Ukraine LIVE: Inferno rages after Russian drone strike on Kyiv amid dire ’empire’ warning

Defence Secretary John Healey has said a minerals deal agreed between the US and would be a “good thing” if it helps “shape” long-term peace.

Speaking to Times Radio, Mr Healey said it appears the countries are “close to a deal”, adding he spoke to his counterparts in Washington and Kyiv on Tuesday.

“In the end, that detail’s a matter for the two countries, and we’ll see the detail emerge, but peace is part of a process,” he said.

“We’re at an early stage, and if this helps shape the long-term peace that’s required in , then that’s a good thing.

“In the meantime, my job as defence minister is to make sure that we help keep in the fight as strong as possible and that we don’t jeopardise the peace by forgetting about the war.”

Latvia’s foreign minister has warned that Russian President will try to achieve through peace talks what he has failed to accomplish in war – weakening the United States and restoring control over .

Baiba Braze was speaking on Tuesday amid a week of intense diplomacy between Europe and the US after ’s decision to hold direct talks with while excluding and its European allies.

She noted that despite having a population of 140 million, has only managed to seize less than 20% of since 2014.

Putin has also failed to weaken the US and NATO or overthrow ’s democratic government.

Ms Braze stressed that ’s main objective remains undermining American power on the global stage.

The Ukrainian air force claimed to have downed 110 Russian drones overnight, with 66 more failing to reach their targets.

A Telegram post said: “On the night of February 26, 2025 (from 19:00 on February 25), the enemy attacked with 177 Shahed type strike UAVs and simulator drones of various types from the directions: Orel, Bryansk, Kursk, Millerovo, Shatalovo, Primorsko-Akhtarsk – .

“The air attack was repelled by aviation, anti-aircraft missile troops, electronic warfare units and mobile fire groups of the Air Force and Defense Forces of .”

As of 9am 110 Shahed attack UAVs and drones of other types were shot down in Kharkiv, Poltava, Sumy, Kyiv, Chernihiv, Cherkasy, Kirovohrad, Mykolaiv, Kherson and Dnipropetrovsk region, with 66 enemy drones “lost in location”.

’s Krasnodar Krai has come under a large-scale attack by kamikaze drones, with powerful explosions reported in Anapa, according to Ukrainian news website RBC earlier

Sochi Airport has suspended all flights and implemented the Carpet security protocol, Russian social media channels reported.

Clips have also been shared online apparently showing the region under attack.

Prime Minister Sir writing in the Daily Mail, said Britain’s national security had “entered a new era”.

“, North Korea, Iran – we now face enemies who would happily extinguish the light of democracy given the chance,” he wrote. “And they are increasingly prepared to work together to threaten our interests.

“We cannot hide from this threat. I know that working people have already felt the impact of Russian brutality through rising bills and prices.

“But unless is properly protected from Putin, then Europe will only become more unstable. That will hurt us even more.”

‘s Ministry of Defence, posting on Telegram, said: “Over the course of the past night, air defense systems on duty intercepted and destroyed 128 Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles: 83 UAVs over the territory of Krasnodar Krai, 30 UAVs over the territory of the Republic of Crimea, eight UAVs over the waters of the Sea of Azov, five UAVs over the waters of the Black Sea, and one UAV each over the territories of Bryansk and Kursk regions.”

Sir will fly to the US on Wednesday ahead of crunch talks with , as the Chancellor urged European allies to follow the UK in raising defence spending.

The Prime Minister will travel to Washington after facing his weekly grilling in the House of Commons, following his announcement of a dramatic increase in the size of the UK’s war chest, paid for by cutting the international aid budget.

Meanwhile, Rachel Reeves said European nations must “step up and do more on defence” after the UK pledged to raise defence spending from its current 2.3% to 2.5% of the UK’s economic output by 2027.

Sir Keir will follow French President Emmanuel Macron in visiting Mr Trump in Washington DC, and Ukrainian leader is expected to visit on Friday.

and the US have reached an agreement on a framework for a broad economic deal that would include access to ‘s rare earth minerals, three senior Ukrainian officials said on Tuesday.

The officials, who were familiar with the matter, spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak publicly.

One of them said that Kyiv hopes that signing the agreement will ensure the continued flow of US military support that urgently needs.

The agreement could be signed as early as Friday and plans are being drawn up for Ukrainian President to travel to Washington to meet Mr Trump, according to one of the Ukrainian officials.

Another official said the agreement would provide an opportunity for Zelenskyy and Trump to discuss continued military aid to , which is why Kyiv is eager to finalise the deal.

Mr Zelensky had claimed the 50% share of rare minerals initially demanded by America would have been akin to selling his nation, but now appears satisfied the deal will lead to a continued flow of US military support in its war against .

There are conflicting reports about alleged flight restrictions in four Russian regions after drone strikes overnight.

The SHOT news agency claimed: “

flights are temporarily not being received or sent in Mineralnye Vody, Nalchik, Grozny and Vladikavkaz. The reason is a possible UAV attack. Now, a drone danger regime has been introduced in the regions of the North Caucasus Federal District.”

However, Russian Federal Air Transport Agency Rosaviatsia has denied the claims.

Kyrylo Budanov, addressing Yalta European Strategy’s special gathering on Tuesday, said: “The empire that the current leadership of the Russian Federation is leaning toward is a model of the Soviet Union but with the Warsaw Pact countries.

“Poland will be the next one. I am telling you this directly. And there is no need to be afraid of it, it is necessary to realise it.

“Then there will be the Czech Republic, Hungary, and Bulgaria.”

“The Warsaw Pact countries are a minimum task if an empire is to be formed.”

The Warsaw Pact was a military alliance between the Soviet Union and other Eastern Bloc countries during the Cold War.

Terrifying pictures have shown a house in Kyiv engulfed by flames after a Russian drone strike on a house in Kyiv which killed on and injured two more.

Meanwhile ’s security chief has warned will move on to Poland and the Czech Republic if he is victorious in as part of a master strategy to recreate the Soviet Union.

A post by Ukrainian Telegram channel Suspilnews said: “The body of a deceased person was discovered while extinguishing a fire in a private house in the Buchansky district of the Kyiv region, the OVA reported. Two more people were injured.

“In the region, five private houses were damaged due to shelling, the glazing of apartments in four high-rise buildings, two garages, three cars were destroyed and eight more were damaged.”