Zelensky cites MI6 intelligence which says ‘situation on the front currently the best’ but remains ‘complex’
Despite Russia’s spring offensive, Kyiv’s defences are in their most secure state for the past 10 months Credit: Nina Liashonok
Published 03 April 2026
Ukraine’s front line is in its strongest position for nearly a year, Volodymyr Zelensky has said, citing MI6 intelligence.
Kyiv’s defences are in their most secure statefor the past 10 months, according to the British security agency’s assessment, despite Russia’s spring offensive.
However, the Ukrainian president admitted that the situation along the 640-mile front – where Ukraine is facing relentless Russian assaults – remained “complex” but that “overall the front line is holding”.
In a media briefing on Friday, he told reporters: “I received MI6’s assessment. The situation on the front is currently the best for Ukraine in the past 10 months. This is their conclusion, and our partners see it as well.”
Analysts said that Russia’s anticipated spring-summer offensive against its “fortress belt” cities in the Donbas had largely stalled as a result of Ukrainian strikes.
Kyiv’s military stepped up its precision drone campaign earlier this year, choking Russia’s front-line forces and preventing reinforcements and equipment from moving forward quickly enough to sustain offensive operations.
Its counter-attacks at the front have also reclaimed strategic ground. Reports suggest that from late January until mid-March, Ukraine regained more than 154 sq miles near Oleksandrivka and Hulyaipole – its most significant gains since 2023.
But Russian strikes on Ukrainian citiescontinue to intensify. Kyiv officials claim the Kremlin is changing its aerial tactics to increase civilian suffering, shifting to daytime barrages and shifting its targets beyond energy infrastructure.
At least six people were killed across the country on Friday after Moscow launched nearly 500 missiles and drones in a major daylight attack.
Mr Zelensky earlier this week offered the Kremlin a ceasefire over the Easter holiday, with the proposal passed via US officials. The Kremlin said it had received no such plan.
The holiday is celebrated on April 12 in both countries.
“Our proposal for a ceasefire over Easter remains,” the Ukrainian leader added on Friday. Moscow intensifying its strikes during what should have been “silence in the skies” was an escalation that “cannot be ignored”, he added.
In an apparent response, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesman, re-emphasised Moscow’s demands that Kyiv’s forces withdraw from the whole of the eastern Donbas region, including the parts still held by Ukraine.
Last year, an Easter ceasefire was partially observed, with Vladimir Putin, the Russian president, announcing a temporary truce on Easter Saturday until Easter Sunday. However, fighting along parts of the front line never fully stopped.
Meanwhile, Ukraine has been seeking to leverage its anti-drone warfare expertise, amassed over four years of fighting Russia, to increase its ties with the Gulf states under attack by Iranian drones.
Last week, Mr Zelensky visited several Middle Eastern countries and signed defence agreements with Qatar and Saudi Arabia. “I believe that we have changed the attitude of the Middle East and the Gulf region toward Ukraine for many years ahead,” he said.
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Note : I was unable to upload the graphics. Original article here :
This heartwarming article appeared only in the last few minutes, but already some interesting and very good comments have appeared from DT readers :
Carpe Jugulum
You really do have to be an arrogant, ignorant utterly amoral, money obsessed oaf to choose Russian money over morality.
Putin sent an atrocity addicted army of murdering filth into Ukraine to steal its resources yet Trump has pressured Ukraine into making concessions at every single turn. His ‘peace envoy’ Witkoff has business interests in Russia and has used Russian money for his deals.
Given Trump has stopped ALL material aid supplied to Ukraine why is this utterly corrupted, American led, ‘peace’ farce continuing. Now that Europe and the UK are the primary suppliers of weapons and munitions to Ukraine they should be leading ceasefire efforts, especially as Russia is now losing combat power at an accelerating pace and Ukraine is increasing it.
