U.S. President Donald Trump has once again failed to condemn his Russian counterpart in the aftermath of yet another devastating missile attack on Ukraine, casting further doubt on Washington’s ability to fairly broker a peace in the country.

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, Stop!” Trump said on the Truth Social platform, after 12 people were killed in Kyiv overnight on April 24, and nearly 80 others were injured.

Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “get the peace deal done,” stopping short of directly condemning him.

At the scene of one of the residential buildings devastated in last night’s attack, the Kyiv Independent asked some of the survivors if they thought the Trump administration was actually provoking such attacks by taking such a soft stance toward Russia.

“Yes, I think so,” 30-year-old linguist Polina Levytska, who survived with her mother and two cats, said.

“Of course, the current American strategy is not working. It is harmful to Ukraine, and this is already obvious."

The response from U.S. Vice President JD Vance in the aftermath of the attack was even more lacking — instead of condemning or even commenting on the strike, he instead reshared a post from Trump denouncing President Volodymyr Zelensky and accusing him of being the main impediment to peace in Ukraine.

“It is almost impossible to believe,” Inna Sovsun, a Ukrainian lawmaker from the Holos political party, told the Kyiv Independent.

“That the beacon of democracy – and all of that – that they would be behaving in such a way."

Frustration with the U.S.-backed peace process continues to mount — Kyiv has done all that has been asked of it since it began in earnest, and yet still faces devastating strikes from Russia, and pressure from Washington to accept demands that are unacceptable for Ukraine..

On March 11, Kyiv signed off on a U.S.-proposed, full 30-day truce, and has taken steps toward signing a minerals deal with Washington after Trump cut off military and intelligence sharing following a now-infamous rebuke of Zelensky in the Oval Office in February.

In stark contrast, Russia has refused to agree to a full ceasefire, and ramped up attacks on Ukrainian civilians — yet the White House has not taken a single step to apply pressure on the Kremlin to get them to stop.

The Trump administration is now pushing a peace deal that rewards Russia’s war of aggression and strips Ukraine of territory with no security guarantees that could prevent Moscow from launching another war in the future.

“Putin won’t leave us alone,” Maria Rumiantseva, a 40-year-old resident of one of the buildings damaged in the attack, told the Kyiv Independent.

“We’ll give him a bit of something now, give him some more, get a respite, and Putin will attack us again. He’s a sick man. Who are we going to negotiate with? There’s no point in negotiating,” she added.

The attack on Kyiv came just hours after the Kremlin yet again demanded Ukraine’s full recognition of Russia’s claim over four Ukrainian oblasts it partially occupies, and Crimea that Moscow occupies in full, neutral status for Ukraine, and an end to all Western military support.

“I do think that it is terrifying, the whole situation,” Sovsun said, adding: “And I do think that why it came about is because in the process of negotiations, the U.S. put pressure only on one side.

“And the side they chose to put pressure on is the side of the victim, instead of trying to deal with the aggressor, with those who created this whole mess.

“They’re basically indulging Putin to continue acting as he did."

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

The United States' frustration over stalled peace talks on the war in Ukraine should be aimed solely at Russian President Vladimir Putin, not Kyiv, French President Emmanuel Macron said on April 24, the French television network BFM TV reported.

His remarks came after a Russian missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed at least 12 people and injured 90 others, including at least six children. The April 24 strike, described by local officials as one of the deadliest in recent weeks, came a day after Moscow demanded Ukraine’s formal recognition of Russia’s claim to four partially occupied regions and a halt to Western military support.

Macron added that France continues to “welcome the efforts made by American diplomacy” but emphasized the need to “recall the facts.”

“The position of France is clear and will not change. We stand for sovereignty and territorial integrity in accordance with international law,” Macron said. “We will continue to defend the Ukrainian people’s right to live in peace on their territory and within their internationally recognized borders.”

French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine told reporters that Russia’s ongoing strikes were undermining diplomatic efforts. “With more strikes on Ukraine, it seems more like Russia is slowing down peace efforts,” he said on April 24, according to Reuters.

“The principle of Ukraine’s territorial integrity is not a point that can be negotiated,” Lemoine added, responding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s criticism of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for refusing to cede Crimea.

The U.S. has been actively pushing a ceasefire, with Trump saying the April 24 attack on Kyiv was “not necessary,” and asking Putin to “get the peace deal done.” His proposals, which reportedly include U.S. recognition of Crimea as Russian and barring Ukraine from NATO, have been met with concern in Europe and resistance in Kyiv.

