U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on April 23 that the U.S. presented a “very explicit proposal” to Russia and Ukraine on a peace deal, repeating warnings Washington might drop its peace effort if the belligerent sides refuse.

Talking to journalists during a visit to India, Vance said that it is time for Kyiv and Moscow “to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process."

The U.S. vice president also said that the two sides would have to give up some of the territory they control. Vance noted that eventual borders may not exactly follow the current front line but stressed it is currently necessary to lay down arms and “freeze” the war.

The comments follow reporting that the U.S. is ready to recognize Russia’s de jure control over Crimea and de facto control over occupied territories in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts as part of a peace deal.

Moscow occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine’s sovereign territory. This includes Crimea and parts of the Donbas region occupied in 2014, and additional territories conquered after the start of the full-scale war in 2022.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has rejected the possibility of recognizing Russian hold over Crimea.

U.S. President Donald Trump has said his country will abandon the ceasefire effort in the coming days unless progress is made. Top European, Ukrainian, and U.S. diplomats were set to discuss Trump’s peace plan in London on April 23, but the meeting was downgraded after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would not attend.

Trump’s reported ‘final’ peace plan includes accepting Russian occupation, few benefits for Ukraine

The U.S. reportedly presented its peace proposal last week during a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Paris.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

The U.S. does not call for reducing Ukraine’s military capabilities and is not opposed to a European peacekeeping force in the country, Reuters reported on April 23, citing two undisclosed diplomatic sources.

While these positions contradict Russia’s previously expressed demands, the U.S. ceasefire proposal has reportedly also included a demand for major concessions from Ukraine.

U.S. President Donald Trump’s “final” ceasefire proposal, handed over to Ukrainian officials last week, includes the U.S. de jure recognizing Russian control over Crimea and de facto control over occupied territories in the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts, Axios reported.

Ukraine has already rejected the possibility of recognizing Russian hold over Crimea as legal, after which U.S. and European top ministers moved to skip the upcoming talks in London on April 23.

The meeting is still scheduled to take place on a lower level and in a closed format. The U.S. delegation will be led by Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg.

Russia has repeatedly called for the reduction of Ukraine’s Armed Forces, a demand strictly rejected by Kyiv and its European allies. Moscow has also opposed a peacekeeping force in Ukraine made up of NATO members, though not ruling out international monitors from “third-party” countries.

The ceasefire talks appear to be on a tight schedule, as the Trump administration has said it will abandon the effort unless tangible progress is made soon.

Reuters' diplomatic sources were skeptical about the possibility of a peace deal this week, as Trump suggested earlier.

Trump’s reported ‘final’ ceasefire offer includes accepting Russian occupation, few benefits for Ukraine

The U.S. reportedly presented its peace proposal last week during a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Paris.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

The Trump administration’s final proposal for ending the Russia-Ukraine war included U.S. de jure recognition of Russia’s control over Crimea, along with de facto recognition of its occupation of other Ukrainian territories, Axios reported on April 23, citing sources.

The news supports earlier reporting that the recognition of Russia’s occupation of Crimea and a ban on Ukraine joining NATO are being considered as part of a U.S.-backed proposal to end the war.

The U.S. reportedly presented its peace proposal last week during a meeting with Ukrainian officials in Paris. At the same time, Washington signaled that it would withdraw from the talks if the parties did not agree to conclude a peace agreement soon.

The U.S. peace plan will require significant concessions from Ukraine and President Volodymyr Zelensky, Axios reported. In turn, the pitch outlines several “tangible gains” for Russia, the outlet’s source said.

According to U.S. President Donald Trump’s final peace proposal, Washington would de jure recognize the Russian control over Crimea and de facto recognize the occupation of Ukrainian territories in Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts

The deal would also prevent Ukraine from joining NATO but permit EU membership, lift sanctions imposed on Russia since 2014, and include deeper energy and economic cooperation between the U.S. and Russia.

In return, the U.S. promises Ukraine “a robust security guarantee” backed by European countries and possibly non-European like-minded countries.

Trump’s proposal does not clearly outline how this peacekeeping mission would work or provide security guarantees. The document also does not mention the U.S. role in this mission.

According to the U.S. peace plan, Ukraine will get back a part of Kharkiv Oblast occupied by Russia, gain unimpeded passage of the Dnipro River, which flows along the front line in some parts of southern Ukraine, and receive compensation for the reconstruction of the country. The document does not specify how this will be financed.

The document also mentions the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which is to be recognized as controlled by Ukraine but operated by the U.S. As the proposal reads, the electricity produced by the plant will be supplied to both Ukraine and Russia.

The U.S. expected Ukraine to respond to its peace plan in London on April 23, according to Axios.

Zelensky has already ruled out recognizing Crimea as Russian territory, after which U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff moved to skip the London meeting. European and Ukrainian foreign ministers are also reportedly suspending their participation.

This Ukrainian mining company is losing hope in Trump’s minerals deal

Standing beside a sleepy village in Ukraine’s central Kirovohrad Oblast, the Zavalivskiy mine lies beneath layers of brown and pink earth, holding some 7.5 million metric tons of graphite ore — the second largest flake graphite mine in Europe. Like many mining companies in Ukraine, Zavalivskiy Graphite has lost

The Kyiv IndependentDominic Culverwell

Chief diplomats of the U.K., France, Ukraine, and Germany have suspended their plans to attend the talks in London on how to end Russia’s war against Ukraine, Sky News reported on April 23.

The news comes as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff also backed out of the meeting after Kyiv rejected an alleged U.S. plan to recognize Russian occupation of Crimea as part of a peace deal.

This effectively downgrades the level of the April 23 meeting, which will instead be led by other senior nationals. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha is nevertheless expected to visit London and separately meet his U.K. counterpart, David Lammy, Sky News reported.

The U.S. was reported to present Ukraine with a ceasefire proposal during talks in Paris on April 17, which included the legal recognition of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean peninsula, under Russian occupation since 2014.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has ruled out such a move, stressing the territory remains Ukraine’s sovereign soil and the recognition of Russian occupation would violate the Constitution.

Zelensky warned that any discussion of Crimea risks shifting negotiations into a framework dictated by the Kremlin. He said such proposals play directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin’s “game."

The rejection comes as U.S. President Donald Trump has warned he would abandon peace efforts unless there is tangible progress.

According to Axios, the U.S. delegation in London will be led by Special Envoy for Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Kyiv reportedly hopes to discuss a 30-day ceasefire proposal during the meeting, rather than Trump’s broader peace plan.

The Financial Times also reported that Putin has offered the U.S. to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, a claim disputed by the Kremlin’s press office.

Ukraine war latest: Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

Key developments on April 22: * Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast * Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports * Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ * Russia used Easter truce to

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

Kyiv has presented Beijing with evidence that Chinese citizens and companies have participated in Russia’s full-scale war against Ukraine, the Foreign Ministry reported on April 22.

The report comes less than a week after President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that China is supplying weapons to the Russian military.

“I think we will be able to say in detail next week that we believe that Chinese representatives are engaged in the production of some weapons on the territory of Russia,” Zelensky said on April 17.

During a meeting with Chinese Ambassador to Ukraine Ma Shengkun, Deputy Foreign Minister Yevgen Perebyinis shared evidence that Chinese citizens and companies are involved in the war in Ukraine.

