Volodymyr Zelenskyy is heading to Saudi Arabia for talks with US officials this week. Meanwhile, Moscow expels two British diplomats and accuses the UK of being the „main instigator“ of global conflict – while a Trump envoy’s claim over intel sharing is contradicted by a Ukrainian source.
Monday 10 March 2025 15:01, UK
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Volodymyr Zelenskyy has arrived in the city of Jeddah in Saudi Arabia.
The kingdom will host talks between the US and Ukraine tomorrow, though Zelenskyy is not expected to attend.
Instead, he is in Saudi Arabia to meet its Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
Russia is „applying increased pressure“ on Ukrainian forces that have pushed into Russia’s Kursk region, according to the UK Ministry of Defence (MoD).
Ukrainian forces seized around 1,300 sq km (500 sq miles) of land in Russia’s Kursk region in August, which Kyiv said was an attempt to gain a bargaining chip in future negotiations.
They now „likely maintain control of approximately 300 sq km“ of territory, the MoD said.
„Russian forces continue to conduct fewer offensive operations elsewhere on the frontline compared to late 2024 and early 2025“, it added.
Ukrainian forces „have launched a number of counterattacks“ in the vicinity of Pokrovsk, „Russia’s primary operational focus,“ the MoD said.
„Opportunities for Ukrainian counteroffensive have been improved by the reduced number of ground offensives being carried out by Russia,“ it added.
„Russian logistics supply lines on the Pokrovsk axis have also been degraded by Ukrainian First Person View Uncrewed Aerial System attacks (drones).“
A little more on the claim from US Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff, as reported in our previous post, that Washington has „never cut off intelligence for any defensive needs of the Ukrainians“.
Sky News‘ Ukraine producer Azad Safarov cites a Ukrainian source with knowledge of the situation as saying the US has continued to share intelligence with Kyiv about Russian activity on the territory of Ukraine.
However, Ukraine is not receiving intelligence on the preparation of missile strikes into its territory by Russia, the source said.
Last week, a Ukrainian source told Sky News that Washington had stopped sharing „all“ intelligence with Ukraine.
Military officials from more than 30 nations will take part in Paris talks tomorrow on the creation of an international security force for Ukraine, a French military official has said.
Such a force would aim to dissuade Russia from launching another offensive after any ceasefire comes into effect.
The long list of participants will include Asian and Oceania nations joining the talks remotely, the French official said.
The news comes after Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer said the UK would host another „coalition of the willing“ meeting virtually on Saturday.
The international makeup of the talks offers an indication of how broadly France and Britain are casting their net as they aim to build a coalition of nations to safeguard Ukraine in the event of a ceasefire.
The United States expects substantial progress in Ukraine talks this week and hopes that a deal on critical minerals can be signed, Donald Trump’s Middle East envoy Steve Witkoff has said.
As he set off for talks in the Middle East, Witkoff told Fox News intelligence sharing would also be discussed at this week’s meetings.
He also claimed: „The US has never cut off intelligence for any defensive needs of the Ukrainians.“
This claim is at odds with the sources in Kyiv, who say the White House’s decision to halt the sharing of some information has affected Ukraine’s ability to defend against Russian attacks.
We’ll bring you more detail on Witkoff’s comments as we get it.
Stepping away from the frontline and talks in Saudi Arabia, Ukrainian war veterans have been learning to ski.
The wounded ex-servicemen were taught adaptive skiing in Oregon, USA.
Oleksandr Shvachka (pictured below in first image) lost his left leg to Russian tank fire outside Kyiv, in March 2022.
He said skiing on the mountain was an „amazing emotion.“
„It’s a new experience, and I’m so happy,“ he said.
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
Today’s diplomatic expulsions come as no surprise.
Speaking to British and European officials here, the threat of being kicked out is very much baked-in to diplomatic life here, with many saying it’s a question of „when“ they’ll be given their marching orders, rather than „if“.
