US president Donald Trump has insisted he is putting pressure on Russia’s Vladimir Putin, hours after lambasting him for pounding Kyiv in the latest strikes that killed at least 12 people.
Mr Trump wrote on social media: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”
He later told reporters: “You have no idea what pressure I'm putting ... We're putting a lot of pressure. We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that.”
There have been reports that his peace plan is more favourable to Russia than to Ukraine.
Less than 24 hours earlier, the president hit out at Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to cede Crimea, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014.
Asked whether he thought Mr Putin would listen to him, Mr Trump said yes.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Mr Trump's view that Crimea was permanently lost to Russia years ago corresponded with what Moscow had been saying for a long time.
The attack on Kyiv also injured around 90 people including six children.
The real truth behind Trump’s latest attack on Zelensky over potential US peace deal
Trump slates Ukraine for not ceding land to Putin as he warns Zelensky to accept peace deal
Russia-Ukraine peace deal ‘very close’, says Trump as he lashes out at Zelensky
JD Vance’s bluster over peace in Ukraine shows why Zelensky swerved an American ambush in London
Key Points
- Trump says he is putting pressure on Putin and close to a deal
- Russia made big concession in not taking all of Ukraine, says Trump
- US president lambasts Putin over deadly Kyiv strikes
- Death toll rises to 12 after massive Russian strike on Kyiv
- Kremlin echoes US comments on Crimea and Zelensky
What is the history of Crimea, a sticking point in peace talks?
Thursday 24 April 2025 12:46 , Alex CroftJutting out into the Black Sea off southern Ukraine, Crimea was absorbed into the Russian Empire along with most ethnic Ukrainian territory by Catherine the Great in the 18th century. Russia's Black Sea naval base at Sevastopol was founded soon afterwards.
More than half a million people were killed in the Crimean War of 1853-56 when competing geopolitical powers Russia and the Ottoman Empire, backed by Britain and France, took up arms. The conflict reshaped Europe and paved the way for World War One.
In 1921, the peninsula, then populated mainly by Muslim Tatars, became part of the Soviet Union. The Tatars were deported en masse by Soviet leader Josef Stalin at the end of World War Two for alleged collaboration with the Nazis.
Crimea became part of Russia within the Soviet Union until 1954, when it was handed to Ukraine, also then a Soviet Republic, by Stalin's successor Nikita Khrushchev, a Ukrainian.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, there were periodic political tussles over its status between Moscow and Kyiv before Russia captured Crimea by force in 2014.
Russia sent forces into Crimea and seized control of the peninsula after Ukraine's pro-Russian president, Viktor Yanukovych, was ousted during mass protests in February 2014.
Zelensky: Negotiating with Russian ‘terrorists’ is already big compromise by Kyiv
Thursday 24 April 2025 12:47 , Alex CroftPresident Volodymyr Zelensky has said he does not see any strong pressure on Russia at present, in in a press conference with South African president Cyril Ramaphosa during a visit to the country.
Russia’s overnight attack on Ukraine was part of sa Russian pressure campaign on the US, he added.
For Kyiv to negotiate with Russian “terrorists” after any ceasefire would already be a big compromise on its part, the Ukrainian leader said. While Ukraine is ready to do everything its partners propose, it cannot do anything which contravenes its constitution – such as recognising Ukrainian territory as Russian.
Zelensky: London talks were 'constructive'
Thursday 24 April 2025 12:52 , Alex CroftVolodymyr Zelenskiy said during the press conferencethat the talks between Ukrainian and Western officials in London on Wednesday had not been "easy" but were "constructive."
Foreign minister-level Ukraine peace talks that were due to take place were postponed at the last minute amid speculation that Russia is willing to change its position and after the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, said he could not attend.
The meeting was replaced by discussions by other officials
"I am sure that Russia was counting on a big scandal yesterday," Mr Zelensky said. "I’m sure Russia was hoping for a huge row yesterday. Russia doesn’t like the alliance around Ukraine, because Ukraine would be an easier target without it."
