Key developments on April 29: * Putin's Victory Day truce proposal 'is start of direct negotiations' with Ukraine, Lavrov says * Russia intensifies offensive operations in 3 regions, pushes toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine's military says * Ukrainian drones reportedly target Ryazan, Nizhny Novgorod oblasts in Russia * Dnipropetrovsk Oblast's eastern villages evacuating families as
The figure has almost doubled since November, according to the New Europe Center.
Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations in three Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – Ukraine's Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, Vladyslav Voloshyn, said on April 29 during Ukraine's state-run telethon.
"Our proposal, which President Putin voiced, is the start of direct negotiations, without preconditions," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
U.S. President Donald Trump's promise to negotiate a peace in Ukraine within his first 100 days in office has collided with an unavoidable truth — a slew of Russian attacks during this time have spiked civilian death tolls, and a peace deal is still out of reach. "There is no
Which European countries have the highest demand for goods and services from Ukrainian producers? How can the integration of Ukrainian business into the EU Single Market be accelerated, and what is the role of business associations and clusters in this process? For the first time in Ukraine, a comprehensive analysis
U.S. President Donald Trump has said he believes Ukraine will be "crushed very shortly," as it is up against Russia's "big war machine" that it cannot defeat. "I think I'm saving that nation. I think I'm doing a great service to Ukraine. I believe that," he said in an
"Russia could stop the killing and the bombing at any time, so there's absolutely no need to wait until the 8th of May," European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper said.
North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Kursk Oblast could be redeployed to fight in Ukraine itself, experts and Ukrainian officials have told the Kyiv Independent, though there is still much uncertainty about the next steps Pyongyang's soldiers could take. Such a move would have huge ramifications for Russia's full-scale
On March 29, the sanctioned Russia-flagged vessel Sv. Nikolay quietly docked at the Algerian port of Anaba near the coal terminal, waiting to be unloaded. The metallurgical coke the ship was carrying — a key ingredient in steelmaking produced from coal — had been stolen. The Kyiv Independent traced the vessel’s
During the examination in Ukraine, it turned out that journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna's brain, eyes, and part of the trachea had been removed, the investigation said.
Giorgia Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced support for U.S. President Donald Trump's effort to broker a peace between Ukraine and Russia and lauded President Volodymyr Zelensky's readiness for an unconditional truce.
The EU does not rule out "decoupling" Moldova's accession process from that of Ukraine due to Hungary's opposition to Kyiv's entry, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on April 28.
Russia's Interior Ministry drafted a bill on granting asylum to foreigners unable to uphold so-called "traditional family values" in their home countries, the Russian state-controlled RBC news agency reported on April 29, citing the document and an undisclosed source.
The government approved the appointments of three deputy defense ministers to ensure "greater efficiency and agility" in the ministry's work and boost ties with foreign partners, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on April 29.
"At today's Security Council meeting, we urge members to express their strong support for Ukraine's steps toward peace, clearly condemn Russia's escalated terror against civilians, and take a principled stance on the need to put more pressure on Moscow," Ukraine's Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Yaroslav Moskalik prepared reports for President Putin on the situation in Ukraine, according to an obituary from the Russian Defense Ministry.
"Indeed, there are legal issues related to legitimacy, but in this case, starting the peaceful settlement process takes precedence, and the primary thing is to begin this negotiation process," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
The evacuation order, issued by Governor Serhii Lysak on April 25, concerns the villages of Kolona Mezhova, Novopigorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka in the Mezhova community.
"I think it must be clear for everybody... especially for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, that we will stand with Ukraine. We will support Ukraine and... offer Ukraine the opportunity to be on level with Russia," German Foreign Minister-designate Johann Wadephul said.
European and Ukrainian officials are concerned that U.S. President Donald Trump is about to use minor progress in peace talks as an excuse to leave the process, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 28, citing undisclosed sources.
According to Russia's Defense Ministry, Russian air defense shot down 91 Ukrainian drones, including eight over Nizhny Novgorod Oblast and 11 over Ryazan Oblast. Drones were also downed in Kursk, Oryol, Moscow, Belgorod, Kaluga, Bryansk oblast and in Russian-occupied Crimea, the ministry reported.
Ukrainian air defenses shot down 37 of the 100 attack and decoy drones launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported. Forty-seven decoy drones disappeared from radars without causing damage.
"Over the years of war and Russian attacks on our energy system, Ukraine has gained significant experience in overcoming any energy challenges, including blackouts," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
The number includes 1,060 casualties that Russian forces suffered over the past day.
"I think I'm saving that nation ... I think I'm doing a great service to Ukraine," Trump told the Atlantic, while refusing to promise to send military aid to Kyiv.
"I think there's this weird idea among the mainstream media that if this thing goes on for just another few years, the Russians will collapse, the Ukrainians will take their territory back, and everything will go back to the way that it was before the war. That is not the reality that we live in."
Zelensky also praised Ukraine's foreign intelligence and security services for their measures "to counter Russian agent networks in Ukraine and saboteurs."
The U.S. has not granted the necessary formal permission to allow the transfer of Australia's retired tanks to another country, Australian defense officials told the ABC.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio "underscored to his Russian counterpart the next steps in Russia-Ukraine peace talks and the need to end the war now," U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce said.
One person was injured, and fires have been reported in Kyiv amid a Russian drone attack overnight on April 29.
"In the next eight to ten days, we will increase pressure on Russia. I remain cautious (of a ceasefire) because part of the equation depends on Moscow," French President Emmanuel Macron said.
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