Volodymyr Zelensky has accused Vladimir Putin of breaking an “Easter truce” declared by the Russian president just hours ago.
The Ukrainian president said, according to his top commander, Russian artillery fire had not subsided despite Mr Putin ordering forces to pause fighting from 6pm on Saturday (4pm UK time) until Monday.
Mr Putin had said he assumed Ukraine would follow his example and stop hostilities, and added that Russia’s armed forces would be ready to repel possible “violations and provocations” by Ukraine.
However, shortly before 8pm UK time, Mr Zelensky wrote on X: "As of now, according to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided.
"Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow."
He recalled that Russia had last month rejected a US-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, but said if Moscow agreed to "truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia's actions".
Later on Saturday night, in another social media post, Mr Zelensky said attacks were continuing in the Kursk and Belgorod regions - both areas Ukrainian troops have crossed the border into.
It comes after US president Donald Trump doubled down on Washington’s threats to abandon talks aimed at brokering a peace deal if there are no signs of immediate progress.
Key Points
- Putin announces surprise 'Easter truce'
- Zelensky says Russian artillery fire has not subsided despite ceasefire
- Fighting ongoing in Russian border regions, Zelensky says
- Ukrainian minister says Putin can't be trusted following Easter ceasefire announcement
- Everything we know about Putin's Easter ceasefire
- Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in latest swap with Russia
Zelensky says fighting ongoing in Russian border regions despite Putin's Easter ceasefire declaration
22:44 , Jabed AhmedFighting continued in Russia's border regions of Kursk and Belgorod despite President Vladimir Putin's declaration of a Eastern ceasefire, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
"Kursk and Belgorod regions - Putin's Easter statements did not spread to this territory," Mr Zelensky said in a social media post, referring to two Russian border regions where Ukrainian forces have made incursions. "Fighting continues, Russian strikes continue."
Zelensky did not provide evidence and The Independent could not verify the report.
Analysis | How Ukraine’s 2.5-bn-year-old rock deposit became central to helping stop Russia
22:30 , Jabed Ahmed
How a 2.5bn-year-old rock deposit became central to helping stop Russia’s invasion
UK urges Russia to commit to full ceasefire in Ukraine
21:59 , Jabed AhmedThe UK government has urged Russia to commit to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, "not just a one-day pause".
"Ukraine has committed to a full ceasefire. We urge Russia to do the same," a foreign office spokesperson said, adding that a pause would enable negotiations for a just and enduring peace.
"Now is the moment for Putin to show he is serious about peace by ending his horrible invasion.”
EU says it wants to see proof of Russia halting aggression in Ukraine
21:29 , Jabed AhmedThe European Union has reacted cautiously to Russian President Vladimir Putin's declaration an Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, saying Moscow could stop the war immediately if it wanted to.
"Russia has a track record as an aggressor, so first we need to see any actual halt of the aggression and clear deeds for a lasting ceasefire," said Anitta Hipper, the European Commission's lead spokesperson for foreign affairs and security.
Ms Hipper added that it had been more than a month since Ukraine agreed to an unconditional ceasefire.
"Russia could stop this war at any moment if it really wanted to... We continue to support Ukraine for a long, just and comprehensive peace."
Full report | Putin orders 30-hour pause in Ukraine war in surprise ‘Easter truce’ - but Kyiv remains skeptical
20:28 , Jabed AhmedMy collegue Tara Cobham reports:
Putin orders 30-hour pause in Ukraine war in ‘Easter truce’ - but Kyiv is skeptical
Zelensky says Russian artillery fire has not subsided
19:38 , Jabed AhmedUkrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that, according to his top commander, Russian artillery fire had not subsided despite the Kremlin's proclamation of an Easter ceasefire.
"As of now, according to the Commander-in-Chief reports, Russian assault operations continue on several frontline sectors, and Russian artillery fire has not subsided," Zelensky wrote on X.
"Therefore, there is no trust in words coming from Moscow."
He recalled that Russia had last month rejected a US-proposed full 30-day ceasefire and said that if Moscow agreed to "truly engage in a format of full and unconditional silence, Ukraine will act accordingly — mirroring Russia's actions".
"If a complete ceasefire truly takes hold, Ukraine proposes extending it beyond the Easter day of April 20," Zelensky wrote.
ICYMI | Trump's latest comments on Ukraine peace talks
19:29 , Jabed AhmedOn Friday, Donald Trump said the US could “take a pass” on Ukraine peace talks if they become too difficult but added he thought there was a “good chance” of succeeding.
