Putin accuses Ukraine of ‘energy blackmail’ as he meets with Hungary’s foreign minister
Russian president Vladimir Putin will hold talks with Hungarian foreign minister Peter Szijjarto later on Wednesday after accusing Ukraine of “blackmailing” of Slovakia and Hungary over oil supplies, the Kremlin said.
Kyiv has said that the Ukrainian branch of the Druzhba oil pipeline, which supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, was severely damaged by fire after a Russian attack in late January and cannot be repaired quickly.
Hungary and Slovakia have both accused Ukraine – which has long been unhappy about them continuing to buy Russian oil – of deliberately dragging its feet over the repairs for political reasons.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Putin would discuss the matter with Szijjarto, a frequent visitor to Moscow, later on Wednesday.
“You know the buyers of our oil, such as Hungary and Slovakia, who are now facing blackmail from the Kyiv regime. This refers to blackmail related to the deliberate blocking of supplies via the Druzhba oil pipeline. Of course, this will be discussed today,” said Peskov.
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 14:00
In pictures: Ukrainian soldiers install barbed wire near a front line near Kupiansk
(Reuters)(Reuters)
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 13:30
Even in Ukraine’s ghost towns there are people who will not leave
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 13:00
In pictures: Ukrainian politician and weightlifter Artem Dmytruk arriving at Westminster Magistrates’ Court for a hearing on extradition
(James Manning/PA Wire)
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 12:30
Watch: Trump defense official tells MAGA senator that ‘Canada needs to step up’ militarily on Russia threat
Trump defense official tells MAGA senator that ‘Canada needs to step up’ militarily on Russia threat
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 12:00
In pictures: Passenger train hit by Russian drone strike in Mykolaiv
(Emergency Service of Ukraine)(Emergency Service of Ukraine)
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 11:30
Russian drone hits empty passenger train in Ukraine’s south, deputy PM says
A Russian drone hit an empty passenger train in Ukraine’s southern Mykolaiv region early on Wednesday, injuring a railway worker, deputy prime minister Oleksiy Kuleba said.
He added that there was also an attempted Russian drone attack on a train operating between the eastern-central city of Dnipro and Kovel in the northwest late on Tuesday, but it was stopped by railway workers and the drone hit a few metres away from the locomotive.
Ukrzaliznytsia, Ukrainian national railways, said that Russia had intensified drone attacks on railway infrastructure, and that rolling stock was among the main targets.
It reported that 18 strikes had been recorded since the start of March, damaging 41 facilities. Locomotives, freight cars and specialised equipment used to repair infrastructure have also been targeted, the operator said, and railway depots and bridges had also come under attack this month. A Russian drone attack on a commuter train in Dnipropetrovsk region killed one person and wounded even more people on Monday.
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 11:00
Four experts on the future of the Ukraine-Russia war
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 10:30
Ukraine receives $1.5bn under new IMF deal
Ukraine has received $1.5 billion under the first tranche under the new 4-year IMF EFF program. The funds will be directed to finance priority expenditures.
“We continue implementing agreed reforms to strengthen resilience, governance, and recovery,” said Sergii Marchenko the minister of finance.
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 10:00
Russia accuse Ukraine of attacking Arctic Metagaz tanker in Meditteranean
Russia’s transport ministry said on Wednesday that Ukrainian naval drones were responsible for an attack on a Russian ship carrying gas – Arctic Metagaz – which caught fire in the Mediterranean a day earlier.
The ministry said the attack was “an act of international terrorism” and that all 30 crew members, who were Russian nationals, were safe. The Security Service of Ukraine did not respond to a request.
Bryony Gooch4 March 2026 09:30