The UK will soon be supplying Nightfall ballistic missiles to Ukraine. They have NO American components or data requirements. Trump, who waived sanctions on Russian oil tried to stop Ukrainian strikes on Russia’s Baltic oil export ports. HE is now the hope Putin is clinging to. Zelensky attacked the ports anyway. He has the cards now Trump. Enjoy the mid-terms Trump. And impeachment.
roger white
Thanks to a few big supporters stepping up in Europe: including the UK. Kiel Institute’s February 2026 tracker..
“The increase in European military aid is increasingly concentrated on a small number of countries, especially in Western and Northern Europe. Western European aid rebounded after a downturn in 2023 and reached 62 percent of total European military aid allocations in 2025. This recovery was driven primarily by the region’s largest economies: Germany and the United Kingdom alone accounted for around two thirds of Western Europe’s military aid between 2022 and 2025. Northern Europe is the second key donor region, with its share rising from 18 percent in 2022 to 36 percent in 2023 and remaining at a high level thereafter.”
David North-Coombes
The defenders are to be admired -well done Ukraine. The oppressor is pure evil and prepared to sacrifice its own troops and Ukrainian civilians for a completely pointless war. Putin will get his just deserts one day.
Martyn Edwards
Reply to David North-Coombes – view message
That day could come sooner than you think. Internet usage has in the past 24 hours been virtually prevented with the only thing on TV being Swan Lake. This is precisely what happened during the coup ofthe early 1990s.
Martyn Edwards
Reply to David North-Coombes –
Many shops in St P are unable to accept payment by card because their internet-linked till systems have shut down. Only cash accepted! Putin’s departure could happen very, very quickly.
Hairy Plotter
Since January 1st of this year alone, Ukranian Forces have systematically eliminated most of ruzzki’s eyes And ears from Temporarily Occupied Crimea to Novorossiysk. During same time AFU has successfully eliminated more than $100m in russian defense systems.
Decreased ruzzki’s fuel production Now by 40% or more as warm months are certain to create dramatic increases on ruzzki’s oil demands :-).
A random User
Ukraine have extended the drone kill zone to 20km behind the front line (which isn’t really a line, rather a region).
The rest is Russian soldiers have to walk or ride motorbikes for 20km before they can shoot at Ukrainians. They don’t normally get that far.
Star comment :
Chris Flockhart
Russia are scum and the world will celebrate their defeat and tiny little Putin’s death.
Malcolm McIntyre
Once again Ukraine offers a ceasefire and Russia rebuts it. When will Trump realise that Russia is the invader here and that Putin does not want peace?
Si Oliver
Reply to Malcolm McIntyre
What you havr to remember is that Putin holds a kompromat on Trump. So don’t expect much from trump.
Gary Roberts
Ukraine is a sovereign state building relationships to help allies as opposed to Russia alienating and slaughtering their struggling young for more land, while protecting their socialites.
I did not post an original comment myself. Instead I posted this one :
From Yuri Josef Koszarycz on FB :
A SIGN OF DESPERATION?
Zelensky said on yesterday that Russia has given Ukraine an ultimatum-two-months to withdraw from Donbas.
if they don’t, Russia says they will face harsher peace terms.
“They told the American side they would take the east of our country in two months… and that Ukraine has two months to withdraw,” Zelensky said.
Really? Is Putin serious? He has been losing territory in 2026. He cannot replace the soldiers he is losing.
Oil shipments are down 40% because of Ukraine’s strikes on Russian oil infrastructure.
Budget deficits are getting bigger. Inflation is on the rise. And Russia is giving Ukraine an ultimatum.
It sounds like Russia is stuck. Unable to move the needle. And is hoping Ukraine falls for its bluff. Expect a response from Ukraine.
But not the one Putin wants. Expect another massive strike on Russian Baltic oil and gas ports. Maybe big enough to finish them for good.
Indeed, Ukraine has had a number of success lately, both in the country, against the mafia state, and internationally, of which the most important might be the deals made in the Near East.