Mr Trump’s Secretary of State Marco Rubio had suggested that Washington could “move on” if progress is not made within days in comments after a meeting in Paris with UK, EU and Ukrainian delegations.
Mr Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday that “Marco is right in saying … we want to see it end”.
“If for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we’re going to say you’re fools, you’re foolish, and we’re just going to take a pass,” he said.
But he added he believes there is “a good chance of solving the problem”.
Asked if Russian President Vladimir Putin was dragging his feet on negotiations, Mr Trump replied: “I hope not.”
Trump on course for failure on Ukraine peace deal, Ben Wallace warns
18:58 , Jabed AhmedOur Political Correspondent Archie Mitchell reports:
Trump on course for failure on Ukraine peace deal, Ben Wallace warns
Russian military chief says Ukrainian troops are almost fully ejected from Kursk
18:29 , Jabed AhmedMoscow's troops have driven out Ukrainian forces from nearly all of Russia's western Kursk region, Russia's military chief Valery Gerasimov has said.
"The bulk of the area where the invasion took place has now been cleared," Mr Gerasimov told president Vladimir Putin in a televised meeting.
"It's 1,260 square km, 99.5%."
Russia has been trying to eject Ukrainian forces from Kursk since August last year after Kyiv's troops mounted a surprise incursion that embarrassed Putin and which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hoped would give him a bargaining chip in any future talks to end the war.
Mr Gerasimov said Ukraine was holding onto just 3 square km of Kursk around the villages of Oleshnya and Gornal, which lie just on the border.
The Defence Ministry said on Saturday that Russia had recaptured Oleshnya from Ukraine.
In recent weeks Russia has retaken a swath of territory inside Kursk and has begun to push ahead into Ukraine's neighbouring Sumy region.
At the same time, Ukraine has also made a fresh push into Russia's Belgorod region, south of Kursk. Gerasimov told Putin that troops were successfully suppressing Ukrainian attacks there.
Ukrainian official says Russian forces still open fire despite ceasefire
18:12 , Jabed AhmedA Ukrainian official has said that Russian forces were continuing to open fire on Ukrainian positions despite Russian President Vladimir Putin's proclamation of an Easter ceasefire.
"The Russians are trying to pretend that they are 'peacekeepers', but they already refused an unconditional ceasefire on March 11 and now are conducting an information operation, talking about a 'truce' but continuing to shoot without stopping," Andriy Kovalenko, head of the Centre for Countering Disinformation, wrote on Telegram.
"This is all with the aim of blaming Ukraine," wrote Mr Kovalenko, whose centre is a body within the National Security and Defence Council.
Watch | Putin says ‘humanitarian considerations’ prompted Easter ceasefire with Ukraine
17:59 , Jabed AhmedUkrainian minister says Putin can't be trusted following Easter ceasefire announcement
17:10 , Jabed AhmedUkraine's foreign minister has said that Ukraine could not trust Russian President Vladimir Putin over his declaration of an Easter ceasefire and added that Kyiv stood by its original agreement to abide by a 30-day cease fire.
"Ukraine’s position remains clear and consistent: back in Jeddah on March 11, we agreed unconditionally to the U.S. proposal of a full interim ceasefire for 30 days," Minister Andrii Sybiha said on X.
"Putin has now made statements about his alleged readiness for a ceasefire. 30 hours instead of 30 days.
"Russia can agree at any time to the proposal for a full and unconditional 30-day ceasefire, which has been on the table since March.... We know his words cannot be trusted and we will look at actions, not words."
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
16:46 , Jabed AhmedIn March, the Kremlin said US President Donald Trump had requested that Russia refrain from striking energy infrastructure.
It added that Mr Putin had responded “positively” to this request and had “immediately given the Russian military the corresponding command”.
However, Mr Putin broke his promise to Mr Trump just hours after his agreement. Russia fired several ballistic missiles and nearly 150 drones across Ukraine a few hours later
The Russian president has an extensive history of breaking peace agreements.
Read the full report from my colleague Tom Watling:
How many times has Vladimir Putin broken ceasefire agreements with Ukraine?
Ukraine brings home 277 POWs in latest swap with Russia, Zelensky says
16:20 , Jabed AhmedPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said that 277 Ukrainian service personnel had returned home from Russian captivity in the latest swap with Moscow.
