Alexander Vindman: Trump repeats past US mistakes with Russia

9:44 PM  (Updated:  April 26, 2025 6:00 pm)

War analysis

Front-line situation not severe enough for Ukraine to be forced to accept Trump's deal, experts say

5:59 PM

Russia lost over 62,400 soldiers in Kursk operation, Ukraine says.

The Russian military had lost 62,400 soldiers in Kursk Oblast since the start of the Ukrainian army's military operation there last year, Ukraine's General Staff said on April 26.

5:49 PM

Ukrainian high jumper Mahuchikh wins first stage of Diamond League in China.

Mahuchikh won the most prestigious commercial athletics competition with a jump of 1.97 meters, beating her main rivals - Australians Nicola Olislagers and Eleanor Patterson, who won silver and bronze at the 2024 Olympics.

5:32 PM

US rejects Russian demand for Ukraine's full withdrawal from partially occupied oblasts, NYT reports.

The United States considers the demand an "unreasonable and unachievable" condition, a source told the New York Times.

5:06 PM

'He's just tapping me along' — Trump admits Putin may not be interested in ending war on Ukraine.

Russian missile attacks on Ukrainian cities and towns signal that the Russian leader may not be interested in ending the war, U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 26, again threatening sanctions.

4:47 PM

Putin ready for talks with Ukraine 'without preconditions,' Kremlin says.

Russian President Vladimir Putin confirmed for the U.S. his readiness to launch negotiations with Ukraine without preconditions, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 26, state news agency TASS reported.

4:25 PM

Russian military helicopter violates Polish airspace to probe air defenses, Poland says.

The helicopter was tracked by Polish military radar systems and civilian systems of the Polish Air Navigation Services Agency over Poland's territorial waters in the Baltic Sea.

3:51 PM

Interpol investigates Russian company for human trafficking over African workers in Tatarstan drone factory.

Since launching in 2022, Alabuga Start has recruited around 350 women from over 40 countries to work in Alabuga Special Economic Zone in Russia's Republic of Tatarstan and aims to bring 8,500 more this year, according to Bloomberg.

3:31 PM

Zelensky meets France's Macron, UK's Starmer on sidelines of Pope Francis's funeral.

The diplomatic meetings come after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met privately with U.S. President Donald Trump at St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican earlier on April 26.

2:06 PM  (Updated:  April 26, 2025 3:10 pm)

Kyiv denies Russia’s claim of Kursk Oblast recapture, as Moscow confirms North Korea role.

Russian forces have fully retaken the territory of Kursk Oblast, the Russian border region partially held by Ukraine since last August, the Kremlin claims.

2:53 PM

Most online services restored in Ukraine after data center outage, no signs of cyberattack.

De Novo CEO Maksym Ahieiev emphasized that there were "no signs of hacking or external interference," and the outage was due to a "combination of technical factors."

2:40 PM

Chornobyl

Russia attacked Chornobyl Nuclear Plant in February, damaging confinement. Can it be fully restored?

11:05 AM  (Updated:  April 26, 2025 2:19 pm)

Zelensky meets Trump for 'productive' meeting at Pope Francis's funeral, White House says.

"Good meeting. We discussed a lot one on one. Hoping for results on everything we covered," Zelensky said after the meeting.

1:46 PM

Russian EW systems designer reportedly killed in car bombing in Bryansk.

Yevgeny Rytikov was killed when he and his colleague entered a car in the Russian city of Bryansk, some 100 kilometers (60 miles) north of the Russia-Ukraine border, RBC-Ukraine wrote, citing undisclosed Ukrainian Defense Forces sources.

1:30 PM

Ukraine detains Russian 'shadow fleet' ship smuggling stolen grain from Crimea, SBU says.

Investigators said the vessel had loaded around 5,000 tons of stolen Ukrainian wheat from the Russian-occupied port city of Sevastopol in late 2024 and attempted to disguise its operations by sailing under the flag of an Asian country.

1:14 PM

Secret Russian satellite linked to nuclear weapon program seems to malfunction, Reuters reports.

A Russian space satellite that U.S. officials tie to its nuclear anti-satellite weapon program seems to be spinning uncontrollably and may no longer be functioning, Reuters reported on April 25, citing U.S. experts.

10:41 AM  (Updated:  April 26, 2025 12:46 pm)

3 killed, 25 injured in Russian attacks on Ukraine over past day.

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed at least three people and injured at least 22, including a child, over the past day, regional authorities reported on April 26.

11:28 AM

Trump adamant about Russia keeping Ukraine's land but flexible on formal Crimea recognition, Times reports.

U.S. President Donald Trump believes the Ukrainian leader “really has no choice” but to agree to the terms, according to a source close to U.S Special Envoy Steve Witkoff.

10:54 AM

CIA confirms deputy director’s son killed while fighting in Ukraine.

The son of a deputy head of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) was killed "while fighting in the conflict in Ukraine" in 2024, a CIA spokesperson said on April 25, according to NBC News.

9:54 AM  (Updated:  April 26, 2025 10:39 am)

Russia continues deadly strikes on Ukraine, attack on Pavlohrad kills 3, injures at least 15, including children.

A five-story building in Pavlohrad came under attack and several fires were reported in the city.

10:21 AM

US signals support for Europe's peacekeeping coalition in Ukraine, Telegraph reports.

While U.S. President Donald Trump has refused to commit American troops, U.S. officials have reportedly opened the door to providing intelligence-sharing and logistical aid to the so-called "coalition of the willing."

10:04 AM

Major companies' online services crash in Ukraine due to 'technical failures.'

Diia, Ukraine's state mobile application for government services, and online services of several major companies are temporarily inaccessible due to technical failures, the media reported on April 26.

9:15 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 947,610 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,110 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.

8:44 AM

Zelensky arrives in Rome to attend Pope Francis's funeral.

President Volodymyr Zelensky and First Lady Olena Zelenska have arrived in Rome to attend Pope Francis's funeral, RBK-Ukraine reported on April 26, citing Zelensky's spokesperson.

6:43 AM

UNHCR reducing aid to displaced Ukrainian refugees due to major funding cuts.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced to Reuters on April 26 that it has had to scale back support for newly displaced Ukrainians due to significant funding losses.