The ministry cited the participation of Chinese nationals in combat in Ukraine alongside Russian troops and Chinese businesses' role in producing military equipment for Russia.

These matters “are of serious concern and contradict the spirit of partnership between Ukraine and the People’s Republic of China,” the ministry said.

Ukrainian special services shared evidence of  allegations with the Chinese, the Foreign Ministry reported.

Perebyinis also called for China to “take measures to stop supporting Russia” in its aggression against Ukraine, and assured that Ukraine “values ​​its strategic partnership with China and expects that China will refrain from taking steps that could hinder bilateral relations."

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on April 18 rejected Zelensky’s claims of weapons deliveries as “groundless," insisting that Beijing remains committed to a ceasefire. The same day, Zelensky announced sanctions against multiple entities based in China.

Although China has officially claimed neutrality with regard to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Beijing has deepened economic ties with Moscow, supported Russia against Western sanctions, and emerged as a top supplier of dual-use goods that feed the Russian defense sector.

Earlier this month, Ukraine captured two Chinese citizens fighting for Russia in Donetsk Oblast. President Volodymyr Zelensky has claimed that “several hundred” Chinese nationals are fighting on Russia’s side in the war.

As tensions mount in US embassy in Kyiv, former official breaks silence

As U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing rapprochement with Russia, the country’s embassy in Kyiv is facing internal strain. Following the change in administration, Bridget Brink, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, was put in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

A U.S. federal judge on April 22 ordered the Trump administration to restore all employees and contractors at Voice of America (VoA), saying the administration’s efforts to dismantle the outlet likely violated U.S. law.

As part of his administration’s wide-reaching funding cuts, U.S. President Donald Trump has tried to gut the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees VoA, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia.

U.S. District Judge Royce Lamberth granted the plaintiffs a preliminary injunction and ordered the administration to restore all employees and contractors to their news programs. The decision comes less than a month after a court on March 28 issued a restraining order to prevent the mass firing of some 1,300 VoA employees.

"(The administration) took immediate and drastic action to slash USAGM … without regard to the harm inflicted on employees, contractors, journalists, and media consumers around the world," Lamberth said.

“It is hard to fathom a more straightforward display of arbitrary and capricious actions than the Defendants' actions here."

Lamberth ordered the reinstatement of all employees and the restoration of VoA programming so that it can “serve as a consistently reliable and authoritative source of news."

VoA is a government-funded media founded in 1942, broadcasting in almost 50 languages around the world.

Trump has denounced the outlet as “radical propaganda” and issued an executive order on March 14 slashing funding for USAGM. A week earlier, Trump’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) carried out an inspection of VoA that resulted in the dismissal of Ukrainian journalist Ostap Yarysh.

DOGE is headed by billionaire CEO Elon Musk, who has called to “shut down” public media.

“It’s just radical left crazy people talking to themselves while torching $1B/year of U.S. taxpayer money,” Musk said on Feb. 9.

DOGE’s efforts to reshape the government through dramatic funding cuts have faced ongoing legal challenges in U.S. courts.

Ukraine war latest: Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast

Key developments on April 22: * Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast * Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports * Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’ * Russia used Easter truce to

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent news desk

United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will not attend upcoming peace talks with Ukrainian and European officials in London, the Financial Times reported on April 22.

Representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and France are scheduled to meet on April 23 to continue discussions on a potential ceasefire in Russia’s war against Ukraine. The talks are an extension of last week’s peace talks in Paris.

Witkoff and Rubio were originally expected to attend, but have since pulled out, the FT reported, citing U.S. and European officials. U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg is still expected to attend the meeting.

Meanwhile, Witkoff is planning to  Moscow later this week, according to Russian state media.

Although Rubio and Witkoff have not disclosed the reasons for declining to attend the peace talks, Rubio’s absence was confirmed by U.S. State Department Spokesperson Tammy Bruce on April 22.

Despite his position as Middle East Envoy, Witkoff has emerged as a key player in the Russia-Ukraine negotiations, meeting three times with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Witkoff has stirred controversy by insisting Ukraine make territorial concessions to Russia — and often regurgitating Kremlin talking points justifying the occupation.

The Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported on April 14 that Witkoff’s position was at odds with that of Kellogg and Rubio, causing a rift in the Trump administration’s Ukraine strategy.

In Paris on April 17, the U.S. presented a draft peace proposal to Ukrainian and European officials. The proposal reportedly involved potentially recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO membership in exchange for a lasting ceasefire.

President Volodymyr Zelensky firmly rejected such conditions on April 22, reiterating that Ukraine will not recognize Russia’s occupation of Crimea under any scenario. Russia’s 2014 invasion and annexation of Crimea is illegal under international law.

European officials have also expressed concerns regarding the U.S. peace proposal and questioned the motives behind U.S. efforts to end the war.

“There is a lot of pressure on Kyiv right now to give up on things so Trump can claim victory,” one official said.

The Trump administration has been accused of parroting Russian propaganda narratives and capitulating to Russian demands with regard to the war in Ukraine. Since taking office earlier this year, Trump has pursued a policy of resetting relations with Russia, at the expense of global credibility, international norms, and long-standing alliances.

Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports

This could be the first formal indication from Russian President Vladimir Putin since the full-scale war began in 2022 that Russia may consider scaling back its territorial demands.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Key developments on April 22:

• Explosions rock what could be one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals in Vladimir Oblast
• Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports
• Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin’s ‘game’
• Russia used Easter truce to regroup in Lyman sector, launched offensive after, military says
• Japan to provide Ukraine with geospatial intelligence, media reports

Explosions have erupted at a Russian weapons arsenal in Vladimir Oblast on April 22, causing a fire, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Telegram.

According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the facility in question is Russia’s 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate – one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals, located about 530 kilometers (330 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the fire erupted at the site due to a violation of safety protocols when working with explosive materials. No casualties have been reported.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has ordered the creation of a special commission to investigate the incident.

The Russian Emergencies Ministry reported that a military unit, seven settlements, and 12 holiday villages had been evacuated due to the incident.

Independent Russian media outlet ASTRA reported, citing local residents, a powerful blast at the base, followed by continued secondary detonations.

Following the incident, roads leading to the nearby town of Kirzhach from Moscow were closed. According to Russian state-controlled media outlet Kommersant, Russian authorities ordered evacuations from the settlements of Barsovo and Mirny.

Vladimir Oblast Governor Alexander Avdeev confirmed the explosions but warned journalists and residents against spreading information about the incident before "verified official data" is released, threatening fines for violations.

Analysis of imagery from the facility suggests that the arsenal stored a wide range of weapons, including medium-caliber artillery shells and missiles for anti-aircraft systems, Militarnyi reported.

According to Militarnyi, the facility also housed a laboratory for monitoring the condition of artillery propellants and explosives, as well as workshops equipped to test high-tech weapons systems.

In addition to specialized equipment, the 51st Arsenal and similar bases under the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate are believed to store large stockpiles of heavy artillery shells, munitions for multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS), and small arms ammunition.

The facility has a history of similar incidents. On June 22, 2022, a detonation of ammunition occurred during unloading operations, killing three servicemen and a civilian specialist and seriously injuring another.

Russian bombs kill 1, injure 23 in Zaporizhzhia amid Kyiv’s calls for civilian infrastructure truce

Russian forces attacked the city at around 11:40 a.m. with two KAB bombs, with one hitting an infrastructure facility and another a multi-story residential building in Zaporizhzhia’s residential neighborhood, Governor Ivan Fedorov said.