The Ukrainian president thanked the United Arab Emirates for mediating the exchange. He said a total of 4,552 Ukrainians - service personnel and civilians - had been returned since the start of Russia's invasion in 2022.
“We remember all those who remain in captivity,” he said in a post on X. “We are searching for everyone who could be there. We must bring them all home.”
The Russian defence ministry said Russia had received 246 troops in the swap.
The Russian POWs are in Belarus, the ministry said, where they were being provided with medical and psychological care.
Zelensky says Russian drones in Ukrainian skies show Moscow's true attitude
15:56 , Jabed AhmedUkrainian air defence units were repelling an attack by Russian drones, President Volodymyr Zelensky said, adding that Russian drones in Ukrainian skies showed Moscow's true attitude to Easter and the lives of people.
In a post on social media, he said he had just received a report from Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi.
“Today, our forces continued their activity on the territory of the Kursk region and are holding their positions. In the Belgorod region, our warriors have advanced and expanded our zone of control,” he said.
He also referenced ongoing Russian drone attacks, saying air raid sirens were sounding across Ukraine as of 5.15pm local time.
“Ukrainian air defense and aviation have already begun working to protect us,” he said, adding that the use of Shahed drones on Easter revealed “Putin’s true attitude toward Easter and toward human life.”
What do we know about Putin's Easter ceasefire?
15:48 , Jabed AhmedVladimir Putin has announced there will be an Easter ceasefire.
He has ordered his forces to end hostilities at 6 pm Moscow time (3pm GMT) on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
The Russian Defence Ministry said it had given instructions on the ceasefire to all group commanders in the area of the "special military operation", the Kremlin's term for the war.
Why has he ordered a ceasfire?
Mr Putin said the ceasefire is based on “humanitarian considerations”.
"Based on humanitarian considerations ... the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period," Putin told his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, at a meeting in the Kremlin.
Has Ukraine responded?
There was no immediate reaction from Ukraine.
However, the Russian president said: "We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions.”
Russian troops will adhere to the ceasefire provided it is "mutually respected" by Ukraine, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement.
An Easter ceasefire was proposed in 2022 - but it never materialised
15:42 , Jabed AhmedThis is not the first time an Easter truce has been suggested to pause the fighting in the war.
Back in 2022, just a few months after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, a ceasefire was proposed to take place between 21 and 25 April.
UN Secretary-General António Guterres put forward the idea, aiming to "open a series of humanitarian corridors" and allow for the "safe exit of all civilians wishing to leave areas of confrontation".
But the plan never came to fruition.
While Ukraine expressed support for the proposal, Russia rejected it, saying it did not want to give Kyiv’s forces a chance to rest.
Russia’s deputy permanent representative to the UN, Mr Dmitry Polyansky, called the proposal “insincere” and claimed it would give Ukrainian troops more time to regroup and receive weapons.
In full: Putin's statement on Easter ceasefire
15:40 , Alex RossAs we’ve been reporting, the Kremlin has shared a statement from Russian president Vladimir Putin in which he declares a temporary Easter ceasefire in Ukraine.
At a meeting with chief of the general staff Valery Gerasimov, Mr Putin is quoted as saying: "Guided by humanitarian considerations, today from 18.00 to 00.00 from Sunday to Monday, the Russian side declares an Easter truce.
"I order that all military actions be stopped for this period.
"We assume that the Ukrainian side will follow our example. At the same time, our troops must be ready to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations from the enemy, any of its aggressive actions.”
Russian Defence Ministry says ceasefire will be respected if Ukraine also complies
15:17 , Jabed AhmedThe Russian defence ministry has said the ceasefire is imposed for humanitarian purposes and will be respected by the Russian military group on the condition that Ukraine mutually observes it.
Putin's Easter truce in Ukraine
15:15 , Jabed AhmedRussian President Vladimir Putin has declared a unilateral Easter ceasefire in Ukraine, ordering his forces to end hostilities at 6pm on Saturday until the end of Sunday.
However, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian air defence units were repelling an attack by Russian drones on Saturday. He said this showed Moscow's true attitude to Easter and the lives of people.
"Based on humanitarian considerations ... the Russian side announces an Easter truce. I order a stop to all military activities for this period," Putin told his military chief, Valery Gerasimov, at a meeting in the Kremlin.
"We assume that Ukraine will follow our example. At the same time, our troops should be prepared to repel possible violations of the truce and provocations by the enemy, any aggressive actions," Putin added.
