Ukraine and Saudi Arabia signed a major defense deal amid the ongoing Iran war

Riyadh and Kyiv have signed a major defense agreement aimed at strengthening Saudi Arabia’s air defenses using Ukrainian expertise and technology, according to Ukraine’s presidential office. The deal outlines future contracts, joint technological development, and investment, while positioning Ukraine as an emerging provider of security assistance on the global stage.

The agreement was finalized ahead of a meeting between Volodymyr Zelensky and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during Zelensky’s surprise visit to the kingdom. The two leaders discussed regional security, including escalating tensions involving Iran, as well as Russia’s support for Tehran and potential energy cooperation between Kyiv and Riyadh.

Zelensky noted that Ukraine has already deployed specialists to the Middle East to help counter Iranian-designed drones, similar to those widely used by Russia in its war. He said Ukraine is prepared to help Saudi Arabia enhance its defenses, while also exploring deeper military and technological cooperation as part of a broader strategic partnership.

Children in Ukraine have endured the hardest winter of war

UNICEF says that Ukrainian children have endured the toughest winter since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion, as repeated strikes on energy, heating, and water infrastructure disrupted daily life across Ukraine. In a report presented to the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, officials said children lost between 79% and 88% of effective learning time due to outages and instability.

Deputy UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif said Russia intensified attacks on critical infrastructure this winter, leaving hundreds of thousands of civilians without heat for weeks or even months, often in subzero temperatures. Ukraine has lost more than half of its electricity generation capacity, contributing to prolonged blackouts and severe humanitarian conditions, particularly for families with children.

Ukrainian officials, including UN envoy Yevhenii Tsymbaliuk, accused Russia of deliberately targeting civilians to increase pressure on the population. While some international representatives voiced concern over the humanitarian impact, others called for renewed peace efforts, underscoring ongoing divisions in the global response to the war.

US senators plan to sanction Hungary over blocking Ukraine support

Two U.S. senators are preparing bipartisan legislation that would sanction senior officials in Hungary over alleged efforts to block aid to Ukraine. The proposed “Block Putin Act,” introduced by Jeanne Shaheen and Thom Tillis, would require President Donald Trump to impose financial penalties and visa bans on individuals involved in maintaining Russian energy ties and obstructing a planned €90 billion European loan for Kyiv.

The dispute centers on the Druzhba pipeline, a major route for Russian oil deliveries to Central Europe that has been offline since late January following a strike. Hungary, led by Viktor Orban, has blocked new EU sanctions on Russia and financial support for Ukraine, arguing that disruptions to energy supplies threaten its economy. U.S. lawmakers say continued purchases of Russian oil help fund Moscow’s war effort.

Under the draft bill, sanctions could be lifted if Hungary adopts a credible plan to phase out reliance on Russian energy and stops obstructing assistance to Ukraine for at least 180 days. While it remains unclear whether the legislation will pass, it reflects growing frustration in Washington with Budapest’s stance and underscores broader tensions among Western allies over how to counter Russia’s war.

 Kremlin criticizes US proposals on economic deals

Kremlin's speake, Dmitry Peskov on March 27 criticized the United States for linking potential economic cooperation with Russia to progress in ending the war in Ukraine. Speaking at a briefing, Peskov argued that tying business opportunities to peace negotiations is wrong and harms both Russian and American economic interests.

His remarks come as Moscow continues to promote the prospect of large-scale economic deals with Washington despite stalled peace talks. Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev said Russia holds a strong position in negotiations and insisted any agreements would be made on Moscow’s terms. Earlier proposals from Russia have suggested that lifting sanctions could unlock trillions of dollars in joint projects spanning energy, mining, and infrastructure.

However, such ideas have raised concerns in Kyiv. Volodymyr Zelenskyy has warned that potential economic incentives could be tied to political concessions, as Russia seeks sanctions relief, renewed access to global financial systems, and expanded cooperation with U.S. companies. Ukrainian officials remain wary that these proposals could undermine efforts to maintain pressure on Moscow to end the war.