Peace talks remain stalled. A ministerial meeting on April 23 between Ukraine, the U.S., and European allies in London was downgraded after Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped the session. Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff is scheduled to visit Moscow on April 25 for further discussions with Putin.

Europe rejects US push to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea, FT reports

An unnamed senior European official told the FT that the Trump administration had already been informed that European capitals would not recognize Crimea as Russian.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 24 that Russia had expected the previous day’s peace talks in London to unravel into a major scandal, but instead Ukraine and its allies showed a shared commitment to work towards peace.

The London meeting followed a summit in Paris on April 17, where senior Trump administration officials outlined a controversial peace proposal to Ukrainian and European delegates.

The plan reportedly includes U.S. recognition of Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine’s NATO membership — two central demands by the Kremlin.

“Yesterday, there was a meeting in London, and European countries were present, including Ukraine, Britain, France, Germany, and the United States,” Zelensky said during a press conference in South Africa on April 24.

“It was not easy, but it was constructive. It ended not with disagreements, but with a desire to work further."

Zelensky reiterated that Ukraine would not negotiate its territorial integrity under pressure.

“Russia does not like the alliance around Ukraine, because Ukraine, if it is alone, is an easier target for Russia,” he said. “Even in the first days of the war, when we were almost at the end of our rope, we managed to survive. Believe me, we are much stronger now."

According to Reuters, Kyiv submitted a document to European partners on April 22 reaffirming that it would not enter negotiations on territorial issues until a “full and unconditional ceasefire” is achieved.

The statement reportedly prompted U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff to pull out of the London summit, downgrading what was originally intended as a ministerial-level gathering.

Despite their absence, the U.K. Foreign Ministry said on April 23 that “significant progress” had been made and emphasized a unified commitment to U.S. President Donald Trump’s stated goal of a “just and lasting peace."

Meanwhile, Trump has denied claims that the U.S. is pressuring Ukraine to accept the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory.

“Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory,” he wrote on Truth Social on April 23, while simultaneously calling Zelensky’s firm stance “harmful to the peace negotiations."

One day after the talks, Russia launched deadly strikes on Kyiv amid ongoing diplomatic outreach, killing eight civilians and injuring 77.

In response, Trump wrote on April 24 that he was “not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv.”

He urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop” and “get the peace deal done,” but stopped short of condemning the attack or threatening consequences.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms.

So far, Moscow has refused.

After Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv, Vance reposts denunciation of Zelensky

At the time of writing, U.S. Vice President JD Vance has not condemned or commented directly on the strike.

The Kyiv IndependentYuliia Taradiuk

After a mass Russian missile attack on Kyiv that killed at least eight people, U.S. Vice President JD Vance on April 24 reshared a post denouncing President Volodymyr Zelensky and accusing him of being the main impediment to peace in Ukraine.

During the mass attack in Kyiv, eight people were killed and 77 injured, including at least six children, Ukrainian officials said.

Thirty-one people remain hospitalized, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said, adding that a rescue operation was ongoing to retrieve victims stuck under rubble.

At the time of writing, Vance has not condemned or commented directly on the strike.

Vance’s post on X was a screenshot of a post on Truth Social by U.S. President Donald Trump that suggested Zelensky was the main obstacle to peace in Ukraine after he reaffirmed that Ukraine would never legally recognize Russia’s control of Crimea.

“The statement made by Zelensky today will do nothing but prolong the ‘killing field,’ and nobody wants that! We are very close to a deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, get it done,” Trump wrote in the post reshared by Vance.

“I look forward to being able to help Ukraine, and Russia, get out of this complete and total mess, that would have never started if I were President!"

The attack on Kyiv came just hours after the Kremlin demanded Ukraine’s full recognition of Russia’s claim over four Ukrainian oblasts it partially occupies, and Crimea that Moscow occupies in full, neutral status for Ukraine, and an end to all Western military support.

Vance said during a visit to India on April 23 that the U.S. had submitted a “very explicit proposal” to both Kyiv and Moscow. Vance warned that unless the two sides move forward, Washington may abandon its mediation efforts.

The U.S. has been in talks with Ukraine and Russia to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine. A Russian strike on Sumy on April 13 killed 35 people and injured 119. Another Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih on April 4 killed 20 people, including nine children, and injured over 70.