The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Hodunova

Putin offers US to freeze Ukraine war along current front line, FT reports

Russian President Vladimir Putin has offered the U.S. to halt his full-scale invasion of Ukraine along the current front line, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 22, citing unnamed sources familiar with the talks.

Putin reportedly conveyed the offer during a recent meeting with U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff in St. Petersburg. This could be the first formal indication from Putin since the full-scale war began in 2022 that Russia may consider scaling back its territorial demands.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov, responding to the report, cast doubt on its accuracy. "A lot of fakes are being published now, including those published by respected publications, so one should only listen to primary sources," he told the Russian state-controlled media outlet RIA Novosti.

Russia illegally declared ownership over Ukraine's Crimea in 2014 and over Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, Donetsk, and Luhansk oblasts in 2022, in violation of international law. Russia only partially occupies the four oblasts.

Moscow has repeatedly demanded international recognition of the regions as Russian and that Ukrainian troops completely withdraw from them as part of any peace negotiations.

Putin's message reportedly prompted Washington to propose a "peace settlement," elements of which have since been revealed in media reports, according to the FT.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the U.S. proposal — presented in a confidential April 17 meeting in Paris — involves potentially recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea and barring Ukraine from NATO membership.

Ukraine has been asked to respond this week, with a follow-up meeting scheduled in London on April 23 involving delegations from Ukraine, the U.S., the U.K., and France. If the parties reach a consensus, the proposal may be formally introduced to Moscow.

European officials cited by the FT expressed concern that Putin's offer is designed to push U.S. President Donald Trump toward accepting broader Kremlin demands.

Witkoff, who conveyed Putin's position and is expected to visit Moscow this week, has drawn criticism for backing proposals perceived as aligning with Russian interests.

Washington has signaled that if no progress is made in the coming days, it may abandon its ceasefire mediation efforts.

‘Territories are first and foremost people:’ Zaporizhzhia, Kherson residents anxiously watch Witkoff debate the land they live on

Zaporizhzhia — During what would usually be evening rush hour in Zaporizhzhia, cars move easily through main streets that were once choked with traffic. As the shadows grow longer, soldiers calmly remove camouflage netting from the air defense weapons they’ll man against Russia’s deadly attacks until the sun rises

The Kyiv IndependentAndrea Januta

Zelensky rules out recognizing Crimea as Russian, warns against playing into Putin's 'game'

Ukraine will not legally recognize Russia's occupation of Crimea under any circumstances, President Volodymyr Zelensky said during a briefing in Kyiv on April 22.

"There is nothing to talk about. This violates our Constitution. This is our territory, the territory of the people of Ukraine," the president told reporters.

Zelensky warned that any discussion of Crimea risks shifting negotiations into a framework dictated by the Kremlin. He said such proposals play directly into Russian President Vladimir Putin's "game."

"As soon as talks about Crimea and our sovereign territories begin, the talks enter the format that Russia wants — prolonging the war – because it will not be possible to agree on everything quickly," he added.

While acknowledging that signals about Crimea have surfaced in different channels, Zelensky said Ukraine would reject immediately any official proposal.

"We know where these signals are sounding and will continue to sound," he said, adding that he was unsure whether they originated from Russia or certain U.S. representatives engaged in dialogue with Putin.

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On April 14, U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff told Fox News that a potential peace deal could center on the status of five territories.

While he did not name them explicitly, he is believed to be referring to Crimea, illegally annexed by Russia in 2014, along with the partially occupied regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.

Zelensky said the Ukrainian delegation going to London will have a mandate to discuss terms for a full or partial ceasefire with Russia. Ukraine is ready to negotiate with Russia in any format but only after an unconditional halt to hostilities, he added.

Zelensky also stressed that sustained international pressure — especially from the United States — is necessary to reach a meaningful settlement.

"We've been at war for over 11 years," Zelensky said. "Is it possible to reach an agreement with Russia quickly? No, it is not. It is impossible without pressure."

Despite expressing frustration over Russia's refusal to de-escalate the war, U.S. President Donald Trump has so far avoided imposing any major sanctions or taking punitive action against Moscow.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Russia used Easter truce to regroup in Lyman sector, launched offensive after, military says

Russian forces in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast violated the one-day Easter ceasefire, used it to regroup, and launched a large-scale infantry assault shortly after its end, Anastasiia Blyshchyk, spokesperson for Ukraine's 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, told Suspilne media on April 22.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a symbolic one-day ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated around 3,000 times.

"This so-called truce did more damage to us," Blyshchyk said. "A few hours after Putin announced the ceasefire, our positions came under massive artillery fire."

According to the spokesperson, Russian forces exploited the lull to reposition units and prepare for renewed assaults.

"We saw them pulling up their infantry to the front line along with weapons, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine guns," she said.

"Our aerial reconnaissance recorded more than 120 Russian occupiers dispersing in plantations, forest belts, destroyed buildings, and dugouts during the so-called Easter truce."

Blyshchyk added that once the truce ended, Russian forces launched a large-scale infantry offensive.

The Lyman sector in northern Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most fiercely contested areas along the front line. Its strategic importance lies in its proximity to key transport routes and logistics corridors.

The assault follows statements from Ukrainian military leadership that Russia's anticipated spring offensive is already underway.

On April 9, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Moscow had begun its spring campaign, with intensified attacks across multiple sectors of the front line.

Our readers’ questions about the war, answered. Vol. 8

Editor’s note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share the questions they have about the war. Here’s what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: Is Ukraine formulating a plan to receive and house refugees from

The Kyiv IndependentThe Kyiv Independent

Japan to provide Ukraine with geospatial intelligence, media reports

Japan's Kyushu University Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) has agreed to provide Ukraine's military intelligence agency (HUR) with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, Intelligence Online magazine reported on April 21.

Japanese and Ukrainian authorities reportedly began discussing possible support in February, with the talks gaining urgency after the U.S. temporarily paused intelligence assistance for Kyiv in early March.

iQPS, which plans to launch its seventh SAR observation satellite by late 2026, agreed with Kyiv on a timeline of two to three months to install relevant software onto Ukrainian intelligence's platforms, the magazine wrote.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.

SAR technology, which can recreate two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of landscapes or objects, has broad military applications. It can help track enemy movement and installations regardless of weather conditions.

Ukraine receives intelligence support from other partners, including France and the U.K. Nevertheless, the U.S.-imposed pause underscored its critical role in military planning, namely in launching long-range strikes and intercepting Russian aerial attacks.

Washington claimed its halt on intelligence support, which coincided with the freezing of arms supplies, extended only to offensive operations. While the U.S. resumed the assistance after progress in ceasefire talks, the move ramped up concerns about further cuts in the future.

Ukraine's military heavily relies on Starlink, a communications system owned by Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump's close ally and critic of military aid to Kyiv. French satellite operator Eutelsat pledged to scale up its operations in Ukraine but said it could not currently replace the 50,000 Starlink terminals operating in the country.

Note from the author:

Ukraine War Latest is put together by the Kyiv Independent news desk team, who keep you informed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. If you value our work and want to ensure we have the resources to continue, join the Kyiv Independent community.

Explosions have erupted at a Russian weapons arsenal in Vladimir Oblast on April 22, causing a fire, the Russian Defense Ministry reported on Telegram.

