Ukraine has completed repairs on a damaged oil pipeline and is preparing to resume flows. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made the announcement Tuesday, warning that Russia might target the infrastructure again. Repairs to the Druzhba pipeline delayed approval of a major EU loan intended to support Ukraine's military and economic needs. Zelenskyy said the repairs were linked to freeing funds blocked by Hungary and Slovakia. Russian oil supplies to these countries have been halted for two months after alleged Russian drone attacks damaged the pipeline. Zelenskyy expressed reluctance to allow Russian oil to continue transiting through Ukraine. EU officials are now cautiously optimistic that the loan deal could be approved soon, ending months of political deadlock.

The Iran war has deflected global attention from Russia's all-out invasion of its neighbor Ukraine as Europe's biggest conflict since World War II enters its fifth year and an emboldened Kremlin undertakes a spring offensive. The past week showed that neither side is easing up. Russia on Tuesday fired almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles at Ukraine in one of the war's biggest bombardments. The following day Ukraine launched almost 400 drones in the largest reported overnight attack on Russian regions and Crimea. Ukraine's fate is still Europe's top foreign policy issue, fueled by fears that Moscow has wider ambitions.

Russia is reporting that it has shot down hundreds of Ukrainian drones in a massive overnight attack across its regions and Crimea. Russia's Defense Ministry says its air defenses downed 389 drones over 13 regions and the Crimean Peninsula. The attack highlights Ukraine's growing long-range drone capability. It follows a Russian barrage on Tuesday that Ukraine says hits civilian areas with almost 1,000 drones and 34 missiles. Ukrainian officials say at least six people died and about 50 were hurt. Regional officials in Russia report fires and power disruptions.

With U.S.-brokered Ukraine peace talks on hold due to the war in the Middle East, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to try to expand his military gains via new offensives against his southern neighbor that will put even more pressure on Kyiv. Windfall revenues from surging global oil prices are filling Moscow's war coffers and U.S. air defense assets are being drained quickly by Iranian attacks across the Gulf, leaving little available for Ukraine in the fifth year of Russia's full-scale invasion. Ukraine's European allies have promised to maintain their steadfast support, but bickering over a major 90 billion euro ($106 billion) European Union loan to cover Kyiv's military and economic needs for two years has reflected the mounting challenges.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called Russia and Iran "brothers in hatred." It came as he visited London to seek support from U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer in his country's fight against Russia's invasion. The talks between the two leaders on Tuesday came as the Iran war revives Russia's ailing economy through increased oil revenue, robs U.S.-brokered talks on ending Russia's invasion of Ukraine of momentum, and could soon limit Kyiv's access to vital Western air defense systems that are needed in the Middle East. Starmer said "We can't lose focus on what's going on in Ukraine and the need for our support." NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte also attended the talks.

Russia has provided Iran with information that could help Tehran strike American warships, aircraft and other assets in the region. That's according to two officials familiar with U.S. intelligence on the matter. The officials, who were not authorized to comment publicly on the sensitive matter and spoke on the condition of anonymity, cautioned that the U.S. intelligence has not uncovered that Russia is directing Iran what to do with the information. Still, it's the first indication that Moscow has sought to get involved in the war that the U.S. and Israel launched on Iran a week ago.

Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago launched Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. It has caused immense suffering for civilians and harrowing ordeals for soldiers while rewriting the post-Cold War security order. The fighting enters its fifth year on Tuesday. A U.S.-based think tank says that as many as 1.8 million soldiers may have been killed, injured or missing on both sides. Another think tank says Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukrainian land. The U.N. says at least 14,999 civilians have been killed in Ukraine.