The Russian Defence Ministry said it had given instructions on the ceasefire to all group commanders in the area of the "special military operation", the Kremlin's term for the war.
Russian troops will adhere to the ceasefire provided it is "mutually respected" by Ukraine, the ministry said in a statement.
Breaking: Kremlin announces temporary ceasefire
15:09 , Jabed AhmedThe Kremlin has announced a temporary ceasefire from 6pm today until midnight 21 April.
We’ll bring you the latest information as it comes through.
Watch: Farms engulfed in flames after Russia’s overnight attacks on Odesa
15:00 , Tara CobhamComment: Why US diplomats Witkoff and Rubio are now courting the Europeans
14:00 , Tara CobhamAre the Americans and the Europeans finally converging on a peace plan for Ukraine? Or was this week’s Paris meeting the prelude to an imminent parting of the ways?
The outcome, judging by the sparse statements produced by the two sides, can be read either way – although neither would seem to offer great hope of an early end to the war or of stronger support for Ukraine against Russia.
The first, suggested by the brief statement from the Elysee Palace soon afterwards, was that the Europeans and the Americans had found some common ground. Discussions, it said, had “focused mainly on the peace negotiations aimed at ending the Russian aggression in Ukraine”, and crucially went on: “building on the talks between the President of the Republic and President Trump, as well as on the work of the Coalition of the Willing, co-chaired by France and the United Kingdom...”
Mary Dejevsky writes:
Why US diplomats Witkoff and Rubio are now courting the Europeans
US vice president JD Vance has met the Vatican's number two official after Cardinal Pietro Parolin urged that no peace deal be "imposed" on Ukraine.
Mr Vance, a Catholic convert, arrived in Vatican City on Saturday for an appointment with secretary of state Mr Parolin and foreign minister Archbishop Paul Gallagher.
The Holy See has responded cautiously to the Trump administration, in keeping with its tradition of diplomatic neutrality, although it has continued to insist on a peaceful resolution to the war in Ukraine.
"It is clear that the approach of the current US administration is very different from what we are used to and, especially in the West, from what we have relied on for many years," Mr Parolin told La Repubblica on the eve of Mr Vance’s visit.
As the US pushes to end the war in Ukraine, Mr Parolin reaffirmed Kyiv's right to its territorial integrity and insisted that any peace deal must not be "imposed" on Ukraine but "is built patiently, day by day, with dialogue and mutual respect".
Mr Vance was spending Easter weekend in Rome with his family and attended Good Friday services in St Peter's Basilica after meeting with Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni.
Russia says Ukraine struck its energy infrastructure 10 times in last 24 hours
12:44 , Tara CobhamRussia's Defence Ministry on Saturday accused Ukraine of attacking Russian energy facilities 10 times over the past 24 hours.
The US brokered a 30-day moratorium in March between Ukraine and Russia against strikes on each other's energy infrastructure. Both sides have repeatedly accused the other of violating it.
On Friday, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov, when asked if the energy moratorium was over, said it had already been a month but that no orders from the president had been received to change Russia's position.
Full story: US threatens to walk away from Russia-Ukraine peace talks ‘within days’
12:00 , Tara CobhamThe US will walk away from talks aimed at brokering a Russia-Ukraine peace deal within days unless there are clear signs that an agreement can be reached, US secretary of state Marco Rubio has warned.
Mr Rubio’s threats came at the start of the Easter weekend, after Russia’s latest attack on Ukraine left one person dead and 98 injured in Kharkiv on Friday morning. US officials said last month that the US president hoped to secure a ceasefire agreement by 20 April, a symbolic date on which Western and Orthodox celebrations of Easter will overlap this year – and one that is fast approaching, with no deal currently in close sight.
Thursday showed signs of some progress in the US talks with Ukraine, after Donald Trump said he expected to sign a minerals deal with Kyiv next week. Negotiations had been delayed after his explosive Oval Office clash with Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky in February.
Read the full story here:
US threatens to walk away from Russia-Ukraine peace talks ‘within days’
Russian forces capture village in eastern Ukraine, defence ministry says
11:30 , Tara CobhamRussia's Defence Ministry said on Saturday that its troops had taken control of the village of Shevchenko in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region.
The battlefield report could not be independently verified.
