Ukrainian school janitor becomes jiu-jitsu world champion

8:56 AM  (Updated:  April 2, 2025 9:11 am)

3 killed, 18 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.

Russia launched 15 strike drones against the eastern city of Kharkiv, Mayor Ihor Terekhov reported. Eight people, including three children, suffered from shock, the State Emergency Service said, reporting no physical injuries.

9:04 AM

Georgian Parliament passes updated foreign agents law.

The Georgian Parliament passed the final reading of a new “foreign agents” law, Sova reported on April 1.

8:33 AM

Putin's negotiator to meet Witkoff in Washington this week, CNN reports.

The U.S. reportedly temporarily eased sanctions to allow Kirill Dmitriev to obtain a visa for what will be the first high-level Russian official visit to the U.S. since the outbreak of Russia's full-scale war against Ukraine in 2022.

8:12 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 918,180 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,410 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:28 AM

$18 million 'Ukraine2EU' program launched to support Ukraine’s eventual European Union accession.

The European Union is launching the Ukraine2EU program worth 16.7 million euros ($18 million) to support to support Ukraine’s preparation for EU membership, officials announced on April 1.

4:55 AM

Latvia to provide 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine.

Latvia will provide 1,500 combat drones to Ukraine, the country’s Defense Minister Andris Spruds said on April 1.

3:32 AM

Bipartisan group of US senators introduce 'hard-hitting' sanctions against Russia.

"The dominating view in the United States Senate is that Russia is the aggressor, and that this horrific war and Putin’s aggression must end now and be deterred in the future," the press release on April 1 said.

2:47 AM

Ukraine's NATO membership not included, never was in minerals deal, Zelensky says.

"As for this agreement and the NATO question, there is no mention of NATO in this agreement, and there never was," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 1.

1:01 AM

Moscow won't accept US proposals on Ukraine peace 'in current form,' Russian official claims.

"As far as we can see, there is no place in (the U.S. proposals) today for our main demand, namely to solve the problems related to the root causes of this conflict," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov claimed on April 1.

11:34 PM

'Coalition of the Willing' to meet in Ukraine on April 4, Zelensky says.

"(W)e will hold a meeting on Friday, there will be a meeting of our military teams among several countries, a narrow circle of countries. Those who will be ready to deploy a contingent in one form or another," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 1.

10:55 PM

Kursk incursion

As Russian troops retake settlements in Kursk Oblast, Ukraine launches attack on adjacent Russian region

10:24 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine drop to lowest level since June 2024.

9:39 PM

Cybersecurity

Massive data leak: Ukrainian IDs, other documents exposed by years of cyber negligence

9:18 PM

Interview

US overestimated its ability to deal with Russia over past 35 years, Alexander Vindman says

9:12 PM

Pro-Russian Bosnian Serb leader Dodik surfaces in Moscow amid charges in Bosnia.

On April 1, the Kremlin showed footage of Russian President Vladimir Putin shaking hands with Pro-Russian Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik, saying he was "very happy" to see him in the Russian capital.

8:36 PM

War analysis

The rise and fall of Ukraine's Kursk gambit

8:36 PM

Russia submits list of alleged Ukrainian ceasefire violations to US, UN and OSCE, Lavrov says.

"The list of violations cited by [Defense Minister] Andrei Belousov at the Security Council meeting, we handed over to U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.

8:13 PM

Allies must impose 'hard measures' on Russia to prevent stalled peace talks, Lithuanian FM says.

"So, in purpose to cut this trend, in purpose to stop this scenario, we have to show and introduce the hard measures sooner than later," Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys said.

7:06 PM

Russia's territorial gains in Ukraine drop to lowest level since June 2024, monitoring group says.

Despite the slowdown, Russian forces continue offensive operations, particularly in Donetsk Oblast's Pokrovsk sector, where fighting intensified at the end of March.

5:18 PM

Finland to exit Ottawa landmine convention, aim for 3% GDP defense spending by 2029.

"This is a part of Finland's contribution to Europe taking greater responsibility for our own defense," Finnish President Alexander Stubb posted on X.

5:14 PM

Video

Lithuanian FM on Europe's role in ending Russia's war.

The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys during his visit to Kyiv on April 1 to discuss the future of Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, whether European sanctions remain an effective instrument to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Lithuania's contribution to the "coalition of the willing."

5:00 PM

EU transfers $37 billion to Ukraine under Ukraine Facility program, PM Shmyhal says.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the funds would support Ukraine's macroeconomic stability, adding that total financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility has now reached 19.6 billion euros ($21.1 billion).

4:13 PM

India looking for new oil suppliers amid Trump's threats to tighten sanctions on Russia, Bloomberg reports.

Donald Trump previously threatened to impose additional tariffs against Russia, threatening a "25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."

3:39 PM

4 Ukrainians killed, 4 injured in car accident in Austria.

The accident occurred at about 6:20 a.m. local time near the town of Seebenstein on the way to Vienna.

3:34 PM

Trump's Ukraine ceasefire proposals don't address 'root causes' of war, Moscow claims.

Russia takes U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine "seriously" but cannot accept them "as they are now," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian outlet International Affairs Journal published on April 1.