The U.S. has been in talks with Ukraine and Russia to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms.

So far, Moscow has refused.

‘Not necessary,’ ‘bad timing’ — Trump ‘not happy’ with Russia’s deadly attack on Kyiv

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing,” U.S. President Donald Trump said on the Truth Social platform.

The Kyiv IndependentMartin Fornusek

U.S. President Donald Trump on April 24 criticized Russia’s strike on Kyiv that killed eight civilians and injured 77, calling it “not necessary."

“I am not happy with the Russian strikes on Kyiv. Not necessary, and very bad timing,” Trump said on the Truth Social platform.

Trump urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop” and “get the peace deal done,” addressing the Kremlin’s leader by his first name and stopping short of further criticism.

Russia launched the deadly attack amid Trump’s effort to broker a peace deal in Ukraine and Kyiv’s calls for an unconditional ceasefire, which Moscow continues to reject.

Trump’s diplomatic outreach has largely favored Russia, with his reported peace proposal offering U.S. de jure recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea, a ban on Ukraine’s membership in NATO, and closer economic cooperation.

After President Volodymyr Zelensky ruled out formally ceding the occupied peninsula to Russia, Trump criticised him at length and called his position “harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia."

Peace efforts stand on shaky ground as the planned ministerial between Ukraine, the U.S., and European allies in London on April 23, which was meant to hash out a united position on a peace deal, was postponed after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped the meeting.

The meeting was instead held on a technical level, with the parties praising it as “positive” but announcing no breakthrough. Trump’s Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is also expected to visit Russia on April 25 for his fourth meeting with Putin.

‘Russian peace in all its glory’ — Mass Russian missile, drone attack on Kyiv kills 8, injures 77

Authorities initially reported nine people killed, but the Prosecutor General’s Office later said only eight fatalities had been confirmed.

The Kyiv IndependentVolodymyr Ivanyshyn

Ukraine’s willingness to enter negotiations with Russia following a potential ceasefire is already a “big compromise” by Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a press conference in South Africa on April 24.

Asked about the territorial concessions Ukraine is ready to make, Zelensky said that during a London meeting on April 23 between Ukrainian, European, and U.S. officials, a document with a multi-point strategy was developed and likely passed on to U.S. President Donald Trump.

“Anything that contradicts our values and our constitution cannot be in any agreements,” Zelensky said in the joint press conference beside his South African counterpart, Cyril Ramaphosa.

His remarks follow reporting that the U.S. is proposing its de jure recognition of Russian control over Crimea, which Russia has occupied since 2014, as part of a potential peace deal.

“I believe that we were attacked; our territories were occupied. Tens of thousands of people were killed, many children and adults were buried alive,” Zelensky said.

“And the fact that Ukraine is ready to sit down at the negotiating table after a full ceasefire with the terrorists who organized all this on our land is a big compromise."

Increased international pressure on Moscow, such as through Western sanctions, will bring Ukraine and Russia closer to a full, unconditional ceasefire, Zelensky said. He also named the return of Ukrainian children abducted by Russia and an all-for-all prisoners exchange among Kyiv’s key priorities.

While Kyiv has repeatedly expressed its support for a full, unconditional ceasefire, Russia has rejected this proposal.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Russia reserves the right to use nuclear weapons if faced with ‘unfriendly actions,’ Russian Security Council Secretary Sergei Shoigu claimed in an interview with TASS state news agency on April 24.

Shoigu said Moscow was “closely monitoring” the “military preparations” of European countries, as they seek to ramp up defense spending and production in the face of the U.S. reducing its military presence on the continent.

“In case foreign states commit unfriendly actions that threaten the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Russian Federation, our country considers it legitimate to take symmetrical and asymmetrical measures necessary to suppress such actions and prevent their recurrence,” he said.

“Nuclear deterrence is carried out against states and military coalitions that regard Russia as a potential adversary, possess weapons of mass destruction, or have significant combat capabilities of general-purpose forces,” he added.

Shoigu also said that any European future peacekeeping forces deployed to Ukraine to monitor a ceasefire would also be seen by the Kremlin as a provocation.

“Sensible politicians in Europe understand that the implementation of such a scenario could lead to a direct clash between NATO and Russia and subsequently to World War III,” he said.