According to Ukrainian defense media outlet Militarnyi, the facility in question is Russia’s 51st Arsenal of the Main Missile and Artillery Directorate – one of Russia’s largest weapons arsenals, located about 530 kilometers (330 miles) from the Ukrainian border.

The Kyiv Independent could not verify the claims.

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, the fire erupted due to a violation of safety protocols when working with explosive materials. No casualties have been reported.

Russian Defense Minister Andrei Belousov has ordered the creation of a special commission to investigate the incident.

Independent Russian media outlet ASTRA reported, citing local residents, a powerful blast at the base, followed by continued secondary detonations.

Following the incident, roads leading to the nearby town of Kirzhach from Moscow were closed. According to Russian state-controlled media outlet Kommersant, Russian authorities ordered evacuations from the settlements of Barsovo and Mirny.

Vladimir Oblast Governor Alexander Avdeev confirmed the explosions but warned journalists and residents against spreading information about the incident before "verified official data" is released, threatening fines for violations.

The facility has a history of similar incidents. On June 22, 2022, a detonation of ammunition occurred during unloading operations, killing three servicemen and a civilian specialist and seriously injuring another.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Russian forces in the Lyman sector of Donetsk Oblast violated the one-day Easter ceasefire, used it to regroup, and launched a large-scale infantry assault shortly after its end, Anastasiia Blyshchyk, spokesperson for Ukraine’s 66th Separate Mechanized Brigade, told Suspilne media on April 22.

Russian President Vladimir Putin declared a symbolic one-day ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated around 3,000 times.

“This so-called truce did more damage to us,” Blyshchyk said. “A few hours after Putin announced the ceasefire, our positions came under massive artillery fire."

According to the spokesperson, Russian forces exploited the lull to reposition units and prepare for renewed assaults.

“We saw them pulling up their infantry to the front line along with weapons, including rocket-propelled grenade launchers and machine guns,” she said.

“Our aerial reconnaissance recorded more than 120 Russian occupiers dispersing in plantations, forest belts, destroyed buildings, and dugouts during the so-called Easter truce."

Blyshchyk added that once the truce ended, Russian forces launched a large-scale infantry offensive.

The Lyman sector in northern Donetsk Oblast remains one of the most fiercely contested areas along the front line. Its strategic importance lies in its proximity to key transport routes and logistics corridors.

The assault follows statements from Ukrainian military leadership that Russia’s anticipated spring offensive is already underway.

On April 9, Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi confirmed that Moscow had begun its spring campaign, with intensified attacks across multiple sectors of the front line.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

Standing beside a sleepy village in Ukraine’s central Kirovohrad Oblast, the Zavalivskiy mine lies beneath layers of brown and pink earth, holding some 7.5 million metric tons of graphite ore — the second largest flake graphite mine in Europe.

Like many mining companies in Ukraine, Zavalivskiy Graphite has lost nearly a third of its workforce over the last three years of Russia’s invasion. Its production plummeted from around 15,000 metric tons pre-war to 860 metric tons last year.

Back in 2018, it was the eighth-largest graphite producer globally. The start of Russia’s invasion in 2022 forced the company to pause operations for a year. Since then, it’s lost its spot in the market and half of its customers in the EU, with only Italy, Czechia, and Austria left, as well as Japan.

The prosperity of the company may not only be decided in this small mining village, but in Washington, where a deal will be signed this week for Ukraine’s natural resources. The agreement has not yet been finalized as lawyers iron out the legal and technical details, but it is expected to include a fund that extracts profits from Ukraine’s natural resources, like critical minerals.  

As the lifeline of the village of Zavallia where the mine is located, Zavalivskiy Graphite’s decline and potential closing would have serious implications for the local economy. The fate of the mine’s graphite specialists would also be uncertain as there is no other active graphite producer in Ukraine.

The CEO, Ostap Kostyuk, had hoped Washington’s natural resource deal could be its saving grace.

“I think that it will be really positive if the U.S. comes to the Ukrainian mining market. They should spend money and time to build something, to mine something,” Kostyuk told the Kyiv Independent in February, emphasizing the critical need for investments in the underfunded sector.

Graphite is used in military tech, metallurgy, and the nuclear industry, and is one of the critical minerals covered by Washington’s resources deal. While Zavalivskiy is the only active producer in the country, Ukraine has around 19 million tons of proven graphite ore reserves across six fields, making it one of the most graphite-rich countries in the world.

It’s taken Kyiv and Washington nearly three months to come to a deal. The tense negotiations have tested not only Ukraine and the U.S.’s relationship but also Kostyuk’s initial optimism for a win-win agreement.

He anxiously watched the heated Oval Office clash between President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Donald Trump on Feb. 28 that derailed the last attempt to sign an agreement. Now, he is wary that the American president will push Ukraine into an unfavourable agreement, particularly after his diatribes against Zelensky and talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

“When Trump’s administration talks about direct negotiations with Russia without including Ukrainians, it means that maybe this national resources deal will not be a win-win. Maybe this deal will be a win-lose,” he told the Kyiv Independent on April 15.

As tensions mount in US embassy in Kyiv, former official breaks silence

As U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing rapprochement with Russia, the country’s embassy in Kyiv is facing internal strain. Following the change in administration, Bridget Brink, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, was put in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Investment aspirations

The mine’s director, Ihor Semko, had initially hoped the deal with the U.S. would breathe new life into the village and its mine. Across Ukraine, he sees the potential of American money in creating new job opportunities and much-needed tax boosts to bolster Ukraine’s state budget.

On a drive along the mine’s winding, bumpy road, Semko points out the 42-meter deep lake in the middle. With more investments, the company can pump out the water and access the valuable minerals submerged beneath, he said.

“We have the experience, we have the equipment. We only need money for modernization, for further development. We only need investments,” he stressed.

Zavalivskiy Graphite is 70% owned by Australian company Volt Resources Limited and 30% by a Ukrainian investor — Kostyuk’s father. Graphite is excavated from the mine and then processed into powder in the adjacent factory. Despite its potential, the company hasn’t seen investments in recent years, largely because war risks have spooked shareholders.

This is a big problem for the company’s productivity. Much of the bulky machinery in the 90-year-old mine is from the Soviet era, and the musty factory’s rusty pipes and missing windows haven’t been modernized since 1964.

The old, energy-inefficient machinery is burdening the company as electricity costs skyrocket due to Russian attacks on the energy grid. Electricity fees now make up 40% of the company’s costs, an issue that is widespread across the mining sector, according to the National Association of Extractive Industry of Ukraine (NAEIU).

Despite the mineral-rich land, Ukraine’s mining sector is underdeveloped. After the fall of the Soviet Union, state companies and oligarchs took over licenses for the deposits but didn’t invest in innovation, instead opting to keep the sites as cash cows, said Nataliia Shapoval, chairwoman of the Kyiv School of Economics Institute (KSE).

“There is a lack of research and innovation in general. You can make really sophisticated products out of the materials, like lithium-ion batteries, and it’s a better way of monetizing it if you are investing rather than just selling it as a raw material,” she told the Kyiv Independent.

In Zavalivskiy Graphite’s case, innovation could involve high-tech equipment to purify graphite to a level suitable for use in batteries, called spherical graphite (SPG), which sells for $3,500- $10,000 per metric ton.