Watch: Kyiv civilians shelter in metro as Russian missiles rain on Ukraine's capital
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:08 , Alex CroftRussia reserves right to use nuclear weapons if West attacks - Moscow official
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:13 , Alex CroftRussia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if it faces Western aggression, Moscow's top security official, Sergei Shoigu, told Tass state news agency on Thursday.
Mr Shoigu's comments come as US president Donald Trump and vice president JD Vance warn that Washington could walk away from trying to negotiate a peace settlement in Ukraine if there is no progress on a deal soon.
The former Russian defence minister - before moving to head its powerful security council in a government reshuffle last year - cited amendments to Moscow's nuclear doctrine approved by president Vladimir Putin last November.
Under the new terms, Russia could consider a nuclear strike in response to a conventional attack on Russia or its ally Belarus that "created a critical threat to their sovereignty and (or) their territorial integrity."
"...in the event of foreign states committing unfriendly actions that pose a threat to the sovereignty and territory integrity of the Russian Federation, our country considers it legitimate to take symmetric and asymmetric measures necessary to suppress such actions and prevent their recurrence," Mr Shoigu added.
Starmer urges Putin to agree to unconditional ceasefire
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:19 , Jane DaltonThe prime minister has stepped up demands on Russia's Vladimir Putin to agree to an immediate unconditional ceasefire after the "brutal" overnight strike on Kyiv.
Sir Keir Starmer said the attack demonstrated that Mr Putin was "the aggressor here" - in contrast with Donald Trump suggestion that Volodymyr Zelensky was the barrier to peace.
On a visit to Bristol, Sir Keir said: "I think it's a real reminder that Russia is the aggressor here and that is being felt by the Ukrainians, as it has been felt for three long years now.
"That's why it's important to get Russia to an unconditional ceasefire.
"Obviously, we had talks in London this week, Paris last week. We're making progress towards the ceasefire. It's got to be a lasting ceasefire.
"But these attacks - these awful attacks - are a real, human reminder of who is the aggressor here and the cost to the Ukrainian people."
South African president speaks with Trump about Ukraine war
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:29 , Alex CroftSouth African president Cyril Ramaphosa spoke to US president Donald Trump on the Ukraine war and the need to foster good bilateral relations.
"We both agreed that the war should be brought to an end as soon as possible to stop further unnecessary deaths... to meet soon to address various matters regarding U.S.-South Africa relations," Mr Ramaphosa said.
Relations between South Africa and the US have soured badly since Trump's return to the White House in January.
Mr Trump expelled South Africa's ambassador and cut financial aid, citing disapproval of the country's approach to land reform and its genocide case against Washington's ally Israel at the World Court.
UK hits out at Putin as 'real obstacle' to peace in Ukraine
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:33 , Alex CroftDowning Street has described Russia as the “real obstacle” to peace in Ukraine after “barbaric” attacks on Kyiv overnight.
But Downing Street would not be drawn into saying whether it was opposed to the US’ position after it urged Ukraine to cede Crimea to Russia in a bid to end the war.
Trump lashed out at Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday for refusing to back the proposal.
Asked whether the UK was siding with Ukraine or the US in the stand-off, Keir Starmer’s spokesman said: "This isn't about taking sides."
He added: "We share President Trump's desire to bring this barbaric war to an end ... but we have been clear it remains the case that how and on what terms that war comes to end can only be decided by Ukraine.”
But he added that Putin’s attacks on Kyiv overnight show "where the real obstacle to peace is".
Trump lambasts Putin for deadly strikes on Kyiv
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:36 , Jane DaltonUS president Donald Trump has lambasted his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin over the deadly overnight strikes on Kyiv that killed at least eight people.
He posted on social media: “I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!”
Less than 24 hours earlier, Mr Trump had hit out at Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to cede Crimea, which Russia illegally annnexed in 2014.
It’s not clear whether Mr Trump has a source for the 5,000-a-week statistic.
