Russia – Ukraine
(Volodymyr Ivanyshyn – The Kyiv Independent) Ukraine received crucial PAC-3 missiles used by Patriot air defense systems from Germany, President Volodymyr Zelensky said March 11, according to Ukrinform. Kyiv’s allies agreed to provide the air defense missiles at the most recent meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group in the Ramstein format on Feb. 12, and Berlin delivered its share on March 10, Zelensky said before a meeting with Julia Klockner, the president of Germany’s Bundestag. German outlet Der Spiegel reported on March 10 that Ukraine is expected to receive 35 PAC-3 interceptor missiles in the coming weeks. – Ukraine receives Patriot air defense missiles from Germany amid shortage, Zelensky says
(Abbey Fenbert – The Kyiv Independent) Russia attacked the southern city of Zaporizhzhia and the surrounding region with guided aerial bombs on March 11, injuring at least 13 people, including two children, local authorities reported. The bomb strikes targeted Zaporizhzhia and the village of Rozumivka, damaging apartment buildings, homes, and critical infrastructure facilities, the regional Prosecutor’s Office said. Cars were also damaged in the attacks. Thirteen people were injured, Governor Ivan Fedorov said. Among the victims are two children, an 11-year-old boy and a 12-year-old girl. – Russia strikes Zaporizhzhia with guided bombs, injuring 13, including children
US
(Rebecca Falconer – Axios) A United Nations watchdog on Wednesday criticized “intensified immigration crackdowns” in the U.S. and accused President Trump and other American leaders of using “racist hate speech” — both of which it said had “sparked grave human rights violations.”. The UN Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination’s report marks an unprecedented singling out of a U.S. leader by a United Nations body — and it prompted the White House to accuse the global intergovernmental organization of “extreme bias” in response. “Racist hate speech by political leaders, including the President, combined with intensified immigration crackdowns in the United States, notably near schools, hospitals and faith-based institutions, has sparked grave human rights violations,” said CERD in a statement accompanying the report. – Trump’s “racist hate speech” fuels “human rights violations,” UN panel says
US – Russia
(Abbey Fenbert – The Kyiv Independent) Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev held talks with representatives of U.S. President Donald Trump in Florida on March 11, Special Envoy Steve Witkoff announced. The meeting comes as the Trump administration is considering easing sanctions on Russian oil to lower global oil prices, which have spiked sharply since the U.S. and Israel attacked Iran in late February. Dmitriev, a top economic adviser to Russian President Vladimir Putin, headed a Russian delegation at the talks in Florida, Witkoff said. The U.S. team consisted of Witkoff, Jared Kushner (Trump’s son-in-law and frequent envoy), and White House Senior Advisor Josh Gruenbaum. “The teams discussed a variety of topics and agreed to stay in touch,” Witkoff wrote on social media. The delegates did not disclose the topic of the negotiations. – Putin’s envoy meets US delegation in Florida as Washington mulls easing Russia sanctions
War in the Middle East/Gulf, and beyond
(Agencies/Al Arabiya) President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Washington was in “very good shape” in its war on Iran and the US was “going to look very strongly at the straits.”. The war has rattled global markets. Raising the stakes for the global economy, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has said it would block oil shipments from the Gulf unless the US and Israeli attacks cease. – US looking ‘strongly at the straits,’ Trump says in comments on Iran war
(Al Arabiya) The United States Department of Energy said Wednesday it will release 172 million barrels from the strategic petroleum reserve “beginning next week,” as the Middle East war disrupted oil prices. – US to release 172 million barrels of oil from strategic reserve: Energy dept
(Al Arabiya) Saudi Arabia intercepted and destroyed a drone as it attempted to approach the Diplomatic Quarter, the defense ministry said on Thursday. – Saudi Arabian intercepts, destroys drone attempted to approach DQ
(AFP/Al Arabiya) An attack on two oil tankers near Iraq killed at least one crew member, authorities said on Thursday, as Iran carries out a campaign to disrupt global energy markets. – One killed in attack on oil tankers off Iraq, rescue operation ongoing: Authorities
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Bahrain told residents to stay home after an Iranian attack on fuel tanks on Thursday as Tehran carries out a campaign in the Gulf to disrupt global energy markets. – Bahrain says fuel tanks attacked, requests residents stay home
(AFP/Al Arabiya) Lebanon said an Israeli strike on central Beirut’s seafront killed at least seven people early on Thursday, another attack in the heart of the capital as Iran-backed Hezbollah launched more missiles at Israel. The Israeli military said separately it had carried out strikes on Beirut’s southern suburbs overnight against Hezbollah, which had announced a major new operation against Israel. – Lebanon says seven killed in Israeli strike on central Beirut
(Volodymyr Ivanyshyn – The Kyiv Independent) Russia has earned an additional 6 billion euros ($6.9 billion) in two weeks of fighting between the U.S. and Iran, a March 12 analysis by the Center for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) found. The additional fossil fuel earnings of 510 million euros ($588 million) a day are enough for Russia to purchase 17,000 Shahed drones every 24 hours at a cost of $35,000 per unit, the analysis by the CREA and published by German non-profit Urgewald found. With the U.S. considering easing sanctions on Russian oil, Urgewald warns that such a move would grant Moscow a “significant financial windfall” as Russia continues to wage its war against Ukraine. – Russia earns additional 6 billion euros in fossil fuel revenue as oil prices soar amid US-Iran war, analysis finds
(Josephine Walker, Julianna Bragg – Axios) Energy Secretary Chris Wright said Wednesday the International Energy Agency “unanimously” agreed to President Trump’s request to coordinate the release of 400 million barrels of oil and refined products from its reserves. Consumers are seeing significant price jumps at the pump — and Republicans recognize offsetting that increase is crucial ahead of the 2026 midterm elections. Despite the IEA’s agreement, oil prices jumped again overnight. – Trump to release Strategic Petroleum Reserve to counter Iran war oil shock
(Rebecca Falconer, Ben Geman – Axios) There’s “growing momentum to establish a naval protection system” in the Strait of Hormuz as Iran’s military escalates attacks on commercial ships, Eurasia Group says. U.S. Central Command warned “the Iranian regime is using civilian ports along the Strait of Hormuz to conduct military operations that threaten international shipping” and put lives at risk. Officials reported at least five cargo vessels were hit in the region Wednesday. At least four seafarers have been killed after two missiles struck a UAE-flagged tugboat that was last week trying to help a stranded container ship north of Oman in the Strait of Hormuz, officials said. – Iran targets ships in Hormuz Strait: Calls grow for naval escorts
