When U.S. President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine last month, the man described as his "spiritual advisor," Pastor Mark Burns, backed the decision. This week, Burns is urging him to send Kyiv more tanks, fighter jets, and air defense. "I now believe that supporting Ukraine is America
The following is the April 9, 2025 edition of our Ukraine Business Roundup weekly newsletter. To get the biggest news in business and tech from Ukraine directly in your inbox, subscribe here. President Trump shocked the world on April 2 when he announced what he dubbed “Liberation Day,” slapping tariffs
Transport visa-free regime is a part of Ukraine's sectoral integration into Europe and a prerequisite for our membership in the European Union," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said.
Editor’s note: This is issue 20 of Ukrainian lawmaker Yaroslav Zhelezniak’s weekly "Ukraine Reforms Tracker" covering events from March 24–April 6, 2025. The digest highlights steps taken in the Ukrainian parliament related to business, economics, and international financial programs. The Kyiv Independent is republishing with permission. Benchmarks
The Trump administration has ruled out U.S. participation in the so-called "reassurance force," but London and Paris sought to convince Washington to at least provide airpower, intelligence support, or border surveillance as a backstop to the coalition's efforts.
Preliminary criteria say that foreign firms willing to return to Russia will not be allowed to do so if they have a "hostile position," finance Ukraine's Armed Forces, or are classified as "undesirable organizations" or "foreign agents."
The April 11 meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG) will take place in Brussels under the chairmanship of the U.K. and Germany.
A 16-year-old boy is in serious condition, Governor Serhii Lysak said. A dormitory and five cars were damaged in the attack.
Ukraine will begin technical consultations with the U.S. on the minerals agreement on April 11, Deputy Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration and Justice Minister Olha Stefanishyna said, as reported by Interfax-Ukraine on April 10.
Ukraine's Foreign Ministry on April 10 again denounced the religious persecution carried out by Russia in the occupied Ukrainian territories, accusing Moscow of killing dozens of clergy members and damaging hundreds of churches.
"Zero tolerance for corruption is being established within the Armed Forces. Therefore, any steps aimed at discrediting the Ukrainian army will be dealt with severely," Ukraine's Military Law Enforcement Service said.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 85 of the 145 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Forty-nine drones disappeared from radars without causing damage, according to the statement.
"The scheme looks like it all leads to the unblocking of economic relations. They (Russia) want, for example, the lifting of sanctions against specific people who will be behind this or that direction, for example, Russian minerals, which they will offer them (the U.S.)," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
One of the captives served in the 2nd Battalion of Russia's 157th Motorized Rifle Brigade and was captured near Tarasivka, while the other fought in the 1st Battalion of the 81st Motorized Rifle Brigade and was captured near Bilohorivka, according to the SBU
The number includes 1,420 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.
The overnight drone strike against the regional center damaged several residential buildings and left 10 people injured, according to Mykolaiv Oblast Governor Vitalii Kim.
Ukrainian, French, and British military officials have been discussing Ukraine’s requirements for a potential peacekeeping mission, with Ukraine aiming to secure peacekeepers to prevent future Russian aggression.
The Autonomous Trade Measures were introduced by the European Union on June 4, 2022, to provide temporary tariff-free and quota-free access for Ukrainian goods.
"There are a lot of attempts there, daily. They (Russia) are bearing losses... There will be more attempts in the Kharkiv and Sumy directions," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"I believe that certain time limits will provide opportunities to put pressure on Russia. If you have a ceasefire for an unclear period — it is a frozen conflict," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Key developments on April 9: * Over 160 Chinese nationals fight for Russia in Ukraine, obtained documents show * Russia's spring offensive has "effectively already begun," Syrskyi says * Ukraine open to buy US military aid package for $50 billion, Zelensky says * Russian military airfield reportedly targeted in mass drone attack At least
According to U.S. President Donald Trump, more than 75 countries have approached the U.S. to discuss trade, trade barriers and tariffs and have not retaliated against Washington.
The president stressed that Ukraine is ready to contribute its land and resources, but expects the U.S. to bring in technologies and capital.
"We handed over to the American side a large package that we want to buy. To buy in one form or another," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Shmyhal highlighted progress made in areas including customs, intellectual property rights, education, information exchange, humanitarian policy, justice, public procurement, and national security.
The documents, obtained by the Kyiv Independent, list the names, personal data, brigades, and ranks of Chinese nationals fighting for Russia.
Revolut, the London-based digital bank, has suspended registration of new customers in Ukraine, a company press office told The Kyiv Independent on April 9.
Russian soldiers used to fire around 40,000 rounds of ammunition daily, but a series of long-range attacks reduced this number to around 23,000, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi said.
"Our priority is the abolition of duties, not escalation," Deputy Economy Minister and Trade Representative Taras Kachka said.
The man was among two Chinese nationals taken prisoner near the villages of Tarasivka and Bilohorivka during a clash between Ukrainian troops and a Russian assault group on April 8.
"We are grateful to our partners for supporting the economy and the rapid recovery of our country," Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said after meeting EU Economy Commissioner Valdis Dombrovskis in Brussels.
According to its designers, the drone has already been deployed in combat and has successfully destroyed more than 20 Shahed-type drones over the past two months.
(Updated: )