France backs Ukraine over Crimea
Thursday 24 April 2025 13:58 , Jane DaltonUkraine's territorial integrity is not a principle that can be negotiated, a French foreign ministry spokesperson has said, after Donald Trump chided Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy for refusing to recognise Russia's occupation of Crimea.
"The principle of Ukraine's territorial integrity is not a point that can be negotiated," France's foreign ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine told a weekly news conference, adding that Russia was slowing down discussions by continuing its air strikes.
Progress made in talks, says Foreign Office minister
Thursday 24 April 2025 14:10 , Jane DaltonForeign Office minister Stephen Doughty says talks in London on Wednesday between the UK, France, Germany, the US and Ukraine were "productive and successful".
He said: "Significant progress was made in reaching a common position on next steps and all agreed to continue close co-ordination and look forward to further talks soon."
But shadow foreign secretary Dame Priti Patel said: "For all the talks that are taking place, it is concerning that a clear, unified front in support of Ukraine which secures a peace on their terms has yet to emerge."
Downing Street insisted it was not taking sides between Ukraine and the US in the talks.
Mr Doughty on Wednesday hosted a bipartisan US House delegation to discuss “a range of issues”.
I was delighted to welcome a bipartisan US House delegation led by @RepBrianMast to London today to discuss a range of issues.
— Stephen Doughty MP (@SDoughtyMP) April 23, 2025
Our deep, enduring UK-US relationship, not least as @NATO allies, is crucial for our security. Our work with Congress is a vital part of that.
🇬🇧🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/Jsvm9jxM4v
Kyiv attacks death toll rises to nine
Thursday 24 April 2025 14:22 , Jane DaltonThe death toll from Russia’s missile and drone attacks overnight on Kyiv has risen to nine, as President Zelensky branded it as "one of (Russia's) most outrageous" attacks.
Russia attacked Kyiv with an hours-long barrage of missiles and drones, the deadliest assault on the Ukrainian capital since last July.
Kyiv Mayor Vitalii Klitschko announced that Friday would be an official day of mourning in the capital.
The Ukrainian air force said Russia fired 66 ballistic and cruise missiles, four plane-launched air-to-surface missiles, and 145 Shahed and decoy drones at Kyiv and four other regions of Ukraine.
Nato chief holds talks with US officials
Thursday 24 April 2025 14:35 , Jane DaltonNato Secretary-General Mark Rutte is holding a day of meetings at the Pentagon after the White House signalled it had lost patience with peace talks between Ukraine and Russia and was prepared to walk away.
Mr Rutte met Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth and new chairman of the Joint Chiefs Gen Dan Caine.
He is scheduled to meet Secretary of State Marco Rubio and National Security Adviser Mike Waltz later.
‘Vladimir, STOP!’ Trump slams ‘not necessary’ air strike on Kyiv – full report
Thursday 24 April 2025 14:39 , Jane Dalton
Trump slams ‘not necessary’ Russian airstrike on Kyiv: ‘Vladimir, STOP!’
UK bans export to Russia of video-game controllers used for drones
Thursday 24 April 2025 15:00 , Jane DaltonVideo-game controllers used by Moscow to pilot drones in Ukraine are among items the government has banned from being exported to Russia, the Foreign Office says.
The 150 new trade sanctions are aimed at choking off the Kremlin's war effort.
Technology used in the Russian defence and energy sectors are among items that can no longer be exported to Russia, including software used to search for and tap new oil and gas wells.
Some chemicals, metals and machinery are also facing export bans to limit Russia's military capability.
Foreign Office minister Stephen Doughty claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin had been "buying harmless goods and turning them into tools of war", but he added the the UK is "exposing and acting on this sinister trade".
Kyiv death toll reaches 10
Thursday 24 April 2025 15:41 , Jane DaltonThe death toll from the overnight strikes on Kyiv by Moscow has reached 10.
