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 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.