Trump Cuts Kyiv’s Debt Bill to Unlock Mineral Deals Amid Ukraine-Russia Conflict

Key points

• Minerals dealings with the U.S. are ‘positive,’ Zelensky states
• Three injured in Russian attack on Odesa port city
• Nato chief reaffirms support for Ukraine during a visit to Odesa
• US-Russia trade could push Putin to end Ukraine war, says White House
• Russia unleashed nearly 100 drones on Ukraine during a nighttime assault.

One dead and nine wounded in Russian attacks on Kherson.

03:46
,
Arpan Rai

Russian gliding bombs and artillery hit a city in southern Ukraine yesterday, resulting in one death and injuries to nine people as Vladimir Putin’s troops kept up their relentless assaults nationwide.

The city of Kherson was struck with glide bombs in the early hours yesterday, and when rescue teams arrived at the scene, Russian forces launched an artillery barrage, said the region’s head Oleksandr Prokudin.

“This is a deliberate tactic by Russia to hinder the rescue of the injured and harm doctors, rescuers, and police,” he said.

The assault destroyed a sports complex, a grocery store, apartment blocks, and ordinary cars, as Mr. Prokudin mentioned additionally.

Suicide drones ignite blazes in Dnipro

02:14
,
Barney Davis

Russian troops employed heavy artillery and suicide drones to bombard Dnipropetrovsk throughout Wednesday.

Serhii Lysak, who leads the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Military Administration, stated this in an announcement.
Telegram
During the day, the attacker carried out nine suicide drone attacks on the Nikopol region.

“The region was also shelled with heavy artillery. Nikopol, Marhanets, and Pokrovsk communities were hit.”

In one nine-story residential building, a fire broke out in an apartment. Other homes suffered broken windows, according to Lysak.

He also reported that municipal infrastructure and vehicles were damaged.

Nearly 200 children stuck in active combat zones

00:01
,
Barney Davis

Around 195 children remain in the war-torn Donetsk region still classified as an active combat zone.

Yuliia Ryzhakova, Acting Head of the Children’s Services Department of the Donetsk Regional Military Administration said: “There are currently 195 children in the active combat zone: 190 in Lyman urban territorial community, and five in the town of Shcherbynivka in Toretsk urban territorial community.

“These five children had been previously evacuated but later returned,” Ryzhakova stated.

According to regional authorities, around 29,000 people remain in the 17 communities located in active combat zones under Ukrainian government control.

Ukraine and the United States have made “substantial progress” in their talks on a minerals deal

22:01
,
Barney Davis

Donald Trump is seeking a bilateral minerals deal as part of his push to end Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion.

Trump also sees it as a way to recover billions of dollars the US has spent on military assistance to Ukraine. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has said that Ukraine would not recognise past US military aid as loans.

“Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress. Our legal staff has adjusted several items within the draft agreement,” First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko said in a social media post on X.

Svyrydenko said the work on the deal would continue and that both sides agreed to sign a memorandum in the near term as the first stage to record the progress.

One person killed, nine wounded in Kherson rocket attack

21:00

Russian glide bombs and artillery hit a city in southern Ukraine on Wednesday, resulting in one death and nine injuries.

On Wednesday morning, Kherson city was hit by glide bombs. Upon the arrival of rescue teams at the site, Russian forces initiated an artillery attack, according to Oleksandr Prokudin, who leads the region.

“This is a deliberate tactic by Russia to hinder the rescue of the injured and harm doctors, rescuers, and police,” he said.

The assault wrecked a sports complex, a grocery store, apartment blocks, and ordinary cars, according to Prokudin.

Russia Seeks Purchase of Boeing Aircraft Once Ceasefire Is Established

20:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Russia has requested the US to permit Boeing aircraft purchases after a ceasefire is established in Ukraine.

A source in Moscow familiar with the situation informed Bloomberg that Russia realizes multibillion-dollar frozen state assets cannot be utilized to purchase aircraft until a truce is established.

An agreement permitting the acquisition of aircraft might be included as part of loosening economic restrictions.

