R to L: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer outside 10 Downing Street, London, March 17, 2026

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Russia’s “Great Failure” in Ukraine Leaves Putin Playing For Time

Tuesday’s Coverage: Zelensky — “Russians Are Not Preparing for Peace”

UPDATE 1814 GMT:

Ukraine’s General Staff says troops struck the Aviastar aircraft manufacturing plant in the Ulyanovsk region, around 800 km (around 500 miles) inside Russia, on Monday.

The Staff said hangars and aircraft parking areas were hit. It elaborate on the weapons used.

Aviastar produces Il-76 MD-90A heavy military transport aircraft and Il-78M-90A refueling aircraft, and provides maintenance for An-124 Ruslan cargo aircraft.

UPDATE 1805 GMT:

Spain announced a €1 billion ($1.2 billion) military aid package for Ukraine for 2026, as President Volodymyr Zelensky visited the country and met Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez.

The aid, partially funded by the EU’s SAFE Program, focuses on joint production with the Ukrainian defense industry.

Zelensky posted:

Ukraine is ready to help with the necessary drones, experience, and capabilities. Spain’s defense industry, in turn, can supply Ukraine with the ammunition, radars, equipment, and other resources we need.

UPDATE 1122 GMT:

At least two civilians were killed and 20 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

Air defenses downed 128 of 147 drones, but 15 UAVs hit homes, a locomotive, and critical infrastructure across four regions.

In the Kharkiv region in the northeast, drone strikes killed one person and injured at least three on Wednesday morning.

In the Zaporizhzhia region in the south, one civilian was murdered and another wounded.

Casualties were also reported in the Donetsk and Sumy regions.

UPDATE 0818 GMT:

Kyiv has accepted the European Union’s offer of technical support and funding to restore oil flows through the Druzhba pipeline, damaged by a Russian strike on western Ukraine in late January.

Hungary and Slovakia have used the shutdown to threaten punishment of Ukraine’s defense. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, an ally of Vladimir Putin, is blocking the EU’s €90 billion loan to Kyiv and the 20th set of sanctions on Russia.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky, in a letter to the EU, said repair work is nearing completion. The damaged pumping station is expected to be restored in 1 to 1/2 months, “in the absence of any further attacks by Russia”.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Trying to bolster support for its resistance of Russia’s invasion, Ukraine has deployed 201 anti-drone experts to the Middle East amid the US-Israel War on Iran.

The experts will work with regional states and the US on defense against Iran’s retaliatory drone and missile strikes.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said another 34 personnel are ready to deploy. He said in an address to the UK Parliament in London:

These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against [Iran-made] Shahed drones. Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait.

Zelensky emphasized,”We are capable of producing at least 2,000 effective and combat-proven interceptors every day. We can produce more – it depends on investment.”

Ukraine also has the knowledge to develop radar and acoustic coverage, and “software that allows radars to keep working even under electronic warfare jamming”.

In meetings as well as the address to Parliament, Zelensky focused on deals for joint defense production and air defense.

We are ready to offer similar deals to all our reliable partners – from practical cooperation on drones to future defense alliances.

I don’t think anyone would want to leave Ukraine’s war-proven strength and capability outside their security….The United Kingdom sees these opportunities clearly.

The President posted about his discussion with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and NATO head Mark Rutte:

Zelensky and Starmer signed a a Declaration on Deepening Cooperation in the Field of Security and the Defense Industry. “This is an important step to strengthen our defense,” the Ukrainian leader said.

The President concluded in the Parlaimentary address:

We believe in people, in their rights and freedom. We believe in culture. And we want nations to live in real peace, strong peace, and communities in respect.

Together, Europe is a global force – one the world cannot do without, and that no one can stand against. We must grow this strength – and we can do it. And we must direct it – and we can.