Trump backs far away from promising to end Russia-Ukraine war in 24 hours
11:00 , Tara CobhamDuring his campaign, Donald Trump said repeatedly that he would be able to end the war between Russia and Ukraine "in 24 hours" upon taking office. He has changed his tone since becoming president again.
As various US emissaries have held talks looking for an end to the war, both Trump and his top officials have become more reserved about the prospects of a peace deal. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Friday suggested the US might soon back away from negotiations altogether without more progress, adding a comment that sounded like a repudiation of the president's old comments.
"No one's saying this can be done in 12 hours," he told reporters.
The promises made by presidential candidates are often felled by the realities of governing. But Mr Trump's shift is noteworthy given his prior term as president and his long histories with both Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Russian forces retake village from Ukraine in Kursk region, state news agency reports
10:30 , Tara CobhamRussian troops recaptured the village of Oleshnya in Russia's western Kursk region from Ukrainian forces, the RIA state news agency cited the Russian defence ministry as saying on Saturday.
The battlefield report could not be independently verified.
Russia has been fighting to eject Ukrainian troops from Kursk since Kyiv sent its forces across the border in a lightning incursion in August 2024.
Watch: Trump insists he's not being 'played by Russia' as Ukraine peace talks stall
10:01 , Tara CobhamEditorial: The abject failure of Donald Trump’s peace initiative is now plain for all to see
09:28 , Tara CobhamPainful as it is to recall at this juncture, it was not so very long ago that Donald Trump – as candidate and then as president-elect – bragged that he could end the war in Ukraine “in a day” – or, just to emphasise the spurious precision and seriousness of his outlandish claim, “within 24 hours”. Perhaps the president was speaking figuratively, after all.
Since he took power almost 100 days ago, it is fair to say that progress has been slow, and that what little has been achieved by the various rounds of peace talks – often with Ukraine cruelly absent – has not been sustained.
Even Mr Trump has declared himself “very angry” and “pissed off” at the delays, which have usually been caused by Russia playing for time in a fairly blatant manner. Yet that was a month ago, and even a threat (which turned out to be empty) to sanction Russia’s oil export trade failed to push Moscow along the path towards peace.
Read more here:
The abject failure of Donald Trump’s peace initiative is now plain for all to see
Russia launches barrage of missiles and drones on Ukraine overnight
09:00 , Vishwam SankaranRussia launched 8 missiles and nearly 90 drones, damaging infrastructure in five regions across Ukraine on Friday night.
More than a third of the drones were shot down, and another 36 were redirected by electronic warfare, the Ukrainian air force said.
It remains unclear how many people were injured in the attack.
"During the night of April 19, 2025 (from 9:00 p.m. Kyiv time on April 18), the Russian occupiers carried out a strike on Ukraine with ground- and air-launched missiles and attack UAVs," the air force said in a statement.
Damage has been recorded in five of Ukraine's regions in the south, northeast and east, it said.
However, the air force did not reveal details regarding the fate of the missiles.
The statement noted that the eight missiles included three Iskander ballistic missiles as well as anti-ship missiles suspected to be launched from the Crimean region.
Russia jails teen for quoting Ukrainian poet
08:44 , Vishwam SankaranA St. Petersburg court sentenced a 19-year-old Russian activist for nearly three months on Friday after she affixed a quote from a Ukrainian poem onto a monument.
Darya Kozyreva was sentenced to two years and eight months in a penal colony for “discrediting” the Russian army after she affixed a verse from a Ukrainian poet. Taras Shevchenko’s "My Testament" to his statue in St Petersburg.
The quote she pasted reads: “Oh bury me, then rise ye up. And break your heavy chains. And water with the tyrants’ blood. The freedom you have gained” (translation by John Weir).
She was arrested in February 2024 and has spent over a year in pre-trial detention, according to local news sources.
In her defiant final statement at the court, Ms Kozyreva said: "I still dream that Ukraine will reclaim every inch of its territory: Donbas, Crimea, all of it. And I believe that one day, it will. History will judge, and judge fairly. But Ukraine has already won. It has won. That’s all."
Ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes has ended, Kremlin says
08:22 , Vishwam SankaranKremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on Friday that the temporary ceasefire agreement on the use of long-range missiles targeting energy infrastructure had ended.
It remains unclear whether there will be an intensification of long-range missile strikes, as the terms of the ceasefire were never made public.
Peskov added that the Russian president has not issued any further instructions.
On Thursday, the Ukrainian president warned energy workers that Russia may escalate strikes on Ukraine around Easter.