“The U.S. will refrain from discussing any economic agreements until a ceasefire is achieved,” stated National Security Council spokesperson Brian Hughes when asked about comments regarding Russia’s interest in purchasing Boeing planes.

Zelensky has ‘honest’ conversation with President of Finland

19:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Volodymyr Zelensky said he discussed “next steps” in response to possible “Russian provocations” with President of Finland Alexander Stubb.

On his post on X, he mentioned that enhancing air defense capabilities was also discussed.

Key occurrences from the Ukraine-Russian conflict today

18:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

• Ukraine’s Deputy Prime Minister for Economic Affairs, Yulia Svyrydenko, mentioned that negotiations regarding a mineral agreement with the U.S. are advancing rapidly.

• Donald Trump’s highest-ranking diplomats are heading to Paris tonight to meet with their European peers and discuss Ukraine’s future.

• The former governor Russia’s Kursk region, Alexei Smirnov, has been detained on suspicion of fraud.

• Buildings in the Ukrainian port city Odesa were reduced to rubble in Russian overnight drone attack.

Latvia votes to withdraw from the Ottawa Convention

17:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

The Latvian parliament has voted in favour of withdrawing from the Ottawa Convention international treaty that bans the use of anti-personnel landmines.

It comes amid concerns over the military threat posed by neighbouring Russia.

“The withdrawal from the Ottawa Convention will give our armed forces room for manoeuvre in the event of a military threat to use all possible means to defend our citizens,” parliament foreign affairs committee chair Inara Murniece said in the statement.

Latvia is the first country to formally withdraw from the treaty but Poland, Estonia, Lithuania and Finland, all of whom also border Russia, have said they plan to exit it due to the military threat from their much larger neighbour.

Russia is not part of the treaty and has employed landmines during its assault on Ukraine.

Poland along with the Baltic nations has worried that once the conflict in Ukraine concludes, Russia might remilitarize and redirect its focus towards these countries instead.

Germany intends to dispatch missiles to Ukraine.

16:15
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Germany is counting on British support to deliver Taurus missiles to Ukraine, according to a warning from a member of Berlin’s upcoming administration.

Roderick Kiesewetter, a high-ranking member of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), stated that ongoing disputes within his party and its coalition ally, the center-left Social Democratic Party (SPD), were hindering Chancellor-elect Friedrich Merz from making a definitive choice.

However, he proposed that “UK leadership” might provide Mr. Merz with the backing required to deploy the potent missile system, according to The Telegraph.

“The Taurus deployment continues to be a subject of disagreement for now… At this stage, I don’t observe any common ground, particularly since the groups haven’t reached an accord on the main security policy matters outlined in the coalition pact,” stated Mr. Kiesewetter.

“I haven’t seen the delivery of the Taurus units yet. Any impact from UK leaders persuading Germany to finally provide the Taurus could be beneficial and is very much appreciated,” he said additionally.

Even though Britain has provided Kyiv with Storm Shadows and France has delivered Scalps, these weapons have a more limited range.

The departing German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined to supply the Taurus system due to concerns it might draw Germany into an outright confrontation with Russia.

Mr Merz’s Taurus announcement earlier this week was viewed as a sign that Germany will get much tougher on Russia under his leadership.

However, Mr. Kiesewetter cautioned that the political discussion within his coalition about delivering the missiles was still ongoing, with some opposition remaining within the SPD party.

In pictures: Funeral for family killed in Russian missile strike in Sumy

16:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Family members and friends grieve beside the caskets of 11-year-old Maksym Martynenko and his parents, Mykola and Nataliia, who lost their lives due to a Russian missile attack on Sunday.

Images depict the funeral rites taking place in a community within Stare Selo, located outside Sumy in northeastern Ukraine.

Ex-governor of Russia’s Kursk region arrested

16:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Alexei Smirnov, who previously served as the governor of Russia’s Kursk region, has reportedly been arrested on charges of suspected fraud, according to the state-run news agency TASS.

Smirnov was head of the western region when Ukrainian troops smashed across the border in a large-scale incursion in August 2024.

Since then, a Russian offensive has ejected most of the Ukrainian forces.

