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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William visiting Estonia
Prince William is in Estonia meeting with President Alar Karis.
The heir is making his first visit to Britain's Nato ally and the tiny neighbour of Russia.
On Friday, he is set to visit British troops serving as part of Nato in Estonia.
Estonia is likely one of the coalition of the willing and senior military leaders could be in London today to talk peacekeepers in Ukraine.
Britainâs Prince William and Estonian President Alar KarisCredit: AFP 
The Prince of Wales, signs a guest book next at the Estonian Presidential office in TallinnCredit: Reuters 
William will meet with British troops on FridayCredit: Rex Starmer with miniature of new sub
Sir Keir Starmer is in Barrow-in-Furness to tour BAE's submarine building base.
He and Defence Minister John Healey met with BAE system apprentices and saw a miniature of the forthcoming HMS Dreadnought submarine.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: AFP Trump didn't raise Crimea recognition with him, Zelensky said
Volodymyr Zelensky said Donald Trump did not raise with him in any of their discussions that America would potentially recognise Crimea as Russian.
He reiterated Crimea was a Ukrainian peninsula and said that Trump had only mentioned it to say that he had heard Ukrainians loved it.
Zelensky said some three million Ukrainians visited the peninsula each year on holiday before Russia invaded.
Since 2014, the Ukrainian boasted that Russians had not been visiting the territory which Putin had seized.
List of off-limit bombing targets to be drawn up
Russia and Ukraine are set to draw up a list of energy and infrastructure sites that can't be bombed as part of the partial ceasefire.
It has been so far unclear what exactly the two sides would agree as being off-limits after Putin and Trump made the announcement on Tuesday.
The two sides have continued bombing each other over the past 48 hours.
Technical teams from the two countries will draw up the list in Jeddah on Monday as the sides also look to agree on a Black Sea ceasefire, Zelensky said.
Zelensky speaks in Norway
Zelensky is currently speaking with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr in a press conference in Oslo.
Zelensky wants no 'Berlin Walls'
Volodymyr Zelensky has said he wants no "Berlin Walls" in any ceasefire with Russia.
The Ukrainian said he discussed the issue with Donald Trump during their call on March 19.
He said: "There are regions, there are cities and towns that are cut off by a contact line, and if in some places you leave this line in place, you will simply leave these cities or towns without life; no one will return to half of the city.
"I told President Trump honestly: 'Do we want Berlin?'... I think we both understood that this was not an option.
"The Berlin Wall is not an option."
Date for next Russia-US talks revealed by Kremlin
The next Russia-US talks on Ukraine are set to take place on March 24 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Kremlin revealed.
Mad Vladimir Putin's foreign policy aid Yuri Ushakov said: "We agreed with Mr Waltz [the US national security adviser] that consultations on this matter in a bilateral format will be conducted by experts appointed by the presidents.
"These consultations will take place on Monday, March 24, in Riyadh."
Ushakov added that the Russia delegation will be lead by senator and career diplomat Grigory Karasin and adviser to the director of Russia's FSB Sergei Beseda.
Talks will mainly surround the ways to ensure safe shipping in the Black Sea, Ushakov said.
Russia accuses Ukraine of 'disrupting peace'
Russia's foreign ministry has accused Kyiv of attempting to disrupt peace following an attack on an oil depot in the Krasnodar region.
Authorities said the Ukrainian drone attack caused a blaze at the site, which is a rail terminal for Russian oil supplies to a pipeline linking Kazakhstan to the Black Sea.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said: "It is absolutely clear that we are talking about another provocation specially prepared by the Kyiv regime and aimed at disrupting peace initiatives."
Earlier, the Kremlin accused European countries of planning to “militarise” themselves rather than seeking peace, as Western military chiefs gathered in Britain to discuss how to protect Ukraine.
Zelensky meets Norwegian PM
Norway's Prime Minister is not in Brussels with most other European leaders as the country, like Britain, is not a member of the EU.