Australia pledges support for Melbourne man charged by Russia over fighting in Ukraine
08:10 , Vishwam SankaranAustralia says it would use “whatever avenues” it can to help release Melbourne man Oscar Jenkins, facing a 15-year jail term in Russia for fighting on Ukraine's side.
Australian prime minister Anthony Albanese said his administration would “continue to make representations to the reprehensible regime of Vladimir Putin" for Jenkins' release.
Australian teacher believed killed by Russia is alive, foreign minister says
The 33-year-old former teacher reportedly arrived in Ukraine to participate as a mercenary in the war and was paid up to $15,000 a month to fight on Ukraine's side.
The Australian prime minister said his government would “stand up and use whatever avenues we have at our disposal to continue to make those representations".
Ukraine bans Chinese firms for making missiles for Russia
07:56 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine has imposed sanctions against three Chinese companies for their involvement in manufacturing Russian Iskander missiles, which is a road-mobile nuclear-capable short-range missile system developed by Russia.
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky said these companies were involved in the production of these missiles such as the one that struck Kharkiv on Friday, killing one civilian and injuring nearly 100 others.
Firms banned by Ukraine include Beijing Aviation And Aerospace Xianghui Technology Co. Ltd, Rui Jin Machinery Co. Ltd, and Zhongfu Shenying Carbon Fiber Xining Co. Ltd – all registered in China and allegedly operating in Russia.
You can read more about the missile system here:
Russian cluster missile strike kills 1, injures nearly 100 in Kharkiv
07:47 , Vishwam SankaranA Russian missile strike at a residential area of Kharkiv has killed one civilian and injured 98 others on Friday, according to the city's mayor, Ihor Terekhov.
The ballistic missiles were equipped with cluster munitions, causing widespread damage to at least 21 apartment buildings, 40 houses, and two schools, the mayor said.
Russia has continued to use missiles with cluster munition warheads to target civilian centres in Ukraine.
One such attack on 4 April led to at least 89 casualties in Kryvyi Rih, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.
This tactic to hit civilian areas is likely an attempt to take advantage of the ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes, the Institute for the Study of War reported.
Explained: What minerals are sought by the US in Ukraine under the new deal
07:34 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine has signed a memorandum of intent for a mineral deal with the US as part of its efforts to end the war.
The deal would give the US access to a wealth of rare-earth minerals hidden in Ukraine's nearly 2.5 billion-year-old crystalline rock formations.
These rocks are some of Earth’s oldest and are a treasure trove of several key minerals like lithium, graphite, manganese, titanium and rare earth elements, which are critical for modern industries and the global green energy transition.
Most of these minerals are essential for manufacturing electric vehicles, wind turbines, solar panels and energy storage systems.
Ukraine's deposits contain 22 of 34 key minerals identified by the EU as critical for the green energy transition.
The US has heavily relied on China for importing most rare-earth minerals, which dominate the extraction of these metals.
But the ongoing Trump tariff-driven trade war with China has led to Beijing halting its export of key minerals.
Now, with access to Ukraine’s minerals in exchange for a peace deal, the US could avoid reliance on China.
You can read more on the mineral deal here:
How a 2.5bn-year-old rock deposit became central to helping stop Russia’s invasion
Ukraine signs pre-agreement for US mineral deal
07:19 , Vishwam SankaranUkraine signed a memorandum of intent with the US on Friday to proceed with initial steps towards a bilateral US-Ukrainian mineral deal.
Ukrainian economic minister Yulia Svyrydenko confirmed that Ukraine and the US finalised and signed the memorandum of intent (moI) towards a rare-earth minerals deal expected to be signed next week.
"We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine," Svyrydenko said in a post on X.
We are happy to announce the signing, with our American partners, of a Memorandum of Intent, which paves the way for an Economic Partnership Agreement and the establishment of the Investment Fund for the Reconstruction of Ukraine. pic.twitter.com/AQsHPkWh5X
— Yulia Svyrydenko (@Svyrydenko_Y) April 17, 2025
"Ahead is the finalisation of the text of the Agreement and its signing—and then, ratification by parliaments...In the meantime, we continue to work on the Agreement itself," she said.
Russia continues to press pre-war demands to address war's 'root causes'
07:17 , Vishwam SankaranRussia’s foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov, has reiterated the Kremlin's position that any resolution to the conflict must “comprehensively” address what Moscow refers to as the war’s "root causes".