Another 90 people were also wounded, as the missile and drone raids smashed buildings and set off fires, Ukrainian officials said.
Some people were still trapped under rubble over 12 hours later.
Talks should not have conditions, says South African leader
Thursday 24 April 2025 16:04 , Jane DaltonSouth African president Cyril Ramaphosa said during a visit by Volodymyr Zelensky that peace talks between Kyiv and Moscow should start without preconditions such as Ukraine ceding land to Russia.
South Africa seeks to project itself as non-aligned on the Ukraine war but has good relations with Russia, with both countries belonging to the BRICS group of emerging economies that seeks to challenge the Western-dominated economic order.
"I shared our own South African experience (with Zelensky) and said that the negotiations that brought an end to the nightmare of apartheid were held on a no-precondition basis," Mr Ramaphosa told a press conference with the Ukrainian president.
Total of 12 people found dead after mass attacks on Kyiv
Thursday 24 April 2025 16:06A total of 12 people have now been found dead after Russia’s worst attack on Kyiv this year, Reuters reports.
Rescue teams were operating at 13 sites in the city, with climbing specialists and sniffer dogs, emergency services said. Forty fires had broken out.
"Mobile telephones are heard ringing beneath rubble. The search will continue until it become clear that they have got everyone," it said.
Updating the earlier death toll, Tymur Tkachenko, head of the Kyiv city military administration, said: "Rescuers have retrieved two more bodies from under the rubble in the Sviatoshynskyi district. We now have 12 dead."
Moscow claims it hit tank, aviation and ammunition factories
Thursday 24 April 2025 16:31 , Jane DaltonThe Russian Defence Ministry says it carried out a massive overnight strike on Ukraine's military-industrial complex using air, land and sea-based long-range high-precision weapons and drones.
It said it hit factories in Ukraine's aviation, rocket and space, machine-building and armoured vehicle production industries, as well as manufacturing facilities for rocket fuel and gunpowder.
The assertion could not be verified.
Ukrainian officials said Russia pounded Kyiv with missiles and drones, in the biggest attack on the Ukrainian capital this year.
'Ukraine must have right to own army and defence, US to tell Putin'
Thursday 24 April 2025 16:53 , Jane DaltonThe United States will demand that Russia accept Ukraine's right to have its own army and defence industry as part of a peace agreement between Moscow and Kyiv, Bloomberg News has reported, citing people familiar with the matter.
US special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to raise the issue with Russian president Vladimir Putin when they next meet, the report said.
Peace deal still achievable, says Trump
Thursday 24 April 2025 17:39 , Jane DaltonUS president Donald Trump says he still thinks a peace deal is achievable.
Asked whether he thought peace was possible given Russia’s overnight attacks on Ukraine, and whether he was considering new sanctions on Russia, he replied: “So we are thinking that very strongly, that they both want peace, but they have to get to the table. We're waiting a long time...
“And I think we're going to get peace. We want to save 5,000 young people. I used to say 2,500 and so say 5,000.”
Answering questions after talks with Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Store, he added: “And, you know, I started out because I didn't like all the money that we were paying and then I realised how many people were dying, and that's by far the more important element...
“There's a lot of hatred. there there's a lot of very bad blood. A lot of stress, but I think we're going to - I hope we're going to get there, for the sake of a lot of young people that are dying."
Asked when, he said: “I have my own deadline, and we want it to be fast, and the Prime Minister is helping us. He wants it to be fast too. And I think everybody in this, you know, at this time in Nato, they want to see this thing happen.
“So we have a deadline, and after that we have a we're going to have a very much different attitude. But I think there's a very good chance of getting done.”
Russia's claim on Crimea ignores efforts to eradicate Ukrainian culture and history there
Thursday 24 April 2025 17:44 , Sam KileyDonald Trump is no doubt unaware of why Crimea is so significant to Vladimir Putin.
It is the greatest Russian prize.
Whoever controls Sevastopol is likely to dominate the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Outside of Tartus, which Russia lost recently in Syria, it is – or was – Russia’s only warm-weather port.
