Trump confirms Waltz’s resignation, nominates him as US Ambassador to the UN
In the interim, Secretary of State Marco Rubio will take on the role of national security adviser while continuing to lead the State Department.
Anna Fratsyvir
Articles
Julie Davis appointed interim head of US embassy in Ukraine
She will serve as chargé d’affaires until a new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine is appointed by President Donald Trump.
Rubio presses Europe to 'step up' support for Ukraine in talks with French FM
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio praised France’s leadership in building support for a peace agreement, but stressed that European partners must “step up with real resources and political will” if they hope to bring the war to an end.
Ukraine's Supreme Court rules religious belief does not exempt citizens from military service during wartime
The ruling comes from a case involving a member of the Jehovah’s Witnesses, a religious group whose doctrine forbids any form of military service.
Zelensky says minerals deal signing first result of talks with Trump in Vatican
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said the minerals agreement — which sets up a joint investment fund between Kyiv and Washington — had been significantly revised during months of negotiations to ensure equal terms and benefits for both sides.
Trump dismisses national security adviser Mike Waltz
Steve Witkoff, U.S. President Donald Trump’s special envoy and longtime ally, is reportedly being considered as a possible replacement for Mike Waltz.
US to bring Ukraine, Russia together over the next 100 days, Vance says
When asked about the current state of negotiations with Russia and Ukraine, Vice President JD Vance told Fox News "the first and necessary step of getting the Russia-Ukraine conflict solved is to get each of them to make a peace proposal.”
Zelensky imposes sanctions on former adviser, Kremlin-linked figures, Russian companies
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has imposed new sanctions against a number of individuals and entities, including former presidential adviser Oleksiy Arestovych, pro-Kremlin commentators, and several major Russian companies.
EU will not recognize Crimea as part of Russia, Kallas says
EU’s top diplomat Kaja Kallas said the EU is also drawing up a “plan B” to maintain economic sanctions on Russia in case the Trump administration pulls out of Ukraine peace negotiations and moves to restore ties with Moscow.
Putin admits Ukrainian soldiers remain in Kursk Oblast after boasting about region's recapture
Despite declaring victory, Russian President Vladimir Putin acknowledged on April 30 that Ukrainian soldiers remain in the region, Russian state-controlled media reported.
Europe struggles to find troops for Ukraine's 'deterrence force,' the Times reports
European nations would struggle to deploy even 25,000 troops to Ukraine as part of a proposed multinational “deterrence” force, far short of the 64,000-strong target suggested by U.K. defense officials, the Times reported on April 30 citing undisclosed European defense sources.
Minerals deal faces last-minute delay amid dispute, Financial Times reports
Reuters reported on April 30 that Washington expects Ukraine to sign two additional documents along with the minerals deal, while Kyiv maintains those texts are not yet finalized.
Zelensky urged Trump to toughen stance on Putin during Vatican meeting, Axios says
President Volodymyr Zelensky reportedly pressed U.S. President Donald Trump to return to his original proposal of an unconditional ceasefire as the starting point for peace talks.
Russian state media releases alleged footage of North Korean troops in Russia for the first time
The Russian state news agency TASS published a video on April 28 that purports to show North Korean troops who fought alongside Russian forces in Kursk Oblast training in Russia.
Death toll of Russia's April 24 strike on Kyiv rises to 13
The man was survived by an underage daughter and a six-year-old adopted grandson. Their home was completely destroyed in the attack, Kyiv City Military Administration head Tymur Tkachenko reported.
Putin announces 3-day truce on Victory Day's 80th anniversary
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a so-called "humanitarian" truce from May 8 until midnight on May 11.
Russia demands recognition of Crimea, other Ukrainian regions' annexation in any peace talks
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov Lavrov listed other conditions for Russia to enter into peace talks, namely a ban on Ukraine's entry into NATO, the country's demilitarization, and changes to Ukraine's legislation that would restore the position of the Russian language, culture, and religious organization.
Trump’s demands for Ukrainian territorial concessions go too far, Germany’s defense minister says
Germany will continue to support Ukraine with military aid even if the U.S. cuts back its assistance, German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius said.
Ukraine's ex-President Yanukovych sentenced to additional 15 years in prison in absentia
Ukraine's former pro-Kremlin President Viktor Yanukovych has been sentenced in absentia to 15 years in prison for inciting desertion and organizing illegal border crossings, the Prosecutor General's Office announced on April 28.
Sanctioned Russians hold 'golden' Maltese passports, FT reports
Russian businessman Albert Avdolyan is one of at least seven individuals who bought Maltese passports before later being sanctioned by the United States, the EU, or Ukraine for links to Russia’s invasion.
Drones reportedly strike Russian plant producing parts for missiles, radars
"Unidentified" drones targeted the Kremniy-El plant, a major facility specializing in microelectronics for Russia’s military-industrial complex, said Andrii Kovalenko, an official at Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council.
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.
Putin ready for talks with Ukraine 'without preconditions,' Kremlin says
Asked about Russia's conditions to enter peace talks, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov also named a ban on Ukraine's entry into NATO, the country's demilitarization, and changes to Ukraine's legislation that would restore the position of the Russian language, culture, and religious organizations.
Zelensky meets France's Macron, UK's Starmer, Italy's Meloni 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.
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."
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.
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.
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."
Ukraine raises issue of Russian assets in talks with US Treasury, central bank chief says
The Ukrainian delegation raised the issue with the U.S. Treasury officials during negotiations on April 23, according to Reuters. Ukraine intends to continue lobbying for the initiative at an upcoming meeting with the International Monetary Fund, Pyshnyy said.
EU to unveil roadmap in May to end reliance on Russian fossil fuels
European Commission President Von der Leyen emphasized that the roadmap, set to be announced in two weeks, will lay out concrete steps to eliminate the bloc’s reliance on energy supplies from Russia.
Ukraine will have to make compromises to reach peace deal, Polish leader says
“It has to be a compromise,” he said. “De facto this peace should come down to the fact that neither side will be able to say it won this war. Ukraine will also have to step down in some sense, because that’s what will probably happen.”
North Korean missile used in deadly Russian strike on Kyiv, Zelensky says
"If the information that this missile was made in North Korea is confirmed, it will be further proof of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang," Zelensky said in a statement.
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