Kremlin declares Putin was ‘never friends with Orban’ after historic election defeat
The Kremlin has declared that it was “never friends” with outgoing Hungarian prime minister Viktor Orban, as it braces for a new era of relations with Budapest following his landslide loss to a pro-EU candidate.
Mr Orban, who enjoyed warm relations with Russian president Vladimir Putin and was a persistent thorn in Ukraine’s side as it sought financial backing for its war effort from a divided Europe, was swept aside by Peter Magyar and his centre-right Tisza party.
Here’s how Hungary’s new leader could reshape support for Ukraine on the continent:
James Reynolds15 April 2026 14:00
UK to send £752m and 120,000 drones to Ukraine to bolster defences against Russia
Britain has announced a major new package of support for Ukraine, worth millions of pounds, as senior ministers engage in a series of high-level international meetings.
The aid comes as Kyiv continues to defend itself against Russia’s ongoing invasion.
In Washington DC, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has confirmed a £752 million payment to Ukraine, ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The payment, part of a larger £3.36 billion loan, is earmarked to procure essential military equipment, including long-range missiles, advanced air defence systems, and drones.
Ukrainian service member Anatolii stands next to an AS3 interceptor unmanned aerial vehicle, during training in Ukraine on April 10 (Reuters)
James Reynolds15 April 2026 13:55
EU ready to send Ukraine 90bn euro once Hungary gives green light
The EU is ready to supply Ukraine with its promised 90 billion euro loan as soon as Hungary drops its veto after last Sunday’s election, EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius said on Wednesday.
“The people have spoken. A new wind is blowing,” Kubilius said about the election that was convincingly won by Hungary’s opposition leader Peter Magyar.
“In any case, we are ready to implement the loan as soon as we get the green light,” the commissioner said.
The defeat of Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban, Ukraine’s harshest EU foe, could pave the way for the loan that Kyiv urgently needs to fund the war with Russia, and that was originally agreed on by all EU member states in December.
Incoming Hungarian prime minister Peter Magyar on Wednesday (AP)
James Reynolds15 April 2026 13:47
How Ukraine ‘recaptured occupied territory using only robots’
Ukrainian forces retook occupied territory in an unprecedented assault using only unmanned machines, Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelensky said on Monday, as he praised the country’s era-defining advances in frontline technology.
The president revealed in an address that drones have carried out more than 22,000 missions on the frontlines in three months – a major shift on the modern battlefield that he cast as key to protecting human life.
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” the president said, referencing a groundbreaking manoeuvre in Kharkiv oblast last year.
Here’s how it happened:
James Reynolds15 April 2026 13:00
The latest: Kyiv calls on Israel to block Russian vessel
Ukraine has called on Israel to detain a Russian vessel allegedly carrying grain taken from occupied Ukrainian territory, escalating a diplomatic row over alleged wartime looting.
The Russian ship ABINSK is loaded with 43,765.18 tonnes of wheat, claimed to have come from the occupied territories of Ukraine, according to Ukrainian journalist Kateryna Yaresko and the SeaKrime project.
Foreign minister Andrii Sybiha raised the issue directly with his Israeli counterpart, Gideon Sa’ar, warning that the vessel docked at Port of Haifa forms part of Moscow’s wider war effort.
Sybiha stressed that the “illegal export of stolen agricultural products” must not be allowed to continue.
James Reynolds15 April 2026 12:30
Zelensky arrives in Norway to sign agreement to expand drone cooperation
Volodymyr Zelensky arrived in Norway on Wednesday and signed an agreement to strengthen their bilateral defence cooperation, including by producing Ukrainian drones in the Nordic country.
Zelensky said he discussed cooperation in the production and use of drones in detail with his Norwegian counterpart.
“Our experience is already being used in the Middle East and the Gulf. We are improving defense against ‘shahed’ drones, and we believe this should also be done in Europe,” he said.
Prime minister Jonas Gahr Stoere told a joint press conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky: “We can learn from the experiences that Ukraine is making in this hard-won fight against the Russian aggression.”
“It is crucial that we learn from these experiences,” he said.
Shweta Sharma15 April 2026 11:30
UK to send £752m payment to Ukraine
Britain will announce extra support for Ukraine worth millions of pounds on Wednesday as senior ministers hold a series of meetings with their international counterparts.
In Washington DC, chancellor Rachel Reeves is expected to confirm a £752m payment to Kyiv ahead of a meeting with Ukrainian prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko.
The payment, part of a £3.36bn loan, is intended to help pay for weaponry including long-range missiles, air defence systems and drones.
Ms Reeves said: “This funding will help deliver the military equipment Ukraine needs as it defends itself against Russia’s unprovoked war.
“I am proud that the UK is a leading partner in providing vital support to Ukraine, and we will continue to step up to do more while keeping pressure on Russia.”
Meanwhile, defence secretary John Healey will use a meeting of the Ukraine Defence Contact Group (UDCG) to announce the UK’s biggest ever drone package for Ukraine that will see 120,000 drones delivered to the country.
The package will include long-range strike drones, reconnaissance drones, logistics drones and those with maritime capabilities, with many produced by UK-based companies.
Mr Healey said: “This big boost of battle-proven drones will give Ukrainian forces the capability they need to defend their people and fight back against Russian aggression.”
Shweta Sharma15 April 2026 10:45
Hungary’s new prime minister says he will ask Putin to stop the killing in Ukraine
Addressing a media briefing a day after his landslide election victory over nationalist Viktor Orban, an ally of Putin, Mr Magyar said he hoped Moscow would be forced to end the war soon and affirmed that Ukraine is the clear victim in the conflict.
Mr Magyar, the leader of the centre-right Tisza party, said he would not call the Russian president, but he has previously publicly recognised that he would need to hold talks with Putin and that Budapest would need to continue buying Russian oil and gas for the time being.
Shweta Sharma15 April 2026 10:00
Russia strike on Dnipro leaves four dead, 25 injured as fire erupts
Shweta Sharma15 April 2026 09:15
Russian soldiers surrendered to Ukrainian assault using only unmanned robots, says Zelensky
“For the first time in the history of this war, an enemy position was taken exclusively by unmanned platforms – ground systems and drones. The occupiers surrendered, and the operation was carried out without infantry and without losses on our side,” the president said, referencing a groundbreaking manoeuvre in Kharkiv oblast last year.
Shweta Sharma15 April 2026 08:30