20.04.2025

Reuters: Ukraine proposes that Russia abandon drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure for at least 30 days, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Sunday.

CNN: Ukraine accused Russia of breaching the Easter truce that was announced without prior warning by Putin on Saturday, with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky accusing Putin of only being interested in PR.

The Kyiv Independent: Russian forces during the so-called Easter ceasefire targeted a Ukrainian volunteer's vehicle with three FPV drones while it was evacuating civilians in Donetsk Oblast.

Ukrainska Pravda: On the Lyman front, Russian forces are reportedly using the so-called Easter truce as a cover to prepare routes for the movement of heavy military equipment.

The Kyiv Independent: Mercenaries who fought for Wagner Group in Ukraine are among those at the top of the list of requests from the Kremlin in prisoner swaps, Ukraine's military intelligence said on April 20.

The Guardian: Russia could play a key role in a deal on the future of Iran’s nuclear programme, with Moscow being touted not only as a possible destination for Iran’s stockpile of highly enriched uranium, but also as a possible arbiter of deal breaches.

The Kyiv Independent: Families of senior officers in Russia’s Black Sea Fleet have left Crimea in recent weeks, the Ukrainian partisan group Atesh reported on April 20. The group claimed that an internal directive was issued by Russian authorities in early April, mandating heightened security measures at military installations across Crimea.

Two Royal Air Force Typhoons have been scrambled three times in three days, from Malbork Air Base, to intercept unknown aircraft leaving Kaliningrad air space (Russia) and close to NATO airspace.

The Kyiv Independent: Ukrainian diplomat Andrii Melnyk has called on Germany’s incoming chancellor, Friedrich Merz, to fulfill his campaign promise and immediately deliver 150 Taurus cruise missiles to Ukraine, alongside a broader set of decisive actions to stop Russia’s full-scale war.

19.04.2025

CNN: The Trump administration is ready to recognize Russian control of Crimea as part of the US proposal to drive an end to the war with Ukraine, an official familiar with the framework told CNN on Friday.

The Kyiv Independent: Ukrainian forces have advanced in Russia's Belgorod Oblast, President Volodymyr Zelensky claimed on April 19, citing a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.

ABC News: Russia and Ukraine said Saturday they each swapped hundreds of prisoners in the largest exchange since the Russian full-scale invasion started over three years ago.

The Kyiv Independent: Russian troops are solidifying their presence in the village of Kalynove in Donetsk Oblast as they prepare for an advance toward Stara Mykolaivka and the road to Kostiantynivka, Ukrainian monitoring group DeepState reported on April 18. Russian forces are deploying infantry and establishing logistical routes and communication lines in Kalynove, according to DeepState.

The Guardian: Australia will use “whatever avenues” it can to help Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins, who faces a 15-year jail term in Russia for fighting with Ukrainian troops.

The Kyiv Independent: The U.S. shared a draft concept for monitoring a potential ceasefire in Ukraine with European and Ukrainian officials in Paris, the Wall Street Journal reported on April 18.

ISW: Kremlin mouthpieces continue to reject all US proposals to end the war in Ukraine that do not concede to all of Russia's demands for Ukraine, including regime change, demilitarization, and significant territorial concessions.

18.04.2025

Reuters: Italy has cleared with conditions UniCredit's takeover bid for rival Banco BPM, with sources saying a speedier exit from Russia is among demands set by Rome for the bank led by CEO Andrea Orcel.

Axios: Several days before Trump and members of his admin said publicly that they were prepared to wash their hands of Russia-Ukraine diplomacy, Trump ranted in private about his frustrations that the negotiations were going nowhere.

France 24: Trump said Friday the United States will "take a pass" on brokering further Ukraine war talks unless there is quick progress from Moscow and Kyiv.

Bloomberg: The US presented allies with proposals to enable a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine, including an outline of terms to end the fighting and ease sanctions on Moscow in the event of a lasting ceasefire. The proposal would effectively freeze the war, with Ukrainian territories now occupied by Russia remaining under Moscow’s control. Kyiv’s aspirations of joining NATO would also be off the table (archive).

The Kyiv Independent: Japan signed an agreement with Ukraine on April 18 to provide the country with a loan of 471.9 billion Japanese yen ($3 billion) covered by Russian assets.

Reuters: Ukraine imposed sanctions on three Chinese companies on Friday claiming they were involved in production of advanced Iskander missiles, a day after President Volodymyr Zelenskiy alleged that China had been supplying weapons to Russia.

Politico: Lithuania is set to upgrade and fortify a second route through the Suwałki Gap — a crucial choke point along the border with Poland that's seen as one of likeliest areas for any future Russian attack on the European Union and NATO.

The Kyiv Independent: A full ceasefire in Ukraine is "unrealistic," Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vasily Nebenzya said during an April 17 briefing, challenging diplomatic efforts to halt the fighting.

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