinese travellers to lengthy questioning and seized personal electronic devices, including phones, laptops and smartwatches.
More than 150 people have been killed in a drone strike on a crowded market in the disputed Abyei region, South Sudanese officials said, marking one of the deadliest attacks linked to Sudan's civil war since it began in April 2023.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in Norway for talks about the Russia-Ukraine war. He is expected to meet with U.S. President Donald Trump's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who arrived in Oslo earlier. Witkoff will also meet European officials.
Beijing says it deployed naval forces to monitor a U.S. warship near Sabina Shoal, while Taiwan reports a separate confrontation with a Chinese coast guard vessel near the Pratas Islands.
Tensions are mounting across Asia, with North Korea warning of war, China clashing with the U.S. and the Philippines, and protests gathering pace in Indonesia and India. Military threats, diplomatic disputes and political unrest are fuelling uncertainty across the region.
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