In November 2024, Russia updated its official nuclear deterrence policy. According to the changes, the Kremlin reserves the right to use nuclear weapons in response to aggression against itself or its closest ally, Belarus, even if the attack involves non-nuclear weapons.

Russia has repeatedly made nuclear threats against Ukraine and the West since the beginning of the full-scale invasion in February 2022. The threats have failed to materialize, and Russia continues to wage its all-out war without using its nuclear arsenal.

The statement came as U.S. Vice President JD Vance repeated warnings that the U.S. might drop its peace efforts if both sides refuse to accept a “very explicit proposal,” which includes recognizing temporarily occupied territories as Russian.

Ukraine agreed to relinquish its nuclear arms after signing the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, which also saw the country join the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.

In exchange, Kyiv received security assurances from major powers, including the U.S., the U.K., and Russia. These guarantees failed to prevent Moscow’s aggression in 2014 in Crimea and Donbas and the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

The Budapest Memorandum has been sharply criticized by today’s Ukrainian leadership over its lack of strong security guarantees.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Ivan Popov, a disgraced ex-commander of Russia’s 58th Army fighting in Ukraine, was sentenced by a Russian military court to five years imprisonment over a large-scale fraud, Interfax news agency reported on April 24.

Popov was also stripped of his military rank as major general and fined 800,000 rubles ($9,600).

The ex-commander was arrested in May 2024 on suspicion of taking part in the theft of 1,700 metric tons of metal intended for building fortifications in the Russian-occupied part of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhia Oblast. The fraud reportedly caused damages of 115 million rubles ($1.4 million).

Popov’s co-defendant, businessman Sergei Moiseyev, was sentenced to four years and fined 600,000 rubles ($7,200).

Popov has pleaded not guilty and plans to appeal the verdict. The Russian media reported that he sought to avoid a prison sentence by requesting permission to return to the front in Ukraine.

He was expected to lead one of the Storm-Z detachments, a front-line assault group largely composed of convicts and known for high casualty rates, Kommerstant’s source in security services claimed.

The court has denied this request, Popov’s lawyer Sergei Buinovsky said, according to Interfax.

Popov was dismissed from his command in 2023 after he reportedly bypassed the command of Chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov and attempted to directly appeal to the Kremlin over poor battlefield conditions.

If Trump recognizes Crimea, the biggest losers are Ukraine — and the US, experts say

Formally recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and potentially open the door to further global conflicts, experts warn.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

London banned the export of video game controllers to Russia, which are used to pilot Russian drones on the front line in Moscow’s all-out war against Ukraine, the U.K. Foreign Ministry announced on April 24.

The new sanctions package includes 150 trade sanctions against Russia, Politico reported, citing U.K. Sanctions Minister Stephen Doughty.

Throughout Russia’s full-scale invasion, Ukraine and Russia have heavily invested in drone technology, revolutionizing warfare.

Apart from video game controllers, the U.K. also prohibited the transfer of technology involved in producing Common High Priority goods, such as electronic components like amplifiers and circuits, which were described as critical to Russia’s military capabilities.

“Today’s measures will also cut Russia’s war machine off from innovative British tech, world-leading software, and close loopholes exploited by (President Vladimir) Putin’s cronies,” the foreign ministry said.

The U.K. also banned the export of chemicals, electronics, machinery, and metals to limit Russia’s military and industrial capacity, according to Politico.  

In late February, London imposed its largest-ever package of sanctions against Moscow, targeting its “shadow fleet” of tankers and foreign-based companies providing military parts to Russia.

Throughout the all-out war, Russia has continued to avoid sanctions through the use of evasion networks and shell companies. Russia is also aided in sanctions evasion through its allies, including China, Iran, and North Korea.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

Europe will not support any U.S. move to recognize Russian control over occupied Crimea and will not pressure Kyiv to accept it, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 24, citing undisclosed Western officials.

The Trump administration’s final proposal for ending Russia’s all-out war against Ukraine reportedly included U.S. de jure recognition of Moscow’s control over Crimea, along with de facto recognition of its partial occupation of other Ukrainian regions — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 23 that Washington is not forcing Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian. He then blamed Ukraine for not fighting back when Russia illegally seized the peninsula in 2014.

An unnamed senior European official told the FT that the Trump administration had already been informed that European countries would not recognize Crimea as Russian. Major European NATO powers should “discourage” the U.S. from doing so unilaterally, according to the official.