Smirnov led the region until December 2024, when he was replaced by Alexander Khinshtein.

US Secretary of State to meet French counterpart on Thursday

15:45
,
Rebeca Whittaker

The US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, plans to meet with his French counterpart, Jean-Noel Barrot, in Paris on Thursday. During their discussion, they will address topics including the conflict in Ukraine, conditions in the Middle East, and negotiations concerning Iran’s nuclear program, according to a statement from a French diplomatic source.

The administration of US President Donald Trump restarted discussions with Iran concerning its nuclear program earlier this month, including meetings held in Oman last weekend and plans for another session to take place in Rome later this week. Additionally, they have initiated talks intended to conclude the conflict in Ukraine.

The French press had indicated that US officials were scheduled to be in Paris this week.

The French government representative, Sophie Primas, informed journalists on Wednesday that US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and White House emissary Steve Witkoff will be traveling to France shortly.

The primas also mentioned that they would have extensive discussions about matters concerning the Middle East with French authorities. He stated, “Every topic related to the Middle East will be up for discussion.”

Ukraine defense-industrial sector awards

15:30
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Volodymyr Zelensky posted pictures from an event honoring achievements in the defense and industrial sectors in Ukraine.

He wrote on social media site X: “Ukraine will keep ramping up production to ensure its own security – both independently and in cooperation with partners. I’m grateful to everyone working in our defense industry for your dedication.”

Dispute involving Russian diplomat eclipses German World War 2 memorial events

15:20
,
Rebecca Whittaker

The German government warned against Russian efforts to “instrumentalise” events marking the 80th anniversary of World War Two.

This occurred following the attendance of the Russian ambassador to Berlin at a local gathering in the eastern town of Seelow.

The ceremony commemorated the Battle of the Seelow Heights, which was among the last major engagements before the Soviet forces advanced towards Berlin, ultimately leading to Germany’s surrender in May 1945.

A minimum of 30,000 Soviet servicemen lost their lives during one of the most grueling engagements for Russian forces.

Earlier this year, Germany’s Foreign Office released advice cautioning against potential Russian efforts to leverage the 80th anniversary celebrations as a means of spreading propaganda.

The suggestion was for municipalities to utilize their “host rights” in order to avoid inviting Russian state representatives to commemorative events.

“We anticipate that the Russian side will use this to legitimize their assault on Ukraine,” stated a ministry spokesperson at a routine press briefing on Wednesday.

Thats why the Foreign Office suggested something along those lines.

The Russian President, Vladimir Putin, first depicted his assault on Ukraine as necessary to confront ” Nazis,” aiming to leverage the history of World War II to legitimize the invasion.

“It’s not appropriate for someone from a criminal government that continuously assaults my nation with missiles, bombs, and drones to attend an event honoring war victims,” said Ukrainian Ambassador Oleksii Makeiev during an interview with Welt TV.

Leading Trump representatives journey to Paris for discussions on Ukraine involving Europe.

15:10
,
Rebecca Whittaker

The highest-ranking diplomats from Donald Trump’s administration are scheduled to go to Paris for discussions with their European peers about the future of Ukraine, as stated by the U.S. State Department.

The discussions headed by Marco Rubio, the Secretary of State, along with Steve Witkoff, the special envoy for the Middle East, are scheduled to continue up till Friday.

“Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Steve Witkoff are set to visit Paris, France, from April 16th through the 18th. Their mission includes meetings with European officials aimed at advancing President Trump’s objective to conclude the conflict between Russia and Ukraine and halt the violence,” according to the announcement.

During his time in Paris, he will also talk about methods to promote common goals in the area.

‘Substantial progress’ made in minerals deal talk, says deputy prime minister

14:50
,
Becky Whittaker

Ukraine and the United States have made “substantial progress” in their talks on a minerals deal and will sign a memorandum in the near future, first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

US President Donald Trump is seeking a bilateral minerals deal as part of his push to end Ukraine’s war against the Russian invasion.

Trump also sees it as a way to recover billions of dollars the US has spent on military assistance to Ukraine.

