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The US ignores Iran-Russia cooperation because of the trust in Putin - Zelensky

Volodymyr Zelensky said that United States officials are overlooking evidence of Russia assisting Iran in the Middle East conflict because they “trust” Russian President Vladimir Putin. Speaking on The Rest is Politics podcast, Zelensky questioned why Washington had not responded more strongly to alleged Russian support for Tehran, including intelligence sharing to aid strikes.

According to Zelensky, the U.S. misunderstands Moscow’s intentions, partly because key figures such as Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, Trump's aides, have spent significant time engaging with Russian officials. While U.S. media have reported on possible Russian assistance to Iran, American officials have publicly downplayed its scale.

Zelensky also addressed tensions with Washington over peace negotiations, particularly regarding the status of Donbas. He rejected calls for Ukraine to withdraw from the region and reaffirmed readiness for direct talks with Putin, but not in Moscow or Kyiv, suggesting a neutral location in the Middle East, Europe, or the U.S. Meanwhile, Marco Rubio dismissed earlier claims that U.S. security guarantees were tied to territorial concessions, underscoring ongoing disagreements between Kyiv and Washington.

The Norwegian Navy is helping Ukraine prepare strikes using surface drones against Russian ships in the Barents Sea

Norwegian Armed Forces Commander-in-Chief Eirik Kristoffersen has warned that Russia could potentially resort to military action to secure its strategic nuclear facilities on the Kola Peninsula, a key hub for its naval nuclear forces.

Norwegian authorities are preparing for possible escalation scenarios. Citizens have reportedly received notices about the potential requisition of private property for defense needs in wartime, and contingency plans have been drawn up to evacuate populations from border regions and strategically sensitive areas.

At the same time, Norway is deepening cooperation with its NATO allies — including the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada — to protect critical undersea infrastructure and strengthen security in the Arctic, now seen as a top strategic priority. Tensions also persist around Svalbard, a Norwegian territory where Russia has sought to expand its presence despite Oslo’s sovereignty.

More than 60% of Hungarians do not believe Prime Minister Orban's assertions about a supposed threat from Ukraine

A poll conducted in Hungary between March 23 and 26 found that a majority of respondents reject claims by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán that Ukraine is trying to drag Hungary into the war. According to the survey by Median, commissioned by Political Capital and cited by European Pravda, 62% said the claim is “definitely false” or “probably untrue,” while 29% believe it may be true.

The results highlight a sharp political divide. Among supporters of the opposition Tisza Party, 92% rejected Orbán’s claim. In contrast, 78% of voters for the ruling Fidesz party said they believe it to some extent, with 67% considering it definitively true.

Among undecided voters, 54% said the claim is likely untrue, compared with 23% who found it credible. The poll surveyed 1,000 adults by phone and is considered representative of the population. Orbán has repeatedly accused Kyiv of seeking to involve Hungary in the war throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Russian attacks on Ukraine killed at least 2 and injured 23 over the past day

At least two people were killed and 23 others injured in Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day, local authorities reported on April 9. According to the Ukrainian Air Force, Russian forces launched 119 drones overnight, including nearly 70 Shahed drones, with 99 intercepted in the north, south, and east.

In Donetsk Oblast, six people were wounded, while in Kharkiv Oblast, a 67-year-old woman was killed and three men were injured. The fatality occurred in Kivsharivka. In Zaporizhzhia Oblast, one person was killed, and four others were wounded near the regional center.

Additional casualties were reported across multiple regions. In Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, two people were injured, while in Kherson Oblast, six civilians, including two children, were wounded. In Sumy Oblast, two gas station employees were injured, and in Odesa Oblast, a drone strike damaged energy infrastructure without causing casualties.