Earlier this week, top EU diplomat Kaja Kallas said that the European Union will never recognize the Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula as legally Russian.

Recognition of the annexation would contradict a decade of bipartisan U.S. policy and a 2014 United Nations General Assembly resolution, in which 100 member states declared the seizure illegal.

Trump’s claim that Crimea was taken without force is false. During Russia’s 2014 annexation, armed Russian troops in unmarked uniforms seized Ukrainian government buildings, military installations, and blockaded bases.

Following the U.S. president’s remarks, President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 23 that Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution, sharing a 2018 U.S. declaration denouncing Russian occupation of Crimea and reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

If Trump recognizes Crimea, the biggest losers are Ukraine — and the US, experts say

Formally recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and potentially open the door to further global conflicts, experts warn.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Syrian authorities requested Russia to extradite ousted dictator Bashar al-Assad, but were turned down, Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa said in an interview with the New York Times published on April 23.

Assad, a Moscow ally who had ruled Syria since 2000, was toppled in a surprise rebel offensive in December 2024 and subsequently was given refuge in Russia.

Al-Sharaa, a former Al Qaeda affiliate who led the offensive, was appointed interim president in January. The sudden leadership change cast doubt on Russia’s military presence in Syria, namely the Tartus naval base and Khmeimim air base.

Speaking to the NYT, al-Sharaa alluded to the possibility of continued military cooperation with Moscow, stressing Syria’s long-standing reliance on Russian arms.

“Until now, we have not had offers from other nations to replace Syrian arms,” which are primarily Russian-made, the Syrian leader told the news outlet. He also underscored a number of past food and energy agreements between Moscow and Damascus.

At the same time, al-Sharaa acknowledged that Russia was asked to hand over Assad as a condition for Russia’s continued military presence. This request was denied, he said, without elaborating on how this affects future bilateral ties.

Al-Sharaa took office after 23 years of brutal civil war, which left the country’s economy ravaged and diplomatically isolated from the West and several major players in the Middle East. The new leader has sought to carefully foster new international ties, leading to the U.S. and the EU easing sanctions imposed on the country.

The Syrian government announced on April 20 that it had received its first shipment of 6,600 tons of wheat since Assad’s fall. Reuters reported that the supplies came from Russia.

Ukraine has also opened dialogue with the new Syrian government. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha visited Damascus in December 2024, saying at the time that Kyiv and Damascus share similar views on Russia’s continued military presence.

‘US tells Russia crimes it commits are acceptable’ — What recognition of Russia’s occupation of Crimea would mean for Ukrainians, Crimean Tatars

The U.S. is reportedly considering officially recognizing Russian control over occupied Crimea as part of a potential peace agreement — a territorial concession that would kill the existing world order and is deemed unacceptable by Ukraine. According to Axios, the Trump administration’s final proposal for ending Russia’s all-out war against

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Russian attacks against Ukraine killed 13 people and injured at least 97 others over the past day, regional authorities said on April 24.

Ukrainian forces downed 64 out of the 145 Shahed-type drones and other drones, as well as 48 out of the 70 missiles, launched by Russia overnight, the Air Force reported.

Russia used ballistic missiles of the Iskander-M or the North Korean KN-23 model, Kh-101 cruise missiles, Kalibr missiles, and Kh-59/Kh-69 missiles.

Sixty-eight drones disappeared from radars without causing any damage, according to the statement. Drones that disappear from radars before reaching their targets are usually decoys. Russia launches them alongside real drones to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defense.

Russia’s mass missile and drone attack on Kyiv killed nine people and injured at least 70, including six children, overnight, according to Ukrainian officials.

Fires have been reported in residential buildings, some of which were damaged due to the attack.

Russia struck the city of Kharkiv with drones and missiles 24 times overnight, injuring one person, Mayor Ihor Terekhov said.  The attacks damaged multi-story residential buildings, a clinic, a school, a hotel, and industrial enterprises.

Another four people suffered injuries due to Russian drone attacks near Kupiansk and Chuhuiv in Kharkiv Oblast, Governor Oleh Syniehubov said.

A first responder was injured in a Russian double-tap attack in Zhytomyr Oblast, the State Emergency Service reported.

In western Khmelnytskyi Oblast, a Russian attack injured two people, including a child, Governor Serhii Tiurin said. A gas distribution point, two residential buildings, and an apartment building were damaged, he added.

