Daily Politics from the New Statesman The new world war
Mar 18, 2026
Will Lloyd, deputy editor and foreign correspondent who reported from Ukraine, shares on-the-ground observations. He describes civilian life under strikes and the toll on infrastructure. He links drone supplies from Iran to wider regional tensions. He discusses changing warfare: drones, partisan units, online spectacle, and what long-term militarisation could mean for Europe.
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Winter Attacks Caused Civilian Freeze Deaths
- Will Lloyd described the winter strikes on Ukraine's energy infrastructure that left people with power for only a few hours and some without water or heating.
- He recounted an 87-year-old Holocaust survivor who froze to death in her Kyiv apartment, found weeks later, illustrating the civilian cost.
Europe Is Already Locked Into The War
- Will Lloyd argued Europe is already deeply involved in the Ukraine war through money, arms and industrial partnerships rather than it being only an American project.
- He said British foreign office officials privately consider Europe to be at war with Russia due to integrated defence supply and support.
Cheap Iranian Drones Are Asymmetric Force Multipliers
- Lloyd highlighted the Shahed 136 drones as the cheap, asymmetric weapon supplied by Iran that has sustained Russian strikes on Ukrainian cities.
- He noted the drone costs about $3–4k but can destroy apartment blocks, making it economically devastating and strategically attractive.