South Caucasus

12:16 PM

Europe rejects US push to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea, FT reports.

An unnamed senior European official told the FT that the Trump administration had already been informed that European capitals would not recognize Crimea as Russian.

1:17 AM  (Updated:  April 24, 2025 12:01 pm)

'Russian peace in all its glory' — Mass Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills 8, injures over 70.

Authorities initially reported nine people killed, but the Prosecutor General's Office later said only eight fatalities had been confirmed.

11:17 AM

Ukraine brings back body of journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna tortured in Russian captivity, official says.

Ukrainian officials confirmed Roshchyna's death on Oct. 10, 2024, but said that the circumstances were still under investigation. Russia did not hand over her body for about five months.

11:11 AM

Syrian leader signals continued military ties with Russia, despite rejected Assad extradition.

Syrian authorities requested Russia to extradite ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, but were turned down, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with the New York Times published on April 23.

8:06 AM  (Updated:  April 24, 2025 10:38 am)

Zelensky visits South Africa but cuts trip short after mass Russian strike.

"We count on South Africa’s meaningful participation in the International Coalition for the return of thousands of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia. We will also certainly strengthen our cultural and educational ties," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

10:21 AM

Russian attacks against Ukraine kill 13, injure at least 97 over past day.

Ukrainian forces downed 64 out of the 145 Shahed-type and other drones, as well as 48 out of the 70 missiles, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

9:32 AM

Rubio, Witkoff reportedly clash over easing Russia sanctions; Trump admin denies.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for their fourth meeting on April 25, has reportedly promoted the idea. It has "not found much traction in the White House," and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opposed it, Politico reported.

9:13 AM

Ukraine, US to start working on free trade zone, Shmyhal says.

According to Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal, the parties also discussed "important political aspects" of the long-debated future minerals deal between Kyiv and Washington.

9:03 AM

Zelensky posts 2018 US Crimea Declaration amid Trump's policy shifts.

The post seems to refer to the U.S. reportedly proposing de jure recognition of Russian control over the southern Ukrainian peninsula, which Russia has occupied since 2014.

8:06 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 945,330 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

The number includes 1,060 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

7:16 AM

Trump declines to say whether he wants Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"I just want to see the war end, I don’t care," Trump told reporters. "If they’re both happy, they both sign an agreement, I have no favorites. I don’t want to have any favorites. I want to have a deal done."

5:30 AM

Trump says he may meet Putin 'shortly' after May Middle East visit.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump's last in-person encounter with his Russian counterpart was during the 2018 Helsinki Summit during the U.S. president's first term.

3:29 AM

Trump: 'I think we have a deal with both,' Russia, Ukraine.

"I think we have a deal with both, I hope they do it," U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

12:48 AM

'It's time to move forward,' Kellogg says following London peace talks.

"It's time to move forward on (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump's (Ukraine-Russia) war directive: stop the killing, achieve peace, and put America First," U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg said.

11:49 PM

Zelensky 'moving in the wrong direction' on peace talks, White House claims.

"(U)nfortunately, President Zelensky seems to be moving in the wrong direction," White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said.

10:39 PM

Ukraine war latest: US expects territorial concessions from Russia, Ukraine in potential peace deal

10:36 PM

Trump & Ukraine

'US tells Russia crimes it commits are acceptable' — What recognition of Russia's occupation of Crimea would mean for Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars

10:34 PM

Kremlin spokesperson reiterates demands for Ukraine to give up territory in exchange for end to war.

In an interview with French outlet Le Point, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov laid out Moscow’s demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine, including the full recognition of Russia’s claim over four Ukrainian oblasts it partially occupies, neutral status for Ukraine, and an end to all Western military support.

9:53 PM

Ukraine insists on unconditional ceasefire at London peace talks.

The London meeting, originally intended as a ministerial-level summit involving the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and Ukraine, was notably downgraded after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff declined to participate.

9:46 PM

Crimea

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian.

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia's full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

9:36 PM

Ukrainian drone strike hits Russian drone factory over 1,000 kilometers from border, military claims.

The strike, carried out by Ukraine's Unmanned Systems Forces in coordination with other branches of the military, targeted a plant in the Alabuga Special Economic Zone of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, the General Staff said.

9:10 PM

US envoy Witkoff to meet Putin in Moscow on April 25, media reports.

The visit comes as the Trump administration intensifies efforts to broker a ceasefire in Russia's war against Ukraine. Washington has warned it may withdraw from the mediation process if no progress is made in the coming days.

8:08 PM

Video

Ukrainians react to US proposal of recognizing Crimea as Russian.

The U.S. media outlet Axios reported on April 23 that the U.S. President Donald Trump administration's final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included the U.S. de jure recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and de facto recognizing its control of other occupied Ukrainian territories. We asked Kyiv residents for their reactions to the U.S. proposal.

7:21 PM  (Updated:  April 23, 2025 7:55 pm)

Trump says 'nobody is asking' Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian.

"Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?" U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.

7:39 PM

Rubio skeptical Ukraine-Russia peace deal will happen this week.

“I don’t know about by the end of the week. I’m hopeful that we can get to something quickly,” U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said in an interview with the Honestly podcast on April 23.