Moscow’s claim to it has been undermined by the fact that it was ceded to Ukraine under the Soviet Union in 1954.
But Russia’s claim is underpinned by waves of Russian settlement and forced removal of local people over at least two centuries.
After 2014 it was common in Moscow for people to remark how happy they were for its “return” amid rose-tinted memories of sunny beach holidays in a former colony.
They’ve forgotten the Holodomor, when decisions from Moscow led to millions of Ukrainians starving. They’ve ignored the uprisings against efforts to eradicate every trace of Ukraine’s language, its history, and its culture under Russian rule from the Tsars to Stalin and Putin. The mass deportations of Cossacks from their homeland to Siberia.
Watch: Trump says both sides want peace
Thursday 24 April 2025 18:00 , Jane DaltonRussia jails Colombian man for fighting for Ukraine
Thursday 24 April 2025 18:10 , Jane Dalton, ReutersA Russian court has sentenced a Colombian man who fought for Ukraine, to nine years in prison for fighting against Russian forces as a mercenary, Russian investigators say.
Russia's Investigative Committee said Cardenas Montilla, 33, took part in military operations against Russia after receiving military training.
It said he had admitted his guilt, something Reuters could not independently confirm.
The Russian Defence Ministry said Montilla had joined the Ukrainian armed forces after seeing an advertisement on TikTok.
Watch: Children shelter as Russian missiles rain on Kyiv
Thursday 24 April 2025 18:35 , Jane Dalton
Children shelter in Kyiv metro as Russian missiles rain on Ukraine’s capital
Zelensky says meeting in Oval Office did 'not help Ukraine'
Thursday 24 April 2025 18:48 , Bryony GoochPresident Zelensky reflected on his controversial meeting with President Trump in the Oval Office as he spoke to right-wing commentator Ben Shapiro.
“I think that the meeting in the Oval Office did not help Ukraine, it did not help the United States,” said Zelensky.
“When Ukraine and the United States are having the meeting, we should give light to people, we should demonstrate this path to the end of the war.
“We count on the strategic partnership and we’ve always respected the United States.”
He said he felt they would have more fruitful meetings with Trump in the future.
EU outlines how it will end Russian gas imports
Thursday 24 April 2025 19:00 , Jane DaltonThe European Commission will in the next two weeks present a roadmap on how it intends to phase out all imports of Russian fossil fuels, its president Ursula von der Leyen said at an energy event in London.
The commission has pledged to drop all Russian fossil fuels by 2027 in response to Moscow's 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
Imports of Russian gas have fallen to 18% from around 45% in 2021, but there is still more to be done, Ms von der Leyen said at a meeting organised by the UK government and the International Energy Agency.
Trump: We're putting pressure on Putin and close to a deal
Thursday 24 April 2025 19:16 , Jane DaltonPresident Trump has said again that he is getting “very close” to a deal on the war, repeating what he has said several times this week.
He also said, without elaborating, that the US was putting a lot of pressure on Russia to make a deal.
"You have no idea what pressure I'm putting ... We're putting a lot of pressure. We're putting a lot of pressure on Russia, and Russia knows that," Mr Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.
Russia made big concession in not taking all Ukraine, says Trump
Thursday 24 April 2025 19:22Donald Trump says Russia has made a “pretty big concession” to end the war in Ukraine in stopping short of taking the whole country.
Putin destroyed navy in Crimea after annexing territory
Thursday 24 April 2025 19:25 , Sam KileyPutin’s expansion of territory into Crimea in 2014 could not have been achieved without the bridgehead of operations being established. It was even more crucial to his full-scale invasion of 2022.
He used the peninsula as a logistics hub, building a bridge to the Russian mainland to supply the forces he has crammed into the arid region.
Moscow, following conventional doctrine, destroyed most of Ukraine’s navy there and used Sevastopol as its main base.