Machinery for SPG purification costs $30-40 million, which the currently unprofitable company can’t afford. Kostyuk is hopeful the Americans could bring in this technology and cooperate with Zavalivskiy to produce the highly purified graphite and break into a market dominated by China.

Americans are inclined to invest more in mining projects than Europeans because of their vast military-industrial complex that is dependent on natural minerals, Kseniia Orynchak, executive director of NAEIU, told the Kyiv Independent.

There are 18 companies mining critical minerals in Ukraine, with the top player, BGV Group Management, inking cooperation agreements with three U.S. partners in February. American investors could similarly invest directly in other Ukrainian enterprises, Orynchak said. Or they could build assets in Ukraine, which will take around eight years to get going, and work with companies like Zavalivskiy Graphite to establish supply chains in the meantime.

“We want our economy to grow, and we understand that our geological sphere is our chance to survive,” Orynchak said.

Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots

It has been nearly 100 days since Donald Trump returned to the U.S. presidency and Russian missiles continue to rain down on Ukrainian civilians. Despite Trump’s pledge to end the war on “day one,” peace is nowhere in sight. When will the administration acknowledge that it is failing?

The Kyiv IndependentCarl Bildt

Ukraine’s uncertain future

Trump’s team remains unyielding that the resources deal is a step towards peace, but has so far failed to bring about much progress in peace talks despite attempts to broker a 30-day ceasefire on March 24. Bellicose rhetoric from the White House and Washington’s sudden backtracking on Feb. 28 after the Oval Office argument didn’t sit well with Kostyuk.

“Trump’s politics means that he could cancel everything in one day, and sign something with Russia the next day,” he said.

Since entering the White House, Trump has spoken openly about resuming business in Russia and even floated the idea of a critical minerals partnership with Moscow.

The last draft that was leaked on March 28 also rubbed Kostyuk the wrong way. He couldn’t believe Washington would include a stipulation that could ban Ukraine from selling its natural minerals to countries deemed competitors of the U.S., such as the EU.

The clause would jeopardize Ukraine’s EU membership and undermine a resources agreement signed with Brussels in 2021. It also raises legal questions for companies partially owned by foreign investors, like Zavalivskiy Graphite, about whether Washington could dictate trade rules to other countries.

“Will the Americans say to Australians that they can’t sell Ukrainian graphite to Europe? It sounds crazy,” said Kostyuk.  

The best deal would encourage American companies to invest in Ukrainian enterprises, Kostyuk said. Foreign investors could also go through the usual procedure of purchasing mining licenses, which would help inject money into the state budget. Kyiv could even audit all the deposits and pool together those that are not being used efficiently as an offer to the Americans, he added.

Back in February, Kostyuk feared that the U.S. wouldn’t actively invest in the sector but rather extract the resources and sell them to other countries. The last leaked draft validated his concerns — Washington would not have to make a single investment, but Ukraine would have to allocate 50% of its profits from natural resource and infrastructure projects into a fund as a payback to the U.S. for its $128 billion in total aid provided to Kyiv since the start of the full-scale invasion.

Trump first wanted Kyiv to pay back $300 billion before Ukraine earned any profits, confusing Ukrainians who were unsure how he calculated such a high figure. Kyiv managed to negotiate him down to $100 billion on April 16.

Russia should be the one paying, Kostyuk said, but he’s losing hope that Washington will put pressure on Moscow to compensate Ukraine. The minerals deal saga has left him feeling that Ukraine is on the verge of being “scammed” and will end up on its own, indebted to its allies.

“We should recover ourselves. If this help is a debt, my kids and grandkids will pay this debt. So what can we do? We can’t do anything,” he added.

Note from the author:

This is Dominic, the reporter who brought you this story. Thank you for reading. The saga over the resources deal has been convoluted and unpredictable, so I wanted to tell it from the perspective of people who will be impacted by it. We will keep you updated with the deal and developments in the future. To help us bring you more reports like this, please consider joining the Kyiv Independent community. Thank you.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

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U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow this week, Russian presidential aide Yuri Ushakov told Russian state-controlled media outlet Interfax on April 22.

“We are expecting (him),” Ushakov said when asked if Witkoff would arrive in the coming days.

The visit would come as Ukraine faces mounting pressure to respond to a controversial U.S. proposal that reportedly includes provisions for recognizing Russia’s 2014 annexation of Crimea and barring Kyiv from joining NATO, according to the Wall Street Journal.

Senior Trump administration officials presented the plan to Ukrainian and European officials during the Paris talks on April 17. If Kyiv, Washington, and its European allies align, the plan could be officially presented to Moscow.

Ukraine is expected to deliver its formal response during a follow-up meeting in London on April 23, where representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States will reconvene.

Witkoff, the Trump administration’s envoy to the Middle East, has visited Russia several times this year and met Russian President Vladimir Putin on three occasions.

The envoy has drawn criticism from both U.S. and Ukrainian officials for promoting Kremlin-aligned positions, including the idea of trading Ukrainian territory for peace.

U.S. President Donald Trump said on April 21 that there is a “very good” chance of reaching a deal, though Washington has warned it may end its mediation efforts in the coming days if talks stall.

“I will be giving you full details over the next three days, but we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia,” Trump said. “There is a very good chance (to reach a ceasefire)."

Despite the push for a ceasefire, Russia has rejected a joint U.S.-Ukraine proposal for a 30-day truce and continues offensive operations. Putin declared a symbolic one-day Easter ceasefire on April 19, which President Volodymyr Zelensky said was violated roughly 3,000 times.

Kyiv has proposed a separate 30-day truce focused on halting long-range drone and missile strikes on civilian infrastructure. Putin said the Kremlin needs to “look into” the proposal.

Crimean Tatar Mejlis rejects any international recognition of Crimea as Russian, chairman says

“Crimea is the homeland of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of Ukraine. Accordingly, no one can decide the fate of Crimea under any circumstances, except for the Ukrainian state and the Crimean Tatar people,” said Refat Chubarov.

The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has dismissed as “propaganda” an op-ed by Russia’s ambassador to Indonesia, Sergei Tolchenov, amid concerns of Moscow increasing its military presence in the region.

In the op-ed published in The Jakarta Post on April 19, Tolchenov claimed that Australia lacks the geopolitical weight to counter Russian military manoeuvres in the Indo-Pacific.

Tolchenov’s remarks appeared to reference unconfirmed reports of a potential Russian military base on Indonesia’s Biak Island, an area located strategically close to northern Australia around 1,360 kilometers away.

Despite Australian Defence Minister Richard Marles asserting there is “no prospect” of Russian aircraft being based in Indonesia, both Marles and Albanese have avoided confirming or denying whether Russia ever made such a request.

Indonesian officials have also not publicly denied that a request may have been submitted.

“It is hard to imagine that any ordinary Australians should be concerned about what is happening 1,300 kilometers from their territory, about matters that concern relations between other sovereign states and have nothing to do with Australia,” Tolchenov said.

“Perhaps it would be better for them to pay attention to the United States’ Typhon medium-range missile system in the Philippines, which will definitely reach the territory of the continent?” he added.

Tolchenov said that Australia is trying to play the “Russian card” and show who is more “Russophobic,” against the backdrop of upcoming Australian elections.

“I would like to remind them of the words of U.S. President Donald Trump, which he pronounced in the White House on Feb. 28, 2025, to the Ukrainian citizen ‘Z’ — ‘You have no cards.'"