President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has stated that Ukraine will not consider previous U.S. military assistance as loans.

“Our technical teams have collaborated extensively on the agreement, achieving notable advancement. Our legal team has revised multiple sections of the draft agreement,” Svyrydenko stated in a social media post on X.

In Images: The Funeral of a Lithuanian Volunteer Soldier

14:40
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Individuals participate in the funeral service for 20-year-old Tomas Valentelis, known as “Biden,” a Lithuanian volunteer serving with the Ukrainian military. He lost his life during combat close to the Kupiansk area.

Over 30 assaults on energy facilities have occurred.

14:20
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Ukraine accused Russia of carrying out more than 30 attacks on its energy infrastructure since the two sides agreed in March to pause strikes on such targets.

Ukraine’s foreign ministry spokesperson, Heorhyi Tykhyi, told a news briefing that Russia attacked energy facilities in Kherson and Mykolaiv in the south and Poltava in the centre of the country over the past 24 hours.

In pictures: People hide in an underground metro station in Kyiv

14:11
,
Rebecca Whittaker

‘Substantial progress’ made in minerals deal talk

14:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Ukraine and the United States have made “substantial progress” in their talks on a minerals deal and will sign a memorandum in the near future, first deputy prime minister Yulia Svyrydenko said.

Svyrydenko said on Facebook the future agreement would help support economic growth both in Ukraine and the US.

Vladimir Putin will discuss Ukraine with Qatari leader

13:40
,
Becky Whittaker

Vladimir Putin is set to discuss Ukraine with Qatar’s Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani when they meet in Moscow today, the Kremlin said.

“There will definitely be an exchange of views between Putin and the Emir of Qatar on Ukrainian affairs,” Dmitry Peskov told reporters.

“There will also be an exchange of views on regional affairs.

“The region is replete with conflict potential. And Qatar plays a very big and important role in attempts to resolve many situations,” Peskov said.

Qatar has made a series of attempts to mediate between Russia and Ukraine, and has helped arrange the return of children from both countries who were separated from their parents during the war.

“We highly appreciate the potential and current level of our trade and economic cooperation and, of course, our confidential dialogue on many topics, including the most sensitive ones.”

Pictured: training for young Ukrainian civilians

13:20
,
Rebeca Whittaker

Young Ukrainians who are members of the ‘Centuria’ organization participate in military-style drills in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, on Tuesday.

Centuria was established in 2020 by former members of the Azov Brigade. It offers young people aged 14 and older an opportunity to receive military and combat medical training, particularly those who have an interest in protecting Ukraine. The organization emphasizes fostering a strong sense of national identity among participants.

The training sessions do not include live ammunition. According to the organization, it boasts more than 3,000 members with branches across multiple cities in Ukraine.

Denmark plans to dispatch troops for training in Ukraine.

13:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

The Danish military intends to deploy Danish troops to Ukraine for training purposes.

The troops will be without weapons and will come from different military units.
Ukrainska Pravda
reported.

“In my 42 years of service in the armed forces, I have never seen events develop so quickly,” said Major General Peter Boysen, after observing the training of a reconnaissance regiment using advanced attack drones similar to those deployed on the front line in Ukraine.

Boysen claims that the introduction of advanced weapon systems and updated tactics within the Danish military is due to his most recent trips to Ukraine.

His next step is to speed up this process by dispatching additional units of Danish troops to training facilities in Ukraine.

‘Trump is Putins servant’: Sign on the medieval Charles Bridge in Prague

12:40
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Individuals attach a sign to the historic Charles Bridge in Prague, Czech Republic.

” Trump acts as Putin’s servant,” it says.

Russian gliding bombs and artillery hit a city in southern Ukraine.

12:20
,
Rebeca Whittaker

Glide bombs and artillery from Russian forces hit a city in southern Ukraine, resulting in one death and five injuries.

The city of Kherson was struck with glide bombs on Wednesday morning, and when rescue teams arrived at the scene, Russian forces launched an artillery barrage, said the region’s head, Oleksandr Prokudin.

He stated that this is a calculated strategy employed by Russia to impede the assistance for wounded individuals and to endanger medical personnel, first responders, and law enforcement.