Analysis: If Trump’s hatred of Zelensky feels personal, that’s because it is
Thursday 24 April 2025 19:51 , Jane DaltonPresident Trump has reasons to hold a grudge against the Ukrainian president, writes Sam Kiley.
For one, Mr Trump viewed Mr Zelensky as an ungrateful recipient of American aid for failing to launch an investigation into Hunter Biden’s business dealings in Ukraine in July 2019:
If Trump’s hatred of Zelensky feels personal, that’s because it is
'Russia made big concession by not seizing all of Ukraine': Full report
Thursday 24 April 2025 20:10 , Jane Dalton
Trump says Russia has made ‘pretty big concession’ to peace by not seizing allUkraine
Russian strike on Kyiv homes was North Korean missile, says Zelensky
Thursday 24 April 2025 20:39 , Jane DaltonRussia used a North Korean ballistic missile for the deadly overnight strike that hit a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelensky says.
"If the information that this missile was made in North Korea is confirmed, this will be further proof of the criminal nature of the alliance between Russia and Pyongyang," he wrote.
Debris removal operations are still ongoing in Kyiv following the Russian missile strike. The relatives and loved ones of those who may still be trapped under the rubble are there – on the scene of the rescue operation. Rescuers, emergency services, and everyone who is helping… pic.twitter.com/00chnCndrC
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 24, 2025
Trump thinks Putin will listen to him
Thursday 24 April 2025 21:10 , Jane DaltonUS president Donald Trump says he thinks Russian President Vladimir Putin will listen to him on stopping the strikes on Ukraine, after urging Moscow's leader to stop the attacks.
As he entered the White House with Norway's Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere, Mr Trump was asked by a reporter whether he thought Mr Putin would listen to him. "Yes," Mr Trump said.
Sevastopol key to Russian naval success
Thursday 24 April 2025 21:48 , Sam KileyIf Moscow is allowed back into Sevastopol, a major Black Sea port in Crimea, as Trump would want, Russia’s naval reconstruction and regeneration will continue apace and in time assume total domination again.
Meanwhile, Crimea remains in Russian hands and the main source of rockets and missiles fired against Ukraine, Russia’s main base for air defences.
Ukraine must have final say on deal, Starmer insists – contradicting Trump
Thursday 24 April 2025 22:08 , Jane DaltonSir Keir Starmer has insisted that Ukraine must be allowed to decide the terms of any peace deal with Russia, contradicting Donald Trump’s plans, it’s been reported.
The Prime Minister said the “courageous” Volodymyr Zelensky, the Ukrainian president, was not to blame for the failure to strike an agreement ending the war.
Sir Keir also refused to back US plans to formally recognise Crimea as Russian in any deal, and demanded that Moscow agree to an unconditional ceasefire.
In an interview with The Telegraph, he said: “We are at an intense stage in the negotiations.
“In the end, I’m always mindful of the fact that it is Ukraine that must decide on those issues – it’s not for other people to decide on behalf of Ukraine.
“It is for Ukraine to decide. And Russia must come to the table for that unconditional ceasefire.”
Why Crimea matters so much to Putin – and now Trump
Thursday 24 April 2025 22:15 , Jane DaltonAll the US president cares about is the war ending, writes world affairs editor Sam Kiley, no matter the cost to Ukraine’s history and future:
Tory leader declines to say Trump is UK ally
Thursday 24 April 2025 23:00 , Jane DaltonTory opposition leader Kemi Badenoch has declined to say whether the UK could still regard Donald Trump as an ally after his comments about Volodymyr Zelensky, but said Sir Keir Starmer needed to rebuild Britain's relationship with the US.
Asked whether Mr Trump could still be considered an ally, she said: "President Zelensky is a hero and we need to do everything we can to support Ukraine to end this war.
"They are fighting this war on behalf of all of Europe. Russia is the opponent here, they are not an ally.
"And President Trump may have a different view, perhaps because of how they have been supporting Ukraine and the money they have spent, and this is why it is really important that our Prime Minister does everything he can to rebuild that relationship."