When again asked about reports of Russia’s alleged request for a base in Indonesia at a press conference on April 21, Albanese criticized the opposition for amplifying Russian disinformation and said there is no credible prospect of such a base, thus there was no need for official briefings on the matter.

“I’m anti-Russia,” he said, adding: “I’m not sure that everyone is on that page, but I think that Russia has very different values under an authoritarian leader."

“I have no wish to help promote Russia’s propaganda messages, and I would suggest that that is not in Australia’s national interest either,” he added.

Australia has been one of Ukraine’s staunchest supporters in its fight against Russia’s full-scale invasion.

Australia is considering joining the European-led coalition of the willing to support a lasting ceasefire in Ukraine, a statement issued by U.K. Prime Minister Keir Stamer’s office read on March 8.

Starmer announced on March 2 that a number of European nations, including the U.K. and France, are developing a ‘coalition of the willing’ that will include “planes in the air and boots on the ground” in an effort to secure a successful ceasefire in Ukraine.

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

The Mejlis, the representative body of the Crimean Tatar people, will reject any international recognition of Russian-occupied Crimea as Russian territory, Refat Chubarov, the body’s chairman, said in a statement published on Facebook on April 22.

Crimean Tatars are the indigenous people of Crimea, a Ukrainian peninsula that has been under Russian occupation since 2014.

Chubarov’s statement comes amid reports that the recognition of Crimea as Russian territory is being considered as part of a U.S.-backed proposal to end the war in Ukraine.

Any move by the U.S. to recognize the peninsula as Russian would mark a break with a decade of bipartisan consensus in Washington and would violate international law.

Chubarov said the Mejlis' stance is grounded in international law and aligns fully with Ukrainian legislation.

“Crimea is the homeland of the indigenous Crimean Tatar people and an integral part of Ukraine. Accordingly, no one can decide the fate of Crimea under any circumstances, except for the Ukrainian state and the Crimean Tatar people,” he wrote.

Russia illegally annexed Crimea following a sham referendum held under military occupation and without international observers. For resisting Russian occupation, Crimean Tatars have come under harsh repression by the Russian occupation authorities.

Crimean Tatars are represented by the Mejlis, a high representative and executive body with 33 members, and the Kurultai, a national congress with 350 delegates.

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Crimean Tatars, historically the majority on the peninsula before Russia's conquest in 1783, have faced widespread persecution under Russian rule.

Since 2014, Moscow has used intimidation, religious profiling, and politically motivated terrorism charges to suppress dissent among Crimean Tatars.

Many Crimean Tatars have joined Ukraine's Armed Forces since Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022, with some serving in the volunteer "Crimea" Battalion formed after the 2014 occupation.

Ukraine's response to the U.S. proposal is expected at a follow-up meeting in London on April 23. Washington has indicated it may withdraw from ceasefire efforts in the coming days if no progress is made.

Ukrainian lawmakers have also opposed the proposal. Oleksandr Merezhko, chair of Ukraine's parliamentary foreign affairs committee, warned that recognizing Russia's annexation of Crimea would have global consequences "much worse than Munich in 1938."

Trump hopes to ‘end war’ this week. Here’s what you need to know

U.S. President Donald Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine could reach a war-ending deal “this week,” as his team threatens that Washington could ditch the peace talks efforts if no step is taken in the near future. “Both will then start to do big business with the United States

The Kyiv IndependentAsami Terajima

SEOUL, South Korea – “Unless these two are smiling and happy to go back to North Korea or Russia, we Koreans would not be happy [for them to be exchanged],” the retired military officer told me. “You better tell them. You can quote me.”

Chun In-bum is a retired South Korean Army Lieutenant General who has fiercely advocated for his country to help Ukraine’s efforts against Russia’s invasion. Since the invasion, Chun, 66, has been pushing for items such as anti-aircraft missiles and mine-clearing devices to be sent to the frontlines.

Yet his support for Ukraine may be dramatically affected if President Volodymyr Zelenskyy decides to exchange with Russia the two North Korean prisoners captured by Ukrainian forces in January. Zelenskyy has suggested he’s ready to make the exchange.

“That I would think is a war crime,” Chun, who previously served as the lieutenant general of South Korea’s Special Warfare Command, told The Counteroffensive. “They go back to the Russians, they [are] dead men. If Zelenskyy does that, he's gonna lose half of my support. And a lot of the South Koreans will do that as well.”

Ukraine is between a rock and a hard place. On one hand, it is trying to defend itself from Russia’s army, which includes about 14,000 North Korean soldiers that the Kim Jong-un government has sent since 2024.

On the other hand, if Kyiv uses the North Korean POWs as a bargaining chip, it risks alienating South Korea — a key partner that, despite the long-standing division, still views the people of North Korea as brothers. In December 2023, The Washington Post reported that Seoul indirectly provided more artillery shells for Ukraine than all of Europe combined.

This difficult geopolitical juggling act comes from an unexpected reality: many South Koreans express a surprising degree of empathy toward their northern neighbors. And adding to the complexity is the constitutional crisis that South Korea has been roiled by in recent months.

Kim Ki-euk, a 56-year-old housewife on the right end of the South Korean political spectrum, said she saw the North Korean POWs being tragically forced to fight by dictator Kim Jong-un. "They're victims, essentially," she said, referring to them as "frogs in an urn [who] don't know the outside world."

Zelenskyy said earlier this year there would “undoubtedly be more” North Korean soldiers captured. The Ukrainian president added he would be willing to exchange two captured North Korean soldiers to Pyongyang in exchange for Ukrainian prisoners of war in Russia.

It’s an option that lacks understanding of the affinity that South Koreans have for ordinary North Koreans.

“Bad move,” Chun said of Zelenskyy’s suggestion. “Let's say these two kids were exchanged to Russia, and they didn't want to go. Who's going to take responsibility for this hideous situation?”

Why do many S. Koreans feel sympathy for N. Korean POWs?

South Korea’s constitution says that “the territory of the Republic of Korea shall consist of the Korean peninsula and its adjacent islands,” meaning it legally considers people in North Korea citizens.

Seoul sees North Korea as a territory that is under an illegitimate government instead of recognizing it as a sovereign state. Under this position, many believe that South Korea has the legal obligation to protect people in North Korea, including defectors.

Seoul is facing a dilemma, explained Junghoon Lee, the dean and professor of International Relations at Yonsei University's Graduate School of International Studies.

“Are they North Korean enemy soldiers or prisoners of war, or can there be a different angle to approach them as South Korean citizens?” he said.

South Korea’s Foreign Minister Cho Tae-yul asked Ukraine earlier this year for cooperation in the handling of the North Korean prisoners, saying Seoul would accept all North Korean soldiers if they requested to move to South Korea.

“Technically, our constitution recognizes them as our citizens,” Chun said. “But are we going to fight for their repatriation to South Korea?”

Meanwhile, South Koreans are also facing turmoil at home. They will be heading to the polls on June 3 to vote for their country’s next president, who will replace the impeached leader Yoon Suk Yeol. Yoon was removed in December after trying to impose martial law. The events plunged South Koreans into political uncertainty and left a deeply divided society.

Amid the South Korean constitutional crisis —and the high-stakes U.S.-Ukraine negotiations — no decision has been made on exchanges.

