Zelensky meets Ukraine troops on frontline by key embattled city as Trump’s top dealmaker insists Putin ‘not bad person’
VOLODYMYR Zelensky has visited drone-flying troops on Ukraine's frontline near a city that Russia is desperately trying to take.
It comes as peace talks are set to continue on Monday in Saudi Arabia and Donald Trump's envoy to Kyiv has labelled Vladimir Putin "not a bad person".
Footage released by the President showed him walking through underground trenches and discussing plans in a command bunker.
He visited a part of the front near Pokrovsk called the Drone Line - where the best pilots in the locally stationed elite regiment fly their craft from.
Zelensky delivered medals to soldiers in the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of Unmanned Systems and spoke to them about their fighting.
Ukraine has attempted to create a 10-15km deep kill zone at the front line where Russian troops advancing will be slaughtered.
Ukrainian diplomats will be preparing to meet on Monday with US officials as the next round of talks get underway in Saudi Arabia.
But Trump's lead negotiator has said Putin is "not a bad person" ahead of the talks.
US special Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has said in a new interview that he “liked him [Putin]. I think he was honest with me.
“It’s a complicated situation, this war, and all the components that led to it. You know, it’s never just one person who’s right."
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The European Union has agreed that it must be ready to defend itself against a Russian attack by 2030, Donald Tusk confirmed.
Despite leaders unable to agree on the scheme, it was accepted that Europe must bolster its defence in the face of Russian threats within a mere few years.
He said: “By 2030 Europe must be, in terms of army, weapons, technology, clearly stronger than Russia. And it will be.”
Meanwhile Number 10 has clarified that “nothing is off the table” over possible peacekeeping troop deployment for war-torn Ukraine.
Downing Street said on behalf of Sir Keir Starmer that “thousands” of personnel would be needed to support any operation whether by “sea, on land or in the air” as allies prepare “for all eventualities”.
The coalition planning also continues to intensify as British military planners will meet again at the Northwood base in London next week to discuss how the force could work.
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Zelensky visits front line
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Credit: EPA Watch: The Sun joins Nato troops for military exercises
The Sun joins the 4th Scots Regiment on NATO exercise Steadfast Dart
Zelensky prepares team for US-Ukraine meeting
Volodymyr Zelensky has shared a video of his team discussing plans for Sunday's crunch Saudi Arabia talks with US representatives.
Ukraine and the US are set to speak on the next stages of a ceasefire agreement after Donald Trump spoke with Vladimir Putin this week.
Watch: Zelensky visits Ukrainian frontlines
Zelensky visits Ukraine frontline as Trump's dealmaker says Putin 'not bad person'Trump insists plans to divide up Ukraine are ‘being negotiated'
Plans to carve up Ukraine are “being negotiated as we speak”, Donald Trump insisted yesterday.
He claimed a “full ceasefire” was imminent despite Russian tyrant Vladimir Putin rejecting a 30-day pause this week.
Moscow appears to have ramped-up attacks since Putin and Trump spoke in a phone call on Tuesday.
Putin agreed to a 30-day break in his army’s strikes on energy infrastructure.
But since then, Moscow blitzed Odesa when Czech President Petr Pavel was visiting and Ukraine accused Russia of carpet bombing its city Kropyvnytskyi.
Speaking last night, the US President said: “I believe we’re pretty soon going to have a full ceasefire. Then we’re gonna have a contract.
“The contract is being negotiated in terms of dividing up the lands, etcetera. It is being negotiated as we speak.”
Ukraine truce won’t end Putin’s dream of new Soviet Union - ex-UK defence sec warns
Nato must splash more cash and hang permanent threats over Russia to stop Vladimir Putin grabbing land, a former UK defence secretary has warned.
Even as a ceasefire seems closer than ever, Sir Michael Fallon warned it won't end the Russian tyrant's Soviet revival fantasy - so Nato must make it impossible.
He told The Sun that only by "strengthening Nato's military and political will" can western democracies stop Putin for good.
I grew up in the shadow of Russia where my mum was taught how to build guns as child
It wasn't until Zelensky's disastrous meeting with Donald Trump a couple of weeks ago that the reality truly kicked in for Sun reporter Kate Kulniece.