Ukraine reports nearly 150 Russian attacks and over 4,500 instances of shelling
Thursday 24 April 2025 23:27 , Bryony GoochPresident Zelensky shared an update from the frontline from Ukraine’s Commander-in-Chief Syrskyi as of Thursday night.
He said that there were “nearly 150 Russian attacks on our positions and over 4,500 instances of shelling, including with heavy weaponry. “
The toughest “situation” was in the direction of Pokrovsk, with as Syrskyi said: “I am grateful to all our warriors – every soldier, sergeant, and officer – for their resilience and for defending our positions.
“Basically, the Russians tried to go on the offence under the cover of their massive strike.
“While the bulk of our forces were focused on protection from missiles and drones, the Russians significantly intensified their ground attacks.”
Syrskyi said the Russians were met with a “strong response.”
The commander-in-chief commended the warriors of the 72nd Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 59th Separate Assault Brigade of the Unmanned Systems Forces “who inflicted significant losses” on Russian forces.
“I also praise the effective performance of the 100th Separate Mechanized Brigade and the 12th Operational Brigade of the National Guard of Ukraine for demonstrating the resilience and results we need.”
Why Crimea is so coveted
Thursday 24 April 2025 23:55 , Jane Dalton
Crimea is a focus of discussions to end Russia's war in Ukraine. Here's why it's so coveted
US and Russia 'moving in the right direction' toward a deal, says Lavrov
Friday 25 April 2025 00:09 , Bryony GoochThe United States and Russia are ‘moving in the right direction’ to end the war in Ukraine, said Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said in an interview with CBS News.
“The statement by the president (Trump) mentions a deal, and we are ready to reach a deal, but there are still some specific points - elements of this deal which need to be fine-tuned,” Lavrov said.
“We continue our contacts with the American side on the situation in Ukraine, there are several signs that we are moving in the right direction.”
Trump's claim he has nothing to do with Russia rings hollow
Friday 25 April 2025 00:55 , Jane DaltonDonald Trump’s ties to Moscow stretch back to 1987, and he would have been of interest to Russia’s spy agency, the KGB/FSB, writes Sam Kiley.
And his claim that he has nothing to do with Russia rings hollow:
If Trump’s hatred of Zelensky feels personal, that’s because it is
Journalist who died in Russian captivity may have been tortured
02:00 , Jane DaltonUkraine says it has identified the body of journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian captivity, and a forensic examination revealed signs of torture.
Ms Roshchyna died aged 27 last September after months in captivity.
The journalist, whose first-hand reports described life under Russian occupation, vanished in August 2023 during a reporting trip to Russia-held eastern Ukraine.
Her body was among bodies that Russia handed over to Ukraine in February, Ukraine's prosecutor general's office said.
Ms Roshchyna's family learnt of her death last year from a letter from Russia's defence ministry.
Ukrainian forensic experts were unable to determine the cause of death, but found signs of injuries and possible torture, Yurii Bielousov, head of the war crimes department for Ukraine's prosecutor general, said.
Colleagues described her last year as an “unstoppable force”:
Mystery surrounds death of Ukrainian journalist in Russia’s ‘hell on earth’ prison
Editorial: Trump gives Putin a free pass so it's time for Europe and allies to step in
03:15 , Jane Dalton
If the EU coalition is truly willing, Ukraine has a chance of defying the odds
Putin must stop lying, says French president
04:45 , Jane DaltonFrench president Emmanuel Macron says Putin should "stop lying" when he claims to want peace while continuing to bomb Ukraine.
"There is only one answer we are waiting for: Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?" said Mr Macron during a visit to Madagascar.
He said that "the Americans' anger should focus on just one person: President Putin."
The French Foreign Ministry also offered measured pushback on President Trump's criticism of Volodymyr Zelensky.
"The principle of Ukraine's territorial integrity is not something that can be negotiated," Foreign Ministry spokesman Christophe Lemoine said.