In January, President Zelenskyy published a video showing the two captured North Korean soldiers, Ri, 26, and Baek, 21. One of the two men said he wanted to return to North Korea, while the other one said he would like to go to Ukraine, later adding he would return home “if required.”

The Security Service of Ukraine said in a statement that one of the soldiers thought he was going to Russia for a training exercise instead of to fight. He had a Russian military ID card issued under another name. The second soldier had no documents.

Many South Koreans have expressed concern about the POWs' safety if they return to Pyongyang. According to a 2024 survey, 58 percent of South Koreans say only selected defectors from North Korea should be accepted. About 30 percent believe all should be welcomed.

During an interview conducted in February 2025, one of the North Korean soldiers said being captured is seen as a betrayal in their army, and he added that things would be difficult for him if he returned home. “I’m planning to apply for asylum and go to South Korea. Do you think they’ll accept me?” he said.

Hong Saewoong, 81, a journalist living in Seoul, told The Counteroffensive he does not agree with Zelenskyy’s approach to exchange the pair, as the decision should be left to the soldiers.

“Explain to them the options about where they could go,” Hong said, “and let them decide.”

In 2024, North Korea deployed about 11,000 troops to Russia’s Kursk region after Kim Jong-un and President Vladimir Putin agreed on a mutual defense pact to defy the so-called U.S.-led “Western hegemony.” North Korea has not yet publicly acknowledged sending troops to Ukraine.

North Korean troops have been helping their ally regain the Russian Kursk territory seized by Ukrainian forces in a surprise attack last August. Their involvement has come at a high cost. South Korean officials claim that about 300 North Koreans have been killed in battle and 2,700 wounded.

What S. Korea has done for Ukraine so far

South Korea, which has a longstanding policy of not providing weapons to countries at war, has limited its support to Ukraine.

Yet in 2023, South Korea indirectly supplied about 500,000 rounds of artillery shells to Ukraine via the United States, positioning Seoul as a greater provider of artillery ammunition to Kyiv than all European countries combined. Seoul has also given Kyiv demining vehicles, body armor, and other non-lethal aid since February 2022.

Sending direct aid to Ukraine is seen among South Koreans as “unnecessarily provocative,” said Peter Ward, a research fellow at the Sejong Institute focused on North Korea.

In November last year, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrey Rudenko told Russia’s TASS news agency that the relationship between Russia and South Korea would be “completely destroyed” if Seoul were to directly supply arms to Ukraine.

“One can provide aid indirectly anyway, so why does one need to provide it directly? And when one does provide it directly, how will Russia respond?” Wang said.

Chun said that even though Seoul has been providing Kyiv with non-lethal military assistance throughout the war, the government still worries and aims to protect its relationship with Russia, as it has “huge investments” in the country.

Before the full-scale invasion, some of South Korea's largest companies, including Hyundai, LG Electronics, and Samsung, had operations in Russia. They are now reportedly monitoring the situation closely and assessing the possibility of resuming business in Russia.

Chun added another reason for the lack of a harsher policy in Seoul: North Korea’s involvement in the conflict does not directly affect South Korea’s security interests.

“Unless the North Koreans were to attack us, sink one of our ships, or fire some artillery into us, a missile test no longer garners that much interest for the Korean people,” Chun said.

A survey conducted in November by Gallup Korea revealed that 82 percent of South Koreans oppose sending weapons and military equipment to Ukraine despite North Korea’s involvement in the conflict.

Last year, as then-President Yoon Suk Yeol received a Ukrainian delegation, protesters gathered in front of his office, asking their government not to send arms to Ukraine.

But there are other ways to collaborate. The South Korean government has begun discussing cooperation opportunities between Kyiv and Seoul over the next decade, said Roman Hryhoryshyn, the chairman of the Ukrainian-Korean Business Council.

At the moment, the cooperation between the two nations is low, but it has the potential to be “very high,” Hryhoryshyn said. “Korean companies are coming, events are taking place, and information is being exchanged regularly.”

What’s next for South Korea in this conflict

South Korea’s main antagonist is also developing deep friendships. Chun, the retired general, believes North Korea's and Russia’s cooperation will persist even after the war ends.

“No matter how deep you try to push your head into the sand, this problem is not going to go [away]... even if there is a ceasefire or end of the conflict in Ukraine,” Chun said. “I see this relationship developing and increasing.”

The two North Korean prisoners who are currently awaiting their fate have been key to opening the eyes of young South Korean men who can relate to the two 20-year-old defectors.

“[South Korean youth are] realizing that their problem[s] now, which is my [cell phone] battery is at 5 percent, ain't that big of a problem compared to those two kids [the North Korean POWs],” Chun said.

Kwon Jang-Ho contributed to this reporting in Seoul.

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NEWS OF THE DAY:

Good morning to readers; Kyiv remains in Ukrainian hands.

PUTIN OPEN TO DIRECT ZELENSKYY TALKS: As pressure mounts from the possible American abandonment of peace talks, Putin has stated that Russia is ready for bilateral talks with Ukraine, CNN reported. It is the first time in recent years in which Putin has signaled his desire for direct participation in negotiations.

After the supposed ‘Easter truce’ by Putin, which was violated nearly 3,000 times by Russia, Zelenskyy called out Russia for continuing attacks on civilian infrastructure.

The U.S., European and Ukrainian officials are also planning to meet this week in London to discuss the Washington peace framework, which involves Ukraine being kept out of NATO and the potential US recognition of annexed Crimea as Russian territory.

UKRAINE TO LAUNCH DEFENSE SATELLITES: Starting in 2026, Ukraine plans to co-develop defense-oriented satellites with international partners as part of a 10-year roadmap by its Ministry of Defense. The goal is to establish a real-time satellite constellation by 2035.

Developing its own satellites is crucial for Ukraine’s national security, as it ensures independent access to real-time intelligence, especially vital after the pauses in the US intel sharing exposed the risks of reliance solely on foreign support.

KREMLIN’S PLAN TO BUY TRUMP’S SUPPORT: As Moscow prepares for possible negotiations with Washington, Russia is seeking more than just a ceasefire – it aims to reshape the global order.

“We need to milk Trump as much as possible, dangling the possibility of a ceasefire like a carrot before him,” one Russian source said.

To do so, it’s devising a strategy to draw Donald Trump into a sweeping geopolitical deal that would recognize its dominance over Ukraine and parts of Eastern Europe, according to The Moscow Times.

Moscow is reportedly crafting a package of proposals that align with Trump’s personal brand and political ambitions. It ranges from rare earth deals that align with Trump’s “America First” economic agenda and diplomatic leverage in Iran and North Korea to potential real estate projects like Trump Tower in Moscow.

CAT OF CONFLICT:

Today’s cat of conflict is Puha, who belongs to Veronika’s friend. Puha was moving around the globe fleeing the war with its family.

Stay safe out there,

Best,
Veronika

India’s imports of Russian crude are likely to hit 2.15 million barrels per day in April, the highest volumes since May 2023, Bloomberg reported on April 22, citing Kpler data.

Russian oil shipments appear to be picking up pace again after months of disruptions caused by U.S. sanctions on Russia’s fossil fuel exports.

India, the world’s third-largest oil importer, has become the leading buyer of Russian oil products, which it purchases at a discount amid sanctions that largely cut Moscow off from the Western market.

Russia has remained the South Asian country’s leading supplier for the third year in a row, Reuters reported on April 22.