That’s because there’s been a wider tit-for-tat exchange of expulsions that has been going on between Moscow and London for a number of years now, ever since the Skripal poisoning in Salisbury in 2018.
These latest expulsions can be seen as part of that.
But why now?
I think it’s no coincidence that it comes only a matter of days after three Bulgarian nationals in the UK were convicted of spying for Russia.
It also comes amid this apparent rapprochement between Washington and Moscow.
That shift in relations with the US has elevated the UK to the role of public enemy No 1 here, and these latest expulsions are a way of reinforcing that status.
The camera crews from Russian state media were waiting for the British embassy representative when he arrived at the foreign ministry this morning after being summoned.
„When is Britain going to stop with the violations?“ one reporter asked, in footage that will no doubt be splashed all over the news bulletins here.
It’s how the Kremlin shapes public opinion – casting Britain as the enemy, out to attack Russia.
But even if it’s not surprising, the expulsions are still significant in the sense they will be disruptive, both on a professional level and a personal one (for the diplomat whose spouse was sent home).
The British embassy here is already operating on a vastly reduced headcount as a result of all the expulsions.
And although the diplomat will likely be replaced in the not-too-distant future, any kind of depletion – albeit temporary – makes a difficult job even harder.
Britain is set to hold a second „coalition of the willing“ meeting.
It is due to take place virtually on Saturday, after the previous meeting in Lancaster House.
„You can expect the prime minister to host a second leaders‘ meeting of the coalition of the willing, building on his Lancaster House summit,“ a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer told reporters.
Volodymyr Zelenskyy has repeated his past statements that Ukraine is, and has always been, seeking peace.
In a post on social media, he said: „Ukraine has been seeking peace since the very first second of the war, and we have always said that the only reason it continues is Russia.“
He also thanked the country’s soldiers.
Why this matters
While it may seem like an ordinary post from a wartime leader, Zelenskyy’s words on social media comes as both the US and Russia have made various allegations against Ukraine.
Ukraine was the victim of Russia’s invasion in February 2022, and did not start the war.
Instead, it has been fighting to defend itself.
On top of that, recent months have seen its once-closest ally cut off military aid first and then intelligence sharing.
Fighting on multiple fronts, Ukraine is looking to defend its sovereignty against Moscow.
Donald Trump – who has a long history with the Ukrainian leader – has taken a number of shots at Zelenskyy in recent weeks, making some unfounded claims among these.
He has repeatedly called into doubt Ukraine’s willingness to see a peace completed.
Zelenskyy’s tweet could be seen as another response to Trump and his outriders, calling his aims into question.
Ukraine, meanwhile, has pointed to Russia, warning about Moscow’s willingness to stick to any end to the fighting.
Russia has accused the UK of being the „main instigator“ of global conflict – and has appeared to blame the Second World War on Britain.
The country’s Foreign Intelligence Service said London „sees a threat to its interests“ in the US and Russia restoring relations.
It adds the UK „fears that this will lead to the failure of the British strategy of containing Moscow“, in which „control over Ukraine occupies a central place“.
„As we can see, London today, just as it did on the eve of both world wars of the last century, acts as the main ‚instigator‘ of the global conflict,“ the agency added.
„At the same time, the British themselves, obviously, are again counting on sitting it out on their island.
„It is time to expose them and send a clear signal to the treacherous Albion and its elites: you will not succeed.“
The agency also appeared to try and sow division between the US and UK.
For context: The Second World War was started by Nazi Germany, which began invading neighbouring countries despite public attempts by Neville Chamberlain, the prime minister, to commit to a peace deal.
War was declared by Britain after Adolf Hitler continued to disregard its overtures – a fight Russia (then the Soviet Union) joined when the Nazis broke their own agreement and invaded large swathes of Russian territory.
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Ukraine war latest: Moscow launches scathing attack on UK – after expelling diplomats; crunch peace talks to begin – Sky News