Two people were injured in the Nedryhailiv community in Sumy Oblast as a result of a Russian drone attack, local authorities reported.

Three people were killed in the cities of Kostiantynivka and Sloviansk in Donetsk Oblast, Governor Vadym Filashkin said. Seven more people were injured in the region over the past day.

In Kherson Oblast, Russian forces targeted 39 settlements, including the regional center of Kherson. An 81-year-old woman was killed, and 10 other people were injured, Governor Oleksandr Prokudin reported.

If Trump recognizes Crimea, the biggest losers are Ukraine — and the US, experts say

Formally recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and potentially open the door to further global conflicts, experts warn.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

The Trump administration officials are debating the possibility of lifting sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and other energy assets as part of peace efforts in Ukraine, Politico reported on April 23, citing five undisclosed sources.

Special Envoy Steve Witkoff, who is set to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow for their fourth meeting on April 25, has reportedly promoted the idea. It has “not found much traction in the White House,” and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has opposed it, Politico reported.

U.S. officials have refuted Politico’s story.

“This is unequivocally false. Neither Steve Witkoff nor I have had any conversations about lifting sanctions against Russia as part of a deal with Ukraine,” Rubio said on X.

The news comes as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to broker a swift peace deal in Ukraine, warning he might drop the effort unless tangible progress is made soon.

Washington’s latest peace proposal reportedly includes the U.S. de jure recognizing Russian control of Crimea and development of closer economic and energy cooperation with Russia.

Witkoff’s proposal to ease energy sanctions has also been opposed by Interior Secretary Doug Burgun, who leads the White House Energy Dominance Council and wants to boost U.S. liquified natural gas (LNG) sales, Politico reported.

Restarting the Nord Stream 2 pipeline, which saw one of its lines damaged during an unexplained explosion in the Baltic Sea in 2022, would also require the EU countries to resume purchases of Russian gas.

The EU set the goal of weaning itself off Russian fossil fuels by 2027 in response to Moscow’s all-out invasion of Ukraine.

Rubio has previously said that the U.S. will maintain its sanctions against Russia until a peace deal is reached, but said relief would likely be part of an eventual settlement. The final agreement would therefore have to include the EU, which has also slapped extensive sanctions on Moscow, he noted.

If Trump recognizes Crimea, the biggest losers are Ukraine — and the US, experts say

Formally recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and potentially open the door to further global conflicts, experts warn.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Ukraine and the U.S. agreed to start working on a free trade zone between the two countries, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on April 23 after meeting U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington.

Ukraine and the U.S. launched initial talks on a free trade zone back in 2021. Earlier, Shmyhal said that Kyiv seeks to boost bilateral trade and an agreement with the U.S. to allow “everything except for the fixed exceptions."

Ukrainian trade with the U.S. has dropped in recent years, with only $874 million of exports and $3.4 billion of American imports last year. But the knock-on effect could be a global trade war that hits Ukraine too, Oleksandra Myronenko from the Center for Economic Strategy (CES) in Kyiv, told the Kyiv Independent.

In early April, U.S. President Donald Trump imposed a 10% tariff on all Ukrainian goods, except metal products, which had already been subject to a 25% tariff in March.

According to Shmyhal, the parties also discussed “important political aspects” of the long-debated future minerals deal between Kyiv and Washington, which was reaffirmed in a recently signed memorandum. Further details on the ongoing negotiations are expected by April 26.

“Ukraine’s government undoubtedly supports the conclusion of an agreement on economic partnership between the American and Ukrainian peoples and the creation of a Reconstruction Investment Fund,” the prime minister said.

Shmyhal also called on the U.S. to strengthen energy sanctions against Russia due to the occupation of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant.

Politico reported on April 23, citing undisclosed sources, that the Trump administration is discussing the possible lifting of sanctions on Russia’s Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline and other Russian energy assets in Europe.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

President Volodymyr Zelensky said on April 23 that Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution, sharing a 2018 U.S. declaration denouncing Russian occupation of Crimea and reaffirming Ukraine’s territorial integrity.

Though Zelensky did not mention it explicitly, the statement seems to refer to the U.S. reportedly proposing its de jure recognition of Russian control over the southern Ukrainian peninsula, which Russia has occupied since 2014, as part of a potential peace deal.