Ever since tyrant Putin brutally invaded Ukraine in 2022, she says she somehow managed to remain hopeful and had always been the one to reassure her parents in Latvia that the nightmare would soon come to an end.
Latvia may have gained independence and freedom from the Soviet state over 20 years ago - but the horrific memories and nightmares are something my mum, born in the early 60s, will never forget.
One of the most bizarre facts I recall my mum sharing with me is being taught how to disassemble and assemble a Kalashnikov rifle as a pupil at school aged just 15.
''Every week, we had lessons - Russian propaganda - about the great achievements of the Soviet Union - and how miserable life in the West and the USA was.
''Young students - I was around 15 at the time - were demonstrated how to assemble an AK-47, and how to properly put a gas mask on our faces.
''Then they asked us to do it ourselves,'' my mum recalled, adding that these military lessons happened in Russian.
All of this, she added, was to prepare the population for a potential war or conflict with the West - which was always portrayed as the ultimate symbol of evil.
Putin kills girl, 17, & parents in devastating drone blitz
Vladimir Putin's troops have nearly killed an entire family in a drone blitz as he continues to prosecute his brutal war.
The callous Russian dictator is bombing Ukrainian families at the same time he negotiates with Donald Trump for peace.
Vlad's latest blitz in Zaporizhzhia saw a drone attack hit a house killing a girl, 17, her mother, 38, and father.
It left the couple’s oldest child Viktoria, in her 20s, alive, and faced with the appalling task of rebuilding her life alone.
A clock found in the rubble stopped at 1:05am, the moment of the barbaric attack.
Zaporizhzhia was hit by 12 drones, cops said.
Regional head Ivan Fedorov said that residential buildings, cars and communal buildings were set on fire in the Friday night attack. Photos showing emergency services scouring the rubble for survivors.
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Zelensky visits memorial
Ukraine's border guards show off gear
Ukraine's State Border Guard Service has shown off some of their gear in Lviv today as they launch a recruitment drive and showcase their involvement in the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war.
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Credit: Getty Putin wipes out entire family in brutal drone blitz
Vladimir Putin's troops have killed an entire family in a drone blitz as he continues to prosecute his brutal war.
The callous Russian dictator is bombing Ukrainian families at the same time he negotiates with Donald Trump for peace.
Vlad's latest blitz in Zaporizhzhia saw a drone attack hit a house killing a girl, 14, her mother, 38, and father.
A clock found in the rubble stopped at 1:05am, the moment of the barbaric attack.
Read about Vlad's latest sick attack here.
Ukraine truce won’t end Putin’s dream of new Soviet Union, ex-UK defence sec warns
Nato must splash more cash and hang permanent threats over Russia to stop Vladimir Putin grabbing land, a former UK defence secretary has warned.
Even as a ceasefire seems closer than ever, Sir Michael Fallon warned it won't end the Russian tyrant's Soviet revival fantasy - so Nato must make it impossible.
He told The Sun that only by "strengthening Nato's military and political will" can western democracies stop Putin for good.
Trump has made it clear since taking power he will not protect Ukraine or fellow Nato members without them paying up.
President visits Drone Line
Volodymyr Zelensky has visited a Drone Line near Pokrovsk where an elite unit of unmanned craft pilots is stationed.
Zelensky visits front line done operators
After spending the last few days outside of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky has returned to the front lines.
The brave leader has been in London, Helsinki, and Oslo over the past week as he has firmed up European support following the disastrous Oval Office row with Donald Trump.
But he has now returned to visit his soldiers brave holding off the Russian menace.
Starmer warns Putin of ‘severe consequences’ if any Ukraine peace deal is broken
Sir Keir Starmer has thrown down the gauntlet to Vladimir Putin saying there would be “severe consequences” if the despot broke any peace deal.
The Prime Minister issued the punishment warning to the Kremlin tyrant as three days of intense planning takes place next week for sea and air operations.
High-level talks were held with thirty-one countries today to counter any Russian aggression if a pact is struck.
The PM, who insisted any agreement must be backed up by America, said: “The point of the security arrangements is to make it clear to Russia there'll be severe consequences if they are to breach any deal.
“That's why we need a forward leaning European element, which is what I've been working on intensely, obviously, with the French, that bring these allied countries together, and beyond,
“I think the Australians and New Zealanders have dialled in this morning in the middle of night in order to be part of the planning. So there is that level of integration.