Instead, Jonas Gahr is hosting Volodymyr Zelensky in Oslo following the Ukrainian's trip to Finland.
Credit: EPA 
Credit: EPA 
Credit: EPA
UK building new nuke-carrying subs
The UK's MoD has released a video showcasing the new Dreadnought Class submarines it is starting to build.
Kremlin accuses Europe of 'militarising'
The Kremlin on Thursday accused European countries of planning to "militarise" themselves rather than seeking peace, as Western military chiefs gathered in Britain to discuss how to protect Ukraine.
The ridiculous accusation comes after Russia has massively expanded its armies following its illegal invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
Major European powers including France and the UK have sought to boost military spending since Donald Trump took office in January, amid fears the US is no longer committed to European defence.
As Trump builds closer ties with the Kremlin, Russia has shifted much of its anger over the three-year Ukraine conflict towards Europe, accusing the EU and UK of being the main obstacles to peace.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters: "For the most part, the signals from Brussels and European capitals concern plans to militarise Europe.
"Europe has embarked on a militarisation of itself and has turned into somewhat of a war party."
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, co-leader of efforts to form the so-called coalition of the willing alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, is expected to address a meeting of roughly 30 military officials later.
Both Starmer and Macron have said they are willing to deploy peacekeepers in Ukraine following a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, an idea Russia has vehemently rejected.
Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with the governor of the Kostroma region on Thursday US-Russia talks could happen next week
The Kremlin has said the next round of US-Russia talks could take place on Sunday or early next week.
Talks are likely to include a maritime ceasefire in the Black Sea, which emerged as the next stage to be discussed following Tuesday's call between Trump and Putin.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said: "It may not be Sunday itself, the nuances are being agreed. It could be the start, the very start, of next week."
Zelensky said a day earlier that Kyiv and the United States were preparing to meet in the "coming days" in Saudi Arabia.
It was unclear if US officials would meet both the Ukrainian and Russian teams on the same day, or if there was a possibility of three-way talks that would involve Kyiv and Moscow talking face-to-face.
US National Security Advisor Mike Waltz said Wednesday that "technical teams" from Russia and the US would meet in Riyadh "to focus on implementing and expanding the partial ceasefire President Trump secured from Russia".
Putin turned down a US-proposed unconditional ceasefire in Ukraine, agreeing only to a 30-day halt in strikes on energy infrastructure.
Washington is also due to hold talks with Kyiv in Saudi Arabia in the coming days.
EU leaders meet in Brussels
The leaders of the EU's 26 nations are meeting in Brussels where they will discuss Ukraine.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz speaks to media ahead of the meetingCredit: Reuters 
The leaders met in Brussels on ThursdayCredit: Rex 
Dutch Prime Minister Dick Schoof (L) and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia MeloniCredit: AFP 
Slovakiaâs Prime Minister Robert Fico, left, speaks with Hungaryâs Prime Minister Viktor OrbanCredit: AP 
Greeceâs Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis arrivesCredit: AFP Russia has suffered '900,000 casualties'
According to the latest Ministry of Defence update, Russia's army has suffered some 900,000 casualties.
Some 200,000 - 250,000 have been killed, marking Russia's largest loss in wartime since WW2.
Zelensky thanks workers after drone strikes
Volodymyr Zelenksy has thanked emergency workers after Ukraine was hit by Russian drones overnight.
He said Putin had launched a "massive attack" on the Kirovohrad region which had left 10 people wounded, including four children.
Zelensky gets call from 'Emmanuel' live on air
While talking to journalists, Volodymyr Zelensky received a phone call from Emmanuel Macron.
A clip shows the Ukrainian pick up the phone and ask to call the President of France back.
The pair have forged a close relationship with the Gallic leader standing up for the Ukrainian to Donald Trump.
Zelensky to address EU leaders
Volodymyr Zelensky is going to address EU leaders today following his call with Donald Trump on Wednesday.
