Robert Fico, the Prime Minister of Slovakia, has urged the European Union to lift sanctions on Russian oil and gas imports as a measure to address the energy crisis exacerbated by the conflict in Iran. Following a conversation with Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, Fico emphasized the need for the EU to engage in renewed discussions with Russia, enabling member nations to access essential gas and oil supplies from diverse sources, including Russia. The leadership of both Hungary and Slovakia stands out within the EU for their ongoing relations with Moscow. Since the onset of hostilities between the US and Israel against Iran on February 28, oil prices have skyrocketed, disrupting shipments from the Gulf region and leading the International Energy Agency to label it as the most significant oil supply disruption ever experienced.
In a related development, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced plans for enhanced security collaboration with Turkey following his meeting with President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Istanbul on Saturday. Zelenskyy indicated that Ukraine aims to contribute its wartime expertise to support Turkey, particularly in terms of technology and experience, as communicated via his Telegram account. Erdoğan assured Zelenskyy of Turkey’s continued commitment to facilitating negotiations aimed at resolving the ongoing conflict between Ukraine and Russia, according to a statement from the Turkish presidency.
Furthermore, US diplomats Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner may visit Kyiv in April, as stated by Kyrylo Budanov, a key aide to President Zelenskyy. This visit is part of efforts to rejuvenate peace discussions with Russia, which have been stalled since the Gulf conflict began. Budanov mentioned that figures such as Kushner, Witkoff, and Senator Lindsey Graham are anticipated to attend, with the meeting likely occurring shortly after Orthodox Easter on April 12. This would mark the first official trip to Kyiv for both Witkoff and Kushner, who have previously engaged with Ukrainian officials in the United States but have also traveled to Moscow for discussions.
In another incident, a Russian drone strike targeted a market in the eastern Ukrainian city of Nikopol on Saturday, resulting in five fatalities and injuring 25 individuals, according to local officials. Throughout its protracted invasion, Russia has conducted numerous airstrikes against Ukraine, typically at night; however, recent weeks have seen an increase in daytime assaults. The attack on the Nikopol market occurred at approximately 9:50 AM local time, as reported by the local prosecutor’s office. Regional governor Oleksandr Ganja confirmed via Telegram that three women and two men lost their lives in the incident.
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russia launched 286 drones overnight, with 260 being successfully intercepted. In the city of Sumy, near the Russian border, a drone strike resulted in injuries to 11 individuals, according to national police. Additionally, in Kyiv, a drone attack ignited a fire on the first floor of a three-story office building, though no casualties were reported. In the partially occupied Donetsk region, a drone strike hit a civilian vehicle, leading to the death of one woman and injuring another, as reported by the head of the local military administration.
Meanwhile, Leonid Pasechnik, the Russian-appointed leader of the occupied Luhansk region, claimed that Ukrainian forces targeted railroad infrastructure and residential areas, resulting in the deaths of three family members— a couple and their 8-year-old child.