The assault destroyed a sporting complex, a grocery store, apartment blocks, and ordinary cars, according to Prokudin.

Buildings in Odesa were reduced to rubble during a nighttime drone assault by Russians on the Ukrainian coastal city.

12:11
,
Rebeca Whittaker

Russia
‘s overnight drone attack hit
infrastructure in Odesa
,
Ukraine
, video released on Wednesday, 16 April shows.

Smoke billowed from wreckage as rescuers doused a building hit in the attack.

The strike on the
Black Sea
A port city was also hit, damaging residential buildings and warehouses, according to regional Ukrainian officials.

As reported by Ukraine’s emergency service, three individuals sustained injuries and multiple fires erupted across the city due to the assault.

Russia did not immediately comment on the attack.

Both Ukraine and Russia deny targeting civilians in the war that
Russia started with Putin’s full-scale invasion
of Ukraine more than three years ago.

Odesa buildings reduced to rubble in Russian overnight drone attack

Italy transfers $28 million to restore Ukraine’s energy infrastructure

11:41
,
Rebecca Whittaker

The Italian government has transferred the first 25 million euros ($28.3 million) instalment to help rebuild Ukraine’s war-damaged energy infrastructure.

Its part of a broader 200 million euros (around $227 million) initiative co-financed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD).

The initiative seeks to reinstate energy supply, strengthen vital electrical networks, and guarantee the provision of crucial services in the areas most severely affected, as reported by the Italian Embassy in Ukraine.
the Kyiv Independent
.

“The initial funding represents a tangible indication of Italy’s robust backing for Ukraine’s energy sector, which has faced significant challenges due to the conflict,” stated Italian Ambassador to Ukraine Carlo Formosa.

Minerals dealings with the U.S. are ‘positive,’ Zelensky states

11:23
,
Rebecca Whittaker

President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that talks regarding an important minerals deal with the US are “promising,” after a series of technical discussions took place in Washington.

On Tuesday, speaking alongside NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg in Odessa, Zelenskyy mentioned that lower-level discussions will proceed throughout the remainder of the week.

Once the teams are prepared, they will present their findings. Up until now, both parties have concluded the meetings on an optimistic note,” Zelensky stated.

Following months of halted discussions, the conversations have resumed regarding an agreement that would grant the U.S. entry into Ukraine’s extensive deposits of vital raw resources.

Trump has a deep grudge against Zelensky – but he’s now taken it further than ever before

11:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

What could possess Donald
Trump
to victim-shame
Ukraine
’s president and
endorse the actions of an indicted war criminal
by backing Vladimir
Putin
? Personal hatred of
Volodymyr Zelensky
? A near-demented obsession with personal sleight? A radical strategic vision that’s upended world affairs? Something worse? Probably.

Soon after the
massacre in Sumy
, where two Iskander missiles slammed into the provincial Ukrainian capital killing 35 people, including two children,
Trump
shed the horror by attributing it to a Russian error.

Startling, yet expected, since Trump has continually sided with Russia whenever possible throughout this year.

Before many of the bodies could be retrieved from the city morgue, however, he had
shifted to an aggressive stance by intensifying efforts
regarding his attempts to pinpoint
Ukraine
’s suffering on its president.

“When you start a war, you got to know you can win,” he said of Ukraine’s leader.

Read more by Sam Kiley here:

Trump has a deep grudge against Zelensky – but he’s now taken it further than ever

Ukrainian parliament extends martial law and mobilisation

10:50
,
Rebeca Whittaker

The Ukrainian Parliament decided on Wednesday to prolong the period of martial law until August 6th, according to a high-ranking legislator.

A vast majority of 357 representatives approved the extension, enabling the nation to keep enlisting soldiers and pausing the electoral process.

A single legislator opposed the bill.

This marks the 15th vote by the Ukrainian parliament to extend martial law and mobilisation since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Three people were hurt during the Odesea drone strike.

10:41
,
Rebecca Whittaker

A Russian drone assault on the Black Sea port city of Odesa caused injuries to three individuals, ignited several blazes, and harmed residential buildings and civil infrastructure, according to authorities from Ukraine’s southern region.