Since the start of the war in 2022, Moscow has defined these “root causes” as Nato’s alleged violation of a promise not to expand eastward, and Ukraine’s alleged discrimination against ethnic Russians.
Putin says ‘yes’ to ceasefire – but lays down impossible terms for Ukraine
Russia’s insistence on these demands as a condition for ending the war effectively amounts to Ukraine’s full capitulation and the potential installation of a pro-Russian government in Kyiv.
While the Kremlin continues to participate in bilateral discussions, Russian officials remain committed to Moscow’s pre-war demands.
Meanwhile, Marco Rubio received an “encouraging” response to the “outlines of a durable and lasting peace” during meetings with representatives from Ukraine and Europe, according to the US department of state.
Russian UN representative calls ceasefire discussion 'unrealistic'
06:54 , Vishwam SankaranVasily Nebenzya, permanent representative of Russia to the UN, claimed on Friday that the discussion of a general ceasefire in Ukraine is "unrealistic".
He further accused Ukraine of not observing a moratorium on long-range strikes against energy infrastructure in the past month.
This appear's to be in line with Russia's broader strategy to deflect blame onto Ukraine and extract additional concessions from the US.
Reports of ongoing talks between US and European officials suggest Washington is planning to ease its economic sanctions against Moscow if a lasting ceasefire deal is achieved.
China building weapons on Russian soil and arming Moscow, Zelensky says
06:43 , Vishwam SankaranUkrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky accused China of manufacturing weapons in Russian territory and supplying them to Moscow's troops.
“We have finally received information that China is supplying weapons to the Russian Federation...We believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on Russian territory," the Ukrainian president said.
"We see the cooperation between these two countries in this area, and we must acknowledge it is happening," he said.
“We are ready to speak in detail about this,” Zelensky said, adding that Ukraine would share documented evidence to support its claim next week.
US plans to ease sanctions on Russia if ceasefire lasts
06:36 , Vishwam SankaranThe US is planning to ease its economic sanctions against Russia if a lasting ceasefire deal is achieved between Moscow and Kyiv, Bloomberg reported.
US officials discussed details of their plan to end the war in Ukraine during meetings with their European counterparts in Paris on Thursday.
A proposal cited in the report calls for ceasing the war at the current frontline with Ukrainian territories already occupied by Russian troops coming under Moscow's control.
Ukraine would also not be able to join Nato, according to this proposal, as per the Bloomberg report.
The plan also includes an ease of US sanctions against Russia if a lasting ceasefire is achieved.
Trump dismisses idea of being played by Putin
06:16 , Vishwam SankaranUS president Donald Trump dismissed accusations of being played by his Russian counterpart saying: "Nobody is playing me."
"My whole life has been one big negotiation and I know when people are playing us and when they're not," he said.
"I'm trying to help," the president added.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, the US commander-in-chief, who has been accused of being soft on Russia, said he needed "enthusiasm" from both Moscow and Kyiv to end the war.
"I think I see it...It's coming to a head right now," Trump said.
Explained: Ukrainian territories at the heart of Trump peace deal
05:54 , Vishwam SankaranThe fate of five Ukrainian territories hangs in the balance amid negotiations for a potential peace deal proposed by US president Donald Trump.
One of these is Crimea, a Ukrainian territory that Russian troops invaded and claimed in 2014, following an internationally condemned referendum.
Russia also controls parts of four other territories — the Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts — but has not managed to capture them in their entirety.
Why is Trump trying to excuse Russia’s latest massacre?
The Kremlin has repeatedly insisted that any peace deal must involve international recognition of these territories as part of Russia, along with the withdrawal of Ukrainian troops from the areas.
Such terms would go beyond freezing the war at current front lines and would amount to Ukraine conceding roughly four of its 24 oblasts to Russia.
Ukraine, however, maintains that while it is open to negotiating a ceasefire, it will not recognise any of its territories as Russian.
“These lands belong to our people, to our nation, and to the future generations of Ukrainians,” president Volodymyr Zelensky said on Thursday.
Trump peace deal talks to continue in London next week
05:31 , Vishwam SankaranUS officials are reportedly planning to meet in London next week to continue discussions with their European counterparts about ending the war in Ukraine.
European and American officials, including representatives from Ukraine, met in Paris on Thursday to conduct high-level, in-person talks on Trump's peace deal.
Officials are to re-engage in London next week, giving Ukraine some time to agree to a "term sheet" presented by Washington.