The Indian market was rattled earlier this year after the sweeping U.S. sanctions in January that targeted Russia’s “shadow fleet,” major oil companies, and associated entities, significantly complicating Moscow’s crude exports.

Despite a temporary drop, Indian imports of Russian crude began climbing again in March.

New Delhi has maintained a neutral stance on the Russia-Ukraine war, calling for a peaceful solution while fostering economic relationships with Moscow.

As tensions mount in US embassy in Kyiv, former official breaks silence

As U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing rapprochement with Russia, the country’s embassy in Kyiv is facing internal strain. Following the change in administration, Bridget Brink, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, was put in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

U.S. actor and film director Sean Penn met with the soldiers of the 3rd Regiment of the Special Operations Forces stationed in Kropyvnytskyi in Kirovohrad Oblast, according to a video posted on the unit’s Facebook on April 22.

The actor visited Ukraine for the fourth time during Russia’s full-scale invasion.

“Despite a lot of what the politicians are doing, I believe in all of you, and I’m grateful to all of you for being the very best of what we all aspire to be,” Penn said.

“You’re not only defending your country, you’re truly defending the world, and that will be known, you see, and I know you’ll prevail, and God bless all of you and your families. Thank you,” he added.

On Feb. 24, 2023, Penn presented his documentary “Superpower,” filmed in Kyiv, with President Volodymyr Zelensky’s participation at the Berlin Film Festival.

Penn’s charitable organization, Core Response, financially assisted Ukrainian refugees.

The Ukrainian government awarded Penn the Order of Merit, third degree, for his contribution to supporting Ukraine in 2022.

Penn won the 2004 Academy Award for his role in “Mystic River” and the 2009 Academy Award for his role in “Milk."

As tensions mount in US embassy in Kyiv, former official breaks silence

As U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing rapprochement with Russia, the country’s embassy in Kyiv is facing internal strain. Following the change in administration, Bridget Brink, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, was put in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s so-called Easter truce was a “charm offensive” aimed at appeasing U.S. President Donald Trump, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot told FranceInfo on April 22.

The Trump administration has grown increasingly impatient with its stalled efforts to broker a ceasefire between Ukraine and Russia.

The U.S. president has even said he would abandon the effort unless there is tangible progress, though he later voiced optimism that the deal could be reached.

“The Easter truce that Putin announced, somewhat unexpectedly, was more of a PR move — a charm offensive intended to prevent President Trump from becoming impatient or upset,” Barrot told the broadcaster.

Putin’s ceasefire was to last from 6 p.m. on April 19 until midnight on April 21, but failed to hold. Ukraine has said Russian forces violated the truce in almost 3,000 cases.

Moscow also accused Kyiv of violations, while Ukraine has said it would carry out military actions only in a “symmetrical” response to Russian attacks.

Ukraine also responded to the Russian proposal by suggesting a 30-day ceasefire on all long-range drone and missile strikes against civilian infrastructure. The Kremlin signaled it would review the proposal, but its forces launched heavy attacks against Zaporizhzhia, Kharkiv, Kherson, Odesa, and other cities on April 22.

“The U.S. encouraged Kyiv to go further by suggesting a full 30-day ceasefire. Ukraine accepted, and now it’s up to Putin to accept the same principle,” Barrot said.

Moscow previously rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington on March 11 in Jeddah.

‘There was no ceasefire’ — US-brokered energy truce fails to secure lasting results in Ukraine

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak

Japan’s Kyushu University Institute for Q-shu Pioneers of Space (iQPS) has agreed to provide Ukraine’s military intelligence agency (HUR) with synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imagery, Intelligence Online magazine reported on April 21.

Japanese and Ukrainian authorities reportedly began discussing possible support in February, with the talks gaining urgency after the U.S. temporarily paused intelligence assistance for Kyiv in early March.

iQPS, which plans to launch its seventh SAR observation satellite by late 2026, agreed with Kyiv on a timeline of two to three months to install relevant software onto Ukrainian intelligence’s platforms, the magazine wrote.

The Kyiv Independent could not immediately verify the claims.

SAR technology, which can recreate two-dimensional or three-dimensional images of landscapes or objects, has broad military applications. It can help track enemy movement and installations regardless of weather conditions.

Ukraine receives intelligence support from other partners, including France and the U.K.. Nevertheless, the U.S.-imposed pause underscored its critical role in military planning, namely in launching long-range strikes and intercepting Russian aerial attacks.

Washington claimed its halt on intelligence support, which coincided with the freezing of arms supplies, extended only to offensive operations. While the U.S. resumed the assistance after progress in ceasefire talks, the move ramped up concerns about further cuts in the future.

Ukraine’s military heavily relies on Starlink, a communications system owned by Elon Musk, U.S. President Donald Trump’s close ally and critic of military aid to Kyiv. French satellite operator Eutelsat pledged to scale up its operations in Ukraine but said it could not currently replace the 50,000 Starlink terminals operating in the country.

As tensions mount in US embassy in Kyiv, former official breaks silence

As U.S. President Donald Trump is pursuing rapprochement with Russia, the country’s embassy in Kyiv is facing internal strain. Following the change in administration, Bridget Brink, who had been the U.S. ambassador to Ukraine since 2022, was put in the hot seat. Brink attempted to align with the

The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Russia’s declared Easter truce failed to hold as both sides continued fighting, Stephane Dujarric, a spokesperson for the U.N. secretary-general, said on April 22 during a press briefing.

Russia was the first to declare an Easter ceasefire starting at 6 p.m. local time on April 19 and ending at midnight on April 21. President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of nearly 3,000 ceasefire breaches during that period.

“Both sides continued to fight. Once again, we call to end this war in line with relevant U.N. resolutions, international law, and the territorial integrity of Ukraine,” Dujarric said.

Moscow also accused Kyiv of violating the truce. Ukraine has said it would carry out military actions only in a “symmetrical” response to Russian attacks during the ceasefire.

Following the declaration of the Easter truce, Zelensky proposed a joint 30-day ceasefire on long-range missile and drone strikes against civilian infrastructure. While claiming openness to “peace initiatives,” Russia has not yet agreed to impose the ban.

Zelensky said on April 21 that he was still waiting for an answer regarding the broader ceasefire.

Kyiv has voiced skepticism about Russian President Vladimir Putin’s Easter truce proposal, citing Russia’s repeated violations of various ceasefire agreements in the past. Most recently, Ukraine said that Russian forces continued attacking Ukrainian energy facilities despite claiming to order a pause between March 18 and April 17.

U.S. President Donald Trump has also ramped up pressure on Ukraine and Russia to secure a ceasefire in the coming days. After threatening on April 18 to pull U.S. support from the peace process altogether, Trump told reporters on April 21 that there is a “very good chance” of a ceasefire agreement soon.

Ukrainian representatives will meet with officials from the U.S., U.K., and France for another round of peace talks in London on April 23.

The London negotiations are a follow-up to the recent April 17 talks in Paris, where senior members of the Trump administration first presented the U.S. ceasefire proposal to Ukrainian and European officials.

Moscow previously rejected a full 30-day truce agreed upon by Kyiv and Washington on March 11 in Jeddah.

‘There was no ceasefire’ — US-brokered energy truce fails to secure lasting results in Ukraine

The Kyiv IndependentNatalia Yermak