Overview
- President Volodymyr Zelensky met Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah and called the talks very productive, saying a strategic security agreement is being developed in defense, energy supply and food security.
- Kyiv has built ties with Gulf states by sharing its hard‑won skill in downing drones and has sent dozens of Ukrainian military experts to the region to help counter Iranian‑style threats.
- The European Union approved a €90 billion support loan for Ukraine, and Zelensky said he expects the first disbursements by late spring or early summer.
- Russia condemned the EU’s latest sanctions package and vowed tough retaliation, according to Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova.
- A Russian drone strike on Odesa killed two people, local officials said, underscoring the continuing toll on civilians even as Kyiv pursues new security partnerships.