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Kyiv is reportedly ready for a comprehensive ceasefire over sea, land and air for at least 30 days or longer.
The US president is also expected to sign a minerals deal with Ukraine next week following a preliminary deal.
US has preliminary plan for monitoring Ukraine ceasefire – report
05:13 , Vishwam SankaranThe United States has reportedly developed a draft plan to monitor any potential ceasefire in Ukraine that could emerge from ongoing peace negotiations with Moscow and Kyiv, The Wall Street Journal reported, citing an official familiar with the matter.
The draft plan was reportedly shared during meetings on Thursday with European, Ukrainian, and US officials. According to WSJ, participants discussed how a comprehensive ceasefire could be monitored and maintained if an agreement is reached.
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Ukraine’s presidential office head, Andriy Yermak, described the talks as “very substantive” but did not disclose details of the monitoring framework.
Officials are expected to reconvene next week to continue discussions on a potential ceasefire.
US peace deal could recognise Crimea as part of Russia – report
05:12 , Vishwam SankaranThe US is preparing to recognise Crimea as part of Russia under a potential peace deal to end the war in Ukraine, Bloomberg reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
Russian troops took control of the Crimean peninsula from Ukraine in 2014.
Later that year, the Russian-controlled Crimean parliament held a referendum on joining Russia, conducted without international observers and under the presence of Russian troops at polling stations.
Despite international concerns that the vote was fabricated, Russian president Vladimir Putin has maintained Russia's claim over the territory.
Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, has repeatedly asserted that Ukraine will not cede any of its territory to Russia.
While no final decision has been made, a US official told Bloomberg that the White House is prepared to recognise Russian control of Crimea as part of a broader peace agreement.
Russia says contact with Washington is 'difficult' as Trump threatens to quit peace deal
04:47 , Vishwam SankaranWhile some progress has been made with the US brokering a peace deal between Moscow and Kyiv, contact with Washington, however, has been difficult, Russia says.
Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov says Russia remains open to dialogue with the White House.
Russian president Vladimir Putin has repeatedly stressed that he wants Ukraine to drop its Nato ambitions.
Putin also demanded that Ukraine permanently cede to Russia the four regions it has lost and limit the size of its army.
However, Kyiv responded that those demands are equivalent to demanding its capitulation.
Trump wants to 'take a pass' if peace deal not done quickly
04:34 , Vishwam SankaranUS president Donald Trump has threatened to abandon the peace deal Washington is brokering with Russia and Ukraine if it is not done "quickly".
"Quickly, we want to get it done," Trump told reporters at the White House on Friday.
"Now, if for some reason one of the two parties makes it very difficult, we're just going to say, 'you're foolish, you're fools, you're horrible people, and we're going to just take a pass. But hopefully we won't have to do that," the US president said.
Trump's comments come a day after US secretary of state Marco Rubio warned that the White House would not endeavour "for weeks and months on end" to broker a peace deal.
"If it's not possible, if we're so far apart that this is not going to happen, then I think the president is probably at a point where he's going to say, 'well, we're done'," Rubio said.
US threatens to walk away from Russia-Ukraine peace talks ‘within days’
Russian ex-president backs US quitting peace deal
04:26 , Vishwam SankaranRussia’s former president Dmitry Medvedev expressed his approval for the US threat to pull out of peace negotiations.
"American officials have said that if there is no progress on the Ukrainian case, the United States will wash its hands of it. Wisely," Mr Medvedev, now deputy head of Russia's Security Council, said in a post on X.
American officials have said that if
— Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) April 18, 2025
there is no progress on the Ukrainian case, the United States will wash its hands of it. Wisely. And the EU should do the same. Then Russia will figure it out faster.
"And the EU should do the same. Then Russia will figure it out faster,” he said.
New prisoner swap due today
04:22 , Vishwam SankaranRussia and Ukraine will conduct a new prisoner swap today, mediated by the United Arab Emirates, Reuters reported.
Nearly 500 Russian and Ukrainian prisoners and 46 injured soldiers are expected to be exchanged in the latest swap.
The exchange, involving 246 prisoners from each side, would make it one of the largest prisoner swaps to date.
This comes after the two sides exchanged 175 prisoners in March.
Editorial: Abject failure of Trump’s peace initiative is plain for all to see
04:17 , Vishwam SankaranThe abject failure of Donald Trump’s peace initiative is now plain for all to see