EU leaders are currently arriving in Brussels ahead of the European Council roundtable later today.
The bloc's 26 bosses will discuss bolstering its security against Russia and a number of other issues.
It comes as military chiefs from over 20 nations in the Coalition of the Willing are meeting in London today to sort out a peacekeeping agreement for the country.
Following a ceasefire troops from allied countries may send soldiers to protect Ukraine from another Russian invasion.
Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen arrives for a European Council summitCredit: EPA Clip of PM's nuke submarine visit
The PM has released quite a stirring clip of his visit to HMS Vanguard as it returned to shore.
UK's letters of last resort
With Starmer visiting the nuclear-armed HMS Vanguard, he may have spoken to its captain about a special letter he wrote to them.
Each of the four UK submarines that carries Trident missiles has an identically-worded handwritten letter from the PM.
They are to be opened if a nuclear strike wipes out the British government - including the PM and other high-ranking Cabinet members.
Only the Prime Minister who wrote them knows exactly what they say - but the 2008 BBC Radio 4 documentary The Human Button reports there were four options given to the PM. These are:
- Retaliate with nuclear weapons
- Do not retaliate
- Use their own judgement
- Put the submarine under an allied country's command (potentially the US or Australia)
Starmer visits nuclear submarine
Sir Keir Starmer has visited the nuclear-armed HMS Vanguard submarine as it returned from duty to demonstrate the UK's strength.
The PM's visit comes as he prepares to meet with allied military chiefs over sending peacekeepers to Ukraine.
Credit: Crown Copyright 
Credit: Crown Copyright 
Credit: Crown Copyright 
Credit: Crown Copyright 
Credit: Crown Copyright 
Credit: Crown Copyright Russia strikes Ukraine overnight
Moscow has also sent bombs at Ukraine overnight, striking the city of Kropyvnytskyi.
Eight people, including a child, have been injured with the bombs falling in civilian areas.
Andriy Yermak, chief of staff to Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, said: “Kropyvnytskyi. This is what Putin's ceasefire looks like.
“Russia takes great pleasure in attacking civilians.”
Russia also bombed the Ukrainian city of KropyvnytskyiCredit: east2west news
Ukraine hits nuke bomber base
Ukraine has struck a key Russian airbase housing nuke bombers with footage showing a huge explosion rising into the sky.
A black mushroom cloud erupted into the sky early Thursday morning from Engels airbase as Kyiv launched a drone attack.
The base is about 700km (435miles) from the front lines and it hosts Russia's Tupolev Tu-160 nuclear capable heavy strategic bombers.
Ukraine bombed Engels airbase deep inside Russia overnightCredit: east2west news Plans for Ukraine peacekeeping force move into the next phase
Military figures are set to gather in the UK on Thursday as planning for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine moves into an "operational phase".
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has been trying to assemble a coalition of nations that would be willing to help enforce any peace deal that could be reached between Kyiv and Moscow.
Starmer is expected to meet with defence planners after he announced military chiefs would gather to "put strong and robust plans in place to swing in behind a peace deal and guarantee Ukraine's future security".
He said: "There are different capabilities from different countries, but those are the operational discussions that are going on in relation to what this coalition of the willing will be able to provide."
Nearly 200 Ukrainians pictured returning home from Russia captivity
197 Ukrainian service members were pictured emotionally embracing their family and friends on Wednesday.
They were released from terror Russian captivity following a prisoner exchange and special operations by Kyiv.
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty 
Credit: Getty Hungry votes against continued support for Ukraine
The EU has issued a statement saying 26 of its 27 member countries agreed to "maintain its 'peace through strength' approach", ensuring Ukraine has "robust military and defence capabilities".
Hungry's Viktor Orbán voted against the motion.
"The EU remains ready to step up pressure on Russia and will keep giving Ukraine regular financial support as well as military support," the statement says.
Credit: Reuters