“Russia, through its 2014 invasion of Ukraine and its attempted annexation of Crimea, sought to undermine a bedrock international principle shared by democratic states: that no country can change the borders of another by force,” Mike Pompeo, the U.S. secretary of state during the first Trump administration, said in the Crimea Declaration in July 2018.

“In concert with allies, partners, and the international community, the United States rejects Russia’s attempted annexation of Crimea and pledges to maintain this policy until Ukraine’s territorial integrity is restored."

U.S. President Donald Trump’s second term saw him adopt a more Russian-friendly policy as he seeks to restore bilateral ties and broker a peace in Ukraine.

Washington’s latest peace proposal reportedly included not only de jure recognition of Crimea’s annexation but also de facto acceptance of Russian occupation of parts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts.

Zelensky has previously ruled out formally ceding any territory to Russia, after which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio skipped London peace talks with Ukrainian and European officials on April 23.

The White House also lashed out against Zelensky’s statements on Crimea, saying that “nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian territory."

The London meeting still took place on a technical level, with Ukrainian delegates – Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov – stressing the need for a ceasefire as the first necessary step toward a peace deal.

“Emotions have run high today. But it is good that five countries met to bring peace closer. Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., France, and Germany,” Zelensky said.

“We are grateful to partners. Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution and we are absolutely sure that our partners, in particular the U.S., will act in line with its strong decisions."

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York

When pressed by reporters on April 23, U.S. President Donald Trump declined to weigh in on whether he wants Ukraine to recognize occupied Crimea as Russian territory, calling instead for the end to hostilities.

“I just want to see the war end, I don’t care,” Trump told reporters. “If they’re both happy, they both sign an agreement, I have no favorites. I don’t want to have any favorites. I want to have a deal done."

Earlier in the day, Trump claimed in a post on his social media platform, Truth Social, that the U.S. is not forcing Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian, following reports that a U.S. peace plan includes the U.S. formally recognizing Moscow’s illegal annexation of Crimea.

“Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?” Trump wrote on April 23.

Zelensky reaffirmed on April 22 that Ukraine would never legally recognize Russia’s control of Crimea.

“There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine,” Zelensky said at a briefing in Kyiv.

“Ukraine will always act in accordance with its Constitution, and we are fully confident that our partners — particularly the United States — will act in line with their strong decisions,” another statement from Zelensky on April 23 stated.

While Trump appeared to frame the proposal as something Ukraine could reject, he notably did not deny that the U.S. might move forward with formally recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, something Russia had wanted for years.

Recognition of the annexation would contradict a decade of bipartisan U.S. policy and a 2014 United Nations General Assembly resolution, in which 100 member states declared the seizure illegal.

Trump’s claim that Crimea was taken without force is false. During Russia’s 2014 annexation, armed Russian troops in unmarked uniforms seized Ukrainian government buildings, military installations, and blockaded bases.

Trump says ‘nobody is asking’ Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian

“Nobody is asking (President Volodymyr) Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?” U.S. President Donald Trump wrote.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters on April 23 that he may meet Russian President Vladimir Putin “shortly” following his trip to Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates in May.

When asked by reporters whether Trump would meet with Putin in Saudi Arabia during his visit to the Middle East between May 13-16, Trump responded: “It’s possible, but most likely not."

“I think we’ll meet with him shortly thereafter,” Trump added, without providing a specific timeline.

Despite ongoing ceasefire negotiations, Trump and Putin have yet to have direct contact, communicating only through their officials. Trump’s last in-person encounter with his Russian counterpart was during the 2018 Helsinki Summit during the U.S. president’s first term.

Trump’s advisers have been insistent a conversation with Putin should take place only after Russia agrees to a ceasefire in Ukraine. U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is again expected to meet Putin in Moscow on April 25.

Earlier in the day on April 23, Trump said that believes a deal between Russia and Ukraine to end Russia’s war has been reached.

“I think we have a deal with both, I hope they do it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump has repeatedly proposed brokering a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia with concessions Kyiv has not put on the table. The U.S. is reportedly weighing recognizing Russian control of Crimea.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused.

On April 23, Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine insists on an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."

Kremlin spokesperson reiterates demands for Ukraine to give up territory in exchange for end to war

In an interview with French outlet Le Point, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov laid out Moscow’s demands for a ceasefire in Ukraine, including the full recognition of Russia’s claim over four Ukrainian oblasts it partially occupies, neutral status for Ukraine, and an end to all Western military support.