Multiple early morning assaults by Russian aircraft and artillery on the southern city of Kherson resulted in one fatality and three injuries, as reported by local officials.

In aTelegram posting, Ukraine’s rescue service reported that three individuals sustained injuries and multiple blazes erupted in Odesa due to the assault that took place during the night.

In Odesa, residents picked through debris in several ruined homes. A woman swept up after the windows in a church were smashed.

The Ukrainian air force said it shot down 57 out of 97 drones launched by Russia overnight. Another 34 did not reach their targets likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures.

Emergency responders reported that an assault on Kamianske within the Dnipropetrovsk area wounded two individuals and compromised a gas line. By early morning, all blazes were extinguished.

Watch: Trump wrongly claims Zelensky initiated the conflict in Ukraine

10:20
,
Rebecca Whittaker

On Tuesday, US President Donald Trump incorrectly accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of initiating the conflict in Ukraine, overlooking Russia’s invasion in 2022.

Trump questioned Mr Zelensky’s requests for more Patriot missile defence systems, suggesting he should have considered the potential outcome before engaging in conflict with Russia.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, former US President Joe Biden, and Zelensky for the lives lost in the war, saying “millions are dead because of three people”.

Ukrainian servicemen from anti-drone mobile air defence unit

10:10
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Ukrainian servicemen from anti-drone mobile air defence unit are seen at their position in Donetsk region amid Russia’s attack.

Watch: Russia drone attack hits Odesa

10:00
,
Rebecca Whittaker

In Pictures: Firefighters put out the fire following Russia’s drones attack in Kamianske

09:44
,
Rebecca Whittaker

In the last day, Russia has killed one civilian and injured 27 others.

09:38
,
Rebecca Whittaker

At least one civilian was killed and a minimum of 27 were wounded in Russian assaults across various areas of Ukraine within the last day, according to reports from local authorities.

According to the local military administration, a drone strike resulted in the death of an individual in Velyka Pysarivka, which is part of the Sumy region.

Governor Serhii Lysak stated that overnight assaults in the Dnipropetrovsk region resulted in injuries to two individuals, ages 39 and 48.

Russia wounded five individuals in the Donetsk area and an additional five in the Kharkiv region, which included a paramedic, according to local authorities.

In the Kherson region, 11 people were injured while two high-rise buildings and 11 houses were damaged, according to governor Oleksandr Prokudin.

An additional three individuals were wounded during a drone assault on Odesa.

In pictures: Russian drone attack on the Black Sea port city of Odesa

09:31
,
Rebecca Whittaker

Russia unleashed nearly 100 drones on Ukraine during a nighttime assault.

09:20
,
Rebecca Whittaker

The Ukrainian airforce said Russia launched 97 drones during overnight attacks.

The air force said it shot down 57 drones with another 34 not reaching their targets likely due to electronic warfare countermeasures.

It did not specify what happened to the remaining six drones.

U.S. eases repayment conditions in minerals negotiations – reports

07:59
,
Athena Stavrou

It seems that the U.S. has moderated its calls for Ukraine to reimburse assistance, amid ongoing discussions about a minerals agreement between the nations.

Following a round of negotiations in Washington last week, Donald Trump’s administration reduced its estimate of US aid provided to Kyiv to about $100 billion from $300 billion, sources told Bloomberg.

The US views the upcoming bilateral minerals agreement with Ukraine as an opportunity to recoup some of the billions of dollars expended through aid, despite these disbursements not constituting loans.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated on Tuesday that discussions with the US about a minerals agreement were “promising,” and indicated that additional meetings would be held soon.

Russian intelligence leader warns Poland and Baltic nations they may be “among the first to face consequences.”

07:47
,
Arpan Rai

Russia’s top spy official has warned Poland and the Baltic states, stating they would be “the first to face consequences” should there be an outright conflict between NATO and Russia.

The head of Russia’s external intelligence agency, Sergey Naryshkin, stated that any aggressive actions by NATO towards Russia or Belarus could lead to severe repercussions for Poland as well as the Baltic nations—Latvia, Lithuania, and Estonia.

