US Secretary of State Marco Rubio speaks with reporters as he arrives in France for the summit of G7 Foreign Ministers, March 27, 2026

Friday’s Coverage: Zelensky in Saudi Arabia

UPDATE 1047 GMT:

After his visit to Saudi Arabia, with signature of an agreement on defense cooperation, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky is meeting leaders in the UAE, including President Mohammed bin Zayed.

We discussed the security situation in the Emirates, Iranian strikes, and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, which directly affects the global oil market. For all normal states, it is important to ensure stability and protect lives amid today’s threats.

Ukraine has relevant expertise in this area – our cities, unfortunately, have been under daily attack for four years of full-scale war. Ukrainians have developed an appropriate protection system that delivers a significant interception rate against enemy drones and missiles.

This systematic approach and integration of experience is exactly what we are offering to our partners.

Zelensky also met Ukrainian experts sent to the UAE for anti-drone operations amid the US-Israel War and Iran’s retaliatory missile and drone strikes.

UPDATE 0647 GMT:

One civilian has been murdered and at least 10 injured, including a child, by overnight Russian drone attacks on Odesa in southern Ukraine.

Drones struck the roof of a maternity hospital and three “educational institutions,” in the Prymorskyi district of the city. An apartment building was hit, with “partial destruction” between the 4th and 5th floors.

Of the 10 injured, at least two in serious condition.

No casualties were reported at the maternity hospital as staff and patients evacuated to an underground shelter.

Two civilians were murdered Kryvyi Rih in south-central Ukraine by a strike on an industrial facility.

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky posted:

Each such strike proves that Russia has no intention of ending this war. That is why any easing of pressure on it is dangerous. And coordinated efforts to protect people and lives will help us, help our country’s defense and our diplomacy.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: US Secretary of State Marco Rubio has denied that the Trump Administration is demanding Ukraine withdrawal from the Donetsk region in the east of the country, in return for any American security guarantees.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Reuters of the demand, as Ukraine-Russia-US talks are suspended because of the US-Israel War on Iran.

He emphasized that Ukraine will not give way to the pressure: “I would very much like the American side to understand that the eastern part of our country is part of our security guarantees.”

See also Ukraine War, Day 1,492: US Links Security Guarantees to Kyiv’s Abandonment of Donetsk Region

Rubio declared on Friday:

That’s a lie. And I saw him say that. And it’s unfortunate he would say that because he knows that’s not true and that’s not what he was told.

Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff has long supported Russia’s attempt to seize all of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, together known as the Donbas.

Ukraine and its European partners pushed back the demand. However, the Kremlin is insisting that it be given the 20% of Donetsk held by Kyiv, a strategic area known as the “Fortress Belt”.

Rubio insisted:

What [Zelensky] was told is the obvious: security guarantees are not going to kick in until there’s an end to a war, because otherwise you’re getting yourself involved in the war said.

That was not attached to “unless he gives up territory”.