The Kyiv IndependentAnna Fratsyvir

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 23 he believes a deal between Russia and Ukraine to end Russia’s war has been reached.

“I think we have a deal with both, I hope they do it,” Trump told reporters in the Oval Office.

Trump has repeatedly proposed brokering a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia with concessions Kyiv has not put on the table. The U.S. is reportedly weighing recognizing Russian control of Crimea.

Trump noted President Volodymyr Zelensky has been “harder” to deal with, but that “it’s all right."

“I thought it might be easier to deal with Zelensky. So far it’s been harder,” Trump claimed.

Trump said the U.S. has reached a deal with Russia and must reach a deal with Ukraine, despite in the same address claiming he thinks the U.S. has a “deal with both."

“I think we have a deal with Russia. We have to get a deal with Zelensky,” Trump said.

Earlier on April 23, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that the U.S. presented a “very explicit proposal” to Ukraine and Russia on a peace deal.

Vance repeated warnings that the U.S. might drop its peace efforts if both sides refuse to settle a peace deal. White House officials have warned that Washington would abandon the peace efforts if a deal is not reached soon.

Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused.

On April 23, Zelensky reaffirmed that Ukraine insists on an “immediate, full, and unconditional ceasefire."

“That was the proposal put forward by the United States on March 11 of this year — and it was absolutely reasonable,” Zelensky said.

Ukraine war latest: US expects territorial concessions from Russia, Ukraine in potential peace deal

Key developments on April 23: * US expects territorial concessions from Russia, Ukraine in potential peace deal * Ukraine insists on unconditional ceasefire at London peace talks * Trump says ‘nobody is asking’ Ukraine to recognize Crimea as Russian * ‘Groundless accusations, political manipulations’ — China reacts to Ukraine summoning its envoy * Ukrainian drone strike

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Editor’s Note: This is a developing story and is being updated.

A round of explosions occurred in Kyiv around 1:00 a.m. local time on April 24, according to a Kyiv Independent journalist on the ground.

Air defenses are in operation, Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko said in a post to Telegram.

Fallen debris has been found, Kyiv’s military head Tymur Tkachenko reported.

Russia has regularly targeted civilian infrastructure since the onset of its full-scale war against Ukraine in February 2022.

The U.S. has been in talks with Ukraine and Russia to negotiate an end to Russia’s war against Ukraine.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused.

If Trump recognizes Crimea, the biggest losers are Ukraine — and the US, experts say

Formally recognizing Crimea as Russian would breach international law and potentially open the door to further global conflicts, experts warn.

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

U.S. Special Envoy Keith Kellogg called for a peace deal to end Russia’s war against Ukraine on April 23, following his participation in a London meeting on Ukraine.

“It’s time to move forward on (U.S.) President (Donald) Trump’s (Ukraine-Russia) war directive: stop the killing, achieve peace, and put America First,” Kellogg said in a post to social media.

The London meeting comes as the U.S. intensifies efforts to broker a deal between Ukraine and Russia, following failed efforts to reach a ceasefire. White House officials have repeatedly warned that Washington would abandon the peace efforts if a deal is not reached soon.

Kellogg noted the talks in London with Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak were “positive."

The meeting was originally meant to be a ministerial-level summit involving the U.S., U.K., Germany, France, and Ukraine. The gathering was notably downgraded when U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff declined to participate.

Earlier on April 23, U.S. Vice President JD Vance said that the U.S. presented a “very explicit proposal” to Ukraine and Russia on a peace deal.

Vance repeated warnings that the U.S. might drop its peace efforts if both sides refuse to settle a peace deal.

The U.S. is reportedly considering recognizing Moscow’s illegal occupation of Crimea as part of a peace deal, despite Russia’s annexation violating international law.

Zelensky has said Ukraine will not legally recognize Crimea as Russian territory.

Moscow has shown signs it is unwilling to move forward on a peace deal with Ukraine. Russian authorities have listed maximalist demands in ceasefire negotiations with Ukraine and the U.S.

Ukraine has already agreed to a U.S.-proposed full 30-day ceasefire, saying on March 11 that Kyiv is ready if Russia also agrees to the terms. So far, Moscow has refused.

Ukraine has no great options if Trump recognizes Crimea as Russian

Ukraine is facing a crossroads in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion, with the possibility of being forced to reject an unfavorable peace deal being imposed under huge pressure from the U.S.

The Kyiv IndependentChris York