They ought to comprehend this, though they have not fully grasped it: In case of an attack from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization against Russia and Belarus, significant harm would indeed be inflicted upon the entirety of NATO. However, those who primarily stand to endure the most severe consequences are the proponents of these aggressive notions within the political spheres of Poland and the Baltic states, according to Mr. Naryshkin’s statement to TASS News Agency.

He claimed that these nations have shown “high aggressiveness” towards Russia and accused Poland and the Baltics of “constantly rattling their weapons”.

In photos: Families hold funerals in Sumy

07:40
,
Arpan Rai

In photos: Nato chief visits Odesa port city shortly before Russian attack

07:28
,
Arpan Rai

Ukrainians grieve for those killed in the Sumy assault

07:14
,
Arpan Rai

On Tuesday, dozens of Ukrainian families came together to grieve for their loved ones following a missile strike executed by Vladimir Putin’s troops, which resulted in at least 35 fatalities.

As several victims from Sunday’s assault were buried yesterday, Viktor Voitenko, 56, recounted to the Associated Press how he became paralyzed and was left in a hospital bed.

When the second missile struck, he was serving as a security guard, and it fractured his spine.

As he talked, his spouse Hanna, who was 40 years old, tenderly put on his deodorant — a small gesture he couldn’t manage anymore.

The attack in Sumy, which had a prewar population of about 250,000, came just over a week after a Russian missile strike killed about 20 people, including nine children, in the central Ukrainian city of Kryvyi Rih.

Russia said it was targeting a meeting of soldiers, but there is no evidence to support the claim.

Three injured in Russian attack on Odesa port city

06:32
,
Arpan Rai

The drone attack sparked fires and damaged homes and civilian infrastructure, officials of the southern Ukrainian region said early today.

The adversary has once more launched a significant drone assault on Odesa,” stated Oleh Kiper, the regional governor whose headquarters is located in the city of Odesa, via his Telegram channel. However, the complete extent of the strike remains undisclosed.

Russia’s assault on the Ukrainian port city occurred mere hours following NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte’s visit to the area alongside President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Russia claims to have shot down 26 Ukrainian drones in one night.

06:31
,
Arpan Rai

The Russian defense forces took down 26 Ukrainian drones overnight, according to statements from Russia’s Ministry of Defense earlier today.

Out of these, nine drones were taken out over the southern part of the Voronezh region, and eight more fell near the border in the Belgorod area. The remaining ones were brought down over the Kursk, Lipetsk, and Moscow regions, as well as over the Crimean Peninsula, according to a statement from the ministry posted on Telegram.

Russian authorities do not provide specifics about the overall count of drones deployed or which ones inflicted damage.

US-Russia trade could push Putin to end Ukraine war, says White House

06:30
,
Arpan Rai

Economic partnerships between the US and Russia could prove to be an incentive to Russian president Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

“There is an incentive for Russia to end this war and perhaps that could be economic partnerships with the United States. But we need to see a ceasefire first and the president and the presidential envoy, Witkoff, made that very clear to the Russians,” Ms Leavitt said last night at a press briefing.

She also confirmed that the US special envoy Steve Witkoff’s one-on-one meeting with Mr Putin last week was “productive”.

She stated that Witkoff thinks Russia wishes to conclude this conflict, and the president shares this view.

Soldier imprisoned by Russia following his voluntary surrender to Ukraine

06:29
,
Arpan Rai

A Russian soldier was sentenced to 15 years in prison after deserting his post.
military
and voluntarily surrendered to
Ukraine
.

For the first time, a Russian military tribunal has prosecuted an individual for voluntarily surrendering. This offense, carrying a sentence ranging from three to ten years in prison, was initially established in September 2022.

According to the Kommersant newspaper, a court on the far eastern Russian island of Sakhalin found soldier Roman Ivanishin guilty of voluntary surrender, of attempting to voluntarily surrender, and of desertion.

Ivanishin, who was reported to have denied all the charges, will serve his sentence in a maximum security facility. Local media reported that his trial was held behind closed doors.