“This is why it will require a US component, because it needs to be clear to Putin that there will be severe consequences if he breaches the lines."
France to ‘mobilise civilians’ to stop looming Putin threat
France has announced they are considering "mobilising civilians" to counter a looming Russian threat.
Loyal Macron has even said he is thinking about mobilising civilians to help defend against Russia.
Speaking to local newspapers over the weekend, Macron said the return of compulsory military service isn’t “a realistic option”.
He said France no longer has the “logistics” for conscription.
But Macron did say: “We are going to look at ways to mobilise civilians.”
Credit: AFP UK planning for boots in Ukraine ‘for years’
Europe is starting to devise a peacekeeping plan to support Ukraine with the UK pledging to have boots on the ground for “as long as it takes”.
The “coalition of the willing” summit, announced by Starmer over the weekend, will be aimed at devising a plan for a post-war Europe to bolster security.
The British prime minister has been vocal in the past few days about his willingness to station thousands of his soldiers in Ukraine.
He says he is prepared to make an open-ended commitment to deploy British troops for “as long as it takes” alongside western allies to keep the peace.
Starmer has been leading European support for Ukraine alongside France's Macron in recent weeks.
Watch: Mushroom cloud inferno burns over Ukraine
Watch moment mushroom cloud billows into sky after Ukraine hit on major Russian missile depotPictured: Ukrainian rescuers work at the site of a drone attack in Zaporizhzhia
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Credit: EPA Kim Jong Un meets President Putin's top security adviser Sergei Shoigu
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Credit: Reuters
Ukraine’s powerful new ‘Long Neptune’ missile with 620-mile range
Ukraine has successfully tested a powerful new combat missile which boasts an incredible 621-mile range.
Volodymyr Zelensky revealed the “Long Neptune” weapon today.
The nautical cruise missile has a huge and has already been successfully used in combat after a number of positive tests.
Its 621-range now puts the Russian capital of Moscow within its reach.
Zelensky is yet to reveal where any tests took place as rumours started to emerge over if it had already been used on the battlefield.
The long-range Neptune is made by manufacturer Luch Design Bureau.
The weapon was originally designed as an anti-ship missile but it has been adapted during the war to hit targets on land across long distances.
It is also believed to be a development of an earlier Neptune version which was renowned for sinking Putin’s Black Sea Fleet flagship, Moskva, back in 2022.
The weapon will be the latest addition to Ukraine’s impressive arsenal as they continue to fight against Putin’s cannonfodder troops on all fronts.
Pictures: Russian strikes on the front-line city of Kostiantynivka caused destruction
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Credit: Getty Key takeaways from Kremlin readout
The Kremlin has published its version of Vladimir Putin’s call with Donald Trump, revealing discussions on Ukraine, security, and even hockey.
Here’s the breakdown:
Kremlin Releases Readout of Trump-Putin Call – Key Takeaways
The Kremlin has published its version of Vladimir Putin’s call with Donald Trump, revealing discussions on Ukraine, security, and even hockey. Here’s the breakdown:
🔹 Ceasefire & Ukraine
- Putin thanked Trump for his efforts to end hostilities.
- Russia agreed to halt energy infrastructure attacks for 30 days.
- Moscow wants foreign military aid to Ukraine to stop as a key condition for peace.
- Putin questioned Kyiv’s ability to negotiate, citing past violations.
- He accused Ukrainian militants of terrorist crimes in Russia’s Kursk region.
🔹 Prisoners & Humanitarian Issues
- A 175-for-175 prisoner exchange will take place on March 19.
- 23 wounded Ukrainian soldiers will be released as a gesture of goodwill.
- Putin guaranteed safe treatment for Ukrainian troops if they surrender.
🔹 Black Sea & Global Security
- Russia agreed to talks on Black Sea navigation safety.
- Putin and Trump discussed stabilizing crisis regions, nuclear non-proliferation, and global security.
🔹 Russia-US Relations
- The leaders expressed mutual interest in improving ties.
- Talks covered economic and energy cooperation.
- Trump backed Putin’s idea for Russia-US hockey games between NHL and KHL players.
The two leaders will stay in contact as their expert groups begin discussions.
Ukraine thanks Germany over latest support package