The Globalist Crisis in Cuba deepens and Zelensky in the UK and Spain
Mar 18, 2026
David Phelan, Monocle tech correspondent, previews gadgets from luxury phones to smart glasses and Apple's MacBook Neo. Ruth Michelson, Middle East reporter in Istanbul, reviews Iran-related headlines and regional fallout. Chris Smith, Cambridge virologist, explains a UK meningitis surge and vaccine debates. Lesia Vasylenko, Ukrainian MP, outlines the new UK-Ukraine defence partnership and drone cooperation. Antonio Sampaio, Latin America security analyst, details Cuba's energy collapse and geopolitical stakes.
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UK-Ukraine Pact Builds Joint Drone Industrial Base
- The UK-Ukraine defence pact signals long-term industrial and supply-chain cooperation, not just symbolic support.
- Lesia Vasylenko says the pact includes joint drone R&D, production lines and integration of defence supply chains to build Miltech capacity.
Ukraine's Drone Knowhow Is A Strategic Export
- Ukraine exports drone expertise as a geopolitical tool, training Gulf states and creating defence startups to sustain support.
- Vasylenko notes Ukraine sent 200+ experts to Gulf countries and expects startups and primes to form from UK-Ukraine industrial ties.
Temporary Sanctions Easing Could Reopen Russian Oil Markets
- Temporary easing of sanctions risks becoming permanent and could reopen Russian commodity flows that bankroll aggression.
- Vasylenko warns that even a small sanction 'crack' lets Russian oil/gas re-enter markets, undermining Ukraine's defence and sanctions' efficacy.