Russian soldier jailed after voluntarily surrendering to Ukraine

Trump has a deep grudge against Zelensky – but he’s now taken it further than ever before

06:28
,
Arpan Rai

What could possess Donald
Trump
to victim-shame
Ukraine
’s president and
endorse the actions of an indicted war criminal
by backing Vladimir
Putin
? Personal hatred of
Volodymyr Zelensky
? A near-demented obsession with personal sleight? A radical strategic vision that’s upended world affairs? Something worse?

Probably.

Soon after the
massacre in Sumy
, where two Iskander missiles struck the provincial Ukrainian capital, resulting in the deaths of 35 individuals, including two children,
Trump
He dismissed the horror by attributing it to a Russian error. This was shocking, yet not unexpected, since Trump has continually sided with Russia whenever possible throughout this year.

Trump harbors a strong resentment towards Zelensky – however, he has now escalated his actions beyond anything seen before.

Zelensky states discussions with the US about the minerals agreement were encouraging, with additional meetings anticipated.

06:28
,
Arpan Rai

The Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated that discussions with the US about a minerals agreement were “promising,” and indicated that additional sessions would be held soon.

President Zelensky stated that discussions concerning the agreement will proceed at a technical level for the remainder of the week.

Ukraine, UK, France and Turkey discuss Black Sea security

06:27
,
Arpan Rai

Envoys from Ukraine, Britain, France and Turkey are meeting to discuss Black Sea security this week, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said yesterday.

“This is a military meeting on security in the Black Sea, first of all, a coalition of the willing, appropriate steps,” Mr Zelensky said in Odesa, speaking alongside Nato secretary general Mark Rutte.

Mr Zelensky said the meetings would take place on Tuesday and Wednesday. It was not immediately clear whether meetings were already ongoing.

“There are already quite a few such meetings, in various formats,” he added.

“Turkey has in 2022 already successfully agreed a ceasefire when it came to a greater grain deal… let’s be positive on the fact that Turkey, again, tries to bring together all relevant parties, And let’s hope they are successful,” Mr Rutte said.

Mr. Zelensky stated that they are discussing the deployment of forces at sea, and he believes Turkey could play a significant role in ensuring future maritime security.

“This is not about ending the war, this is about what will happen after the ceasefire – security guarantees,” he said.

Russia attacks Odesa with drones just hours after Nato chief visits port city

06:26
,
Arpan Rai

Russia launched an overnight drone attack on the Ukrainian Black Sea port city of Odesa, just hours after Nato chief Mark Rutte visited the region with president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The drone attack has damaged residential buildings, warehouses and civilian infrastructure, Ukrainian officials from the region said early this morning.

“The enemy has again attacked Odesa with a massive drone attack,” Oleh Kiper, governor of the broader Odesa region of which the city of Odesa is the administrative centre, said on his Telegram channel.

According to preliminary information, there were no injuries, Odesa’s mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov said on Telegram.

He posted photos of a residential and other buildings nearly destroyed and of a dog peeking from behind a pile of wood.

The full scale of the attack is not immediately clear.

Nato chief reaffirms support for Ukraine during a visit to Odesa

06:25
,
Arpan Rai

Nato secretary general Mark Rutte has said the alliance’s support for Ukraine remains “unwavering” as he spoke from the war-hit nation’s port city of Odesa.

“I’m here today because I believe Ukraine’s people deserve real peace, real safety and security in their country, in their homes,” Mr Rutte said during a joint news conference with Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky.

The two met with wounded Ukrainian soldiers at a hospital in Odesa.

These conversations are challenging, particularly following this terrible act of violence,” Mr Rutte stated, referencing the recent attacks. “However, we all back President Trump’s initiative toward achieving peace.

His arrival occurred just days following the strike on the city of Sumy by two Russian ballistic missiles on Palm Sunday morning, which resulted in at least 35 fatalities, including two children, and left 119 individuals injured.

The NATO leader additionally highlighted that over €20 billion (£17 billion) in security support has already been committed by NATO partners during the initial quarter of the year.