Ukraine-Russia struggle newest: Over 1,000 Kenyans to combat in Putin’s struggle as EU says Kremlin not prepared for peace | EUROtoday

Ukraine might export a number of billion {dollars} of army items and companies this yr after authorising its first wartime international gross sales and is contemplating introducing a tax on these exports, a senior Ukrainian defence official stated.

Earlier this month, the state fee dealing with associated licences in wartime authorised the vast majority of 40 purposes from defence sector producers for exports of materiel and companies, Davyd Aloian, deputy secretary of Kyiv’s National Security and Defence Council, stated in an interview to Reuters.

Ukraine halted weapons exports following Moscow’s February 2022 invasion and has relied closely on companions’ arms provides to defend itself towards Russian forces.

At the identical time, Kyiv poured sources into growing its armaments business, significantly drones and missiles. Leveraging its huge battlefield expertise, Ukraine has in recent times skilled a defence know-how growth.

Asked about export potential for this yr, Aloian stated: “Taking into account ready-made products, spare parts, components, and services that can be provided, it amounts to several billion dollars.”

Overall, the potential is “significantly higher” than pre-war exports, he stated.

The more and more pissed off Ukrainian president lashed out on the Russia chief in a put up on X and an interview with British journalist Piers Morgan.

“I don’t need historical shit to end this war and move to diplomacy. Because it’s just a delay tactic. I read no less history books than Putin,” the Ukrainian president stated in a livid put up on X.

The remarks got here hours after hopes of a Ukraine peace deal appeared additional than ever Wednesday, when important talks with Moscow and Washington resulted in lower than two hours.

A brand new Kenyan intelligence report says that 1,000 Kenyans have been recruited to combat for Russia in Ukraine after being misled with false guarantees of jobs in Russia earlier than being despatched to the entrance strains.

The report was offered to parliament on Wednesday by parliamentary chief Kimani Ichung’wah, who accused Russian embassy officers of colluding with work recruitment businesses to dupe Kenyans into believing they’d be given expert jobs in Russia. He stated the Russian embassy officers issued them vacationer visas.

The Russian Embassy in Kenya’s capital, Nairobi, denied the allegations, saying in an announcement Thursday that it by no means issued visas to anybody desiring to journey to Russia to combat in Ukraine. It added: “the Russian Federation does not preclude citizens of foreign countries from voluntarily enlisting in the armed forces.”

Russia’s international ministry spokesperson has demanded that European nations accusing Russia of poisoning Alexei Navalany present proof.

“All the accusations against Russia were of the ‘highly likely’ variety. There were no specific details,” stated Maria Zakharova.

“It was purely a proclamation to become the opening act of the Munich (security) conference and to overshadow the Epstein files.”

Britain, France, Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands stated on Saturday that analyses of samples from Navalny’s physique had confirmed the presence of epibatidine, a toxin present in poison dart frogs in South America and never discovered naturally in Russia.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky says Russia and Ukraine are near having a doc establishing how any ceasefire to finish the struggle can be monitored, following peace talks in Geneva.

Speaking on Piers Morgan UncensoredZelensky stated that progress on political points had been slower and that the nation’s leaders might attempt to hammer out a deal amongst themselves over essentially the most divisive concern of land.

The Russian-held Zaporizhzhia nuclear energy plant in southeastern Ukraine is working on its sole remaining outdoors energy line after shedding a backup line greater than every week in the past, the UN’s nuclear watchdog stated.

In an announcement, Rafael Grossi, director common of the International Atomic Energy Agency, stated the Ferrosplavna-1 electrical line went down on 10 February “reportedly as a result of military activity”.

The plant, Europe’s largest with six reactors, was now working with outdoors energy solely from the Dniprovska energy line, he stated.

The plant, captured by Russian forces within the first weeks of Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine, generates no electrical energy however wants energy to maintain nuclear materials cool and stop a meltdown.

Grossi stated IAEA displays completely assigned to Zaporizhzhia have been attempting to acquire data on the harm, however safety restrictions prevented them from having access to the plant’s switchyard.

“The IAEA stands ready to accurately report on the nature of the damage and any impact on nuclear safety and security,” Grossi stated.

Control of the plant is a key level in negotiations between Ukraine and Russia over a settlement to the practically four-year-old battle.

Ukrainian drones attacked the port of Sevastopol in Russian-annexed Crimea, killing one particular person, the regional governor stated within the early hours right now.

Mikhail Razvozhayev stated air defence items had intercepted 16 Ukrainian drones.

He stated a number of high-rise flats and personal properties had been broken within the assault.

Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has stated he’s set to carry a peace talks dialogue with the members of his negotiating staff after talks in Switzerland.

“Today all members of our negotiating group will already be in Ukraine, and for tomorrow I have scheduled a special meeting with them regarding our next steps and decisions. There will be a report here in Kyiv on those aspects of the negotiations that should not be discussed over the phone. We will also define the further framework of talks with our partners – the American side, the Europeans – and with the Russian side,” he stated.

Russian forces attacked Ukraine’s main state-owned gasoline and power firm Naftogaz Group thrice greater than its earlier years’ strikes, the corporate stated in an announcement.

“The scale of attacks in 2025 was unprecedented in terms of the scale of attacks on our infrastructure,” Serhiy Koretskyi, CEO of Naftogaz Ukraine, stated in an announcement.

Russia attacked the power firm no less than 229 occasions final yr.

“Despite this, we are providing the country with gas and maintaining the stability of the energy system,” he stated.

Polish president Karol Nawrocki has authorised a laws calling for an finish to assist measures for Ukrainian refugees getting into Poland and moved assist into the nation’s common regulation for defense of foreigners searching for refuge.

The earlier authorized framework was created when Russia launched a full-scale invasion on Ukraine in February 2022 and supplied simplified residence, employment, entry to social advantages, and schooling for Ukrainians fleeing the struggle.

“I signal this regulation with the conviction that it protects our state funds, streamlines the system, and restores a way of fundamental justice,” Karol Nawrocki said.

These provisions will now incorporate Ukrainians into a broader foreigner protection legislation and will create a unified temporary protection system that apply to all foreigners.

However, Poland will continue to extend the legal stay of Ukrainian nationals on their territory till 4 March, 2027.

The law also offers residency rights for Ukrainians already granted protection or whose documents were extended due to the war.