The Kyiv Independent [unofficial]
Russia’s war against Ukraine
U.S. President Donald Trump delivers a speech marking his 100th day in office at Macomb County Community College Sports Expo Center in Warren, Michigan, on April 29, 2025. Trump had previously vowed to negotiate the end of the war in Ukraine within his first 100 days in office. (JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images)
Russia intensifies offensive operations in 3 regions, pushes toward Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine’s military says. Russian forces have recently intensified offensive operations in three Ukrainian oblasts – Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson – Ukraine’s Southern Defense Forces spokesperson, Vladyslav Voloshyn, said on April 29 during Ukraine’s state-run telethon.
Putin’s Victory Day truce proposal ‘is start of direct negotiations’ with Ukraine, Lavrov says. “Our proposal, which President Putin voiced, is the start of direct negotiations, without preconditions,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said.
‘Three-day ceasefire is absurd‘ — Kellogg slams Russia’s short truce proposal. The comments come amid Trump’s increasing frustration with what he sees as Moscow’s refusal to end its war against Ukraine, as Russian attacks against Ukrainian civilians persist.
‘No need to wait until May 8’ — EU reacts to Putin’s Victory Day truce. “Russia could stop the killing and the bombing at any time, so there’s absolutely no need to wait until the 8th of May,” European Commission spokesperson Anita Hipper said.
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Putin demands full control of 4 Ukrainian regions, stalling US ceasefire push, Bloomberg reports. One source told Bloomberg that negotiations have reportedly reached an impasse and require “direct contact between Putin and Trump” to make further progress.
Europe, Kyiv worry Trump prepares to exit Ukraine peace efforts, FT reports. European and Ukrainian officials are concerned that U.S. President Donald Trump is about to use minor progress in peace talks as an excuse to leave the process, the Financial Times (FT) reported on April 28, citing undisclosed sources.
Almost 90% of Ukrainians do not trust Trump, poll shows. The figure has almost doubled since November, according to the New Europe Center.
Putin’s Victory Day truce ‘not enough,’ Italy’s Meloni says. Giorgia Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni voiced support for U.S. President Donald Trump’s effort to broker a peace between Ukraine and Russia and lauded President Volodymyr Zelensky’s readiness for an unconditional truce.
Read our exclusives
Ukraine war latest: Russia announces beginning of ‘direct talks’ with Ukraine; Kyiv hasn’t commented yet
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s proposal for a ceasefire on Victory Day is the beginning of direct talks with Kyiv, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on April 29 during a press briefing.
Photo: Gavriil Grigorov/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
Trump said Ukraine ‘will be crushed very shortly’ — this is why he’s wrong
Trump’s comments come as his administration’s self-declared deadline of 100 days to end the war in Ukraine approaches this week, with the goal still a long way from completion.
Photo: Annabelle Gordon / AFP via Getty Images
What’s next for North Korean troops fighting for Russia? A possible Ukraine deployment, experts, officials say
North Korean troops fighting for Russia in Kursk Oblast could be redeployed to fight in Ukraine itself, experts and Ukrainian officials have told the Kyiv Independent, though there is still much uncertainty about the next steps Pyongyang’s soldiers could take.
Photo: Kim Won Jin / AFP via Getty Images
Why Zelensky won’t — and can’t — sell out Ukraine for Trump’s peace
Zelensky faces a dangerous choice: reject Trump’s flawed peace deal or risk Ukraine’s sovereignty.
Photo: Annabelle Gordon / AFP via Getty Images
Human cost of Russia’s war
Russian drone attack injures at least 38 in Kharkiv. “There have been 16 strikes on Kharkiv,” Mayor Ihor Terekhov wrote on Telegram. “A high-rise apartment block was hit as well as private residences, a medical facility, and civil infrastructure.”
Journalist Roshchyna’s body missing organs after Russian captivity, investigation says. During the examination in Ukraine, it turned out that journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna’s brain, eyes, and part of the trachea had been removed, the investigation said.
International response
Ukraine offers assistance as Spain, Portugal recover from blackouts. “Over the years of war and Russian attacks on our energy system, Ukraine has gained significant experience in overcoming any energy challenges, including blackouts,” President Volodymyr Zelensky said.
Canada’s Liberals win elections in remarkable turnaround. Canada’s Liberal Party, led by Prime Minister Mark Carney, won the country’s federal elections on April 28 in a campaign shaped by U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs and expansionist rhetoric.
Germany’s incoming diplomacy chief pledges continued support for Ukraine. “I think it must be clear for everybody… especially for (Russian President) Vladimir Putin, that we will stand with Ukraine. We will support Ukraine and… offer Ukraine the opportunity to be on level with Russia,” German Foreign Minister-designate Johann Wadephul said.
Kremlin softens tone on Zelensky’s alleged ‘legitimacy issues,’ says talks take priority. “Indeed, there are legal issues related to legitimacy, but in this case, starting the peaceful settlement process takes precedence, and the primary thing is to begin this negotiation process,” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov told journalists.
EU doesn’t rule out decoupling Ukraine, Moldova’s accession process over Hungary’s stance. The EU does not rule out “decoupling” Moldova’s accession process from that of Ukraine due to Hungary’s opposition to Kyiv’s entry, European Commissioner for Enlargement Marta Kos said in an interview with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty on April 28.
France accuses Russia of escalating cyberattacks since 2021, charges GRU’s ‘Fancy Bear’ unit. France has brought charges against the GRU’s APT28 unit, based in Rostov-on-Don in southern Russia.
Who’s countering Russian propaganda now? Expert on US’ declining disinformation defense
In other news
Ukrainian oil and gas giant Naftogaz elects new head. The supervisory board of state-owned oil and gas company Naftogaz has elected Serhii Koretskyi, the head of Ukrnafta and Ukrtatnafta, as the company’s new CEO, ExPro Consulting reported, citing its undisclosed sources.
Dnipropetrovsk Oblast’s eastern villages evacuating families as Russian troops close in. The evacuation order, issued by Governor Serhii Lysak on April 25, concerns the villages of Kolona Mezhova, Novopigorodne, Raipole, and Sukhareva Balka in the Mezhova community.
New details emerge of Russian general killed in car bombing near Moscow. Yaroslav Moskalik prepared reports for President Putin on the situation in Ukraine, according to an obituary from the Russian Defense Ministry.
France calls UN Security Council meeting over Russian attacks on civilians in Ukraine. “At today’s Security Council meeting, we urge members to express their strong support for Ukraine’s steps toward peace, clearly condemn Russia’s escalated terror against civilians, and take a principled stance on the need to put more pressure on Moscow,” Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said.
Ukraine appoints deputy defense ministers to boost efficiency, partnerships. The government approved the appointments of three deputy defense ministers to ensure “greater efficiency and agility” in the ministry’s work and boost ties with foreign partners, Defense Minister Rustem Umerov announced on April 29.
Russia may offer asylum over ‘Russophobia,’ threats to ‘family values,’ media reports. Russia’s Interior Ministry drafted a bill on granting asylum to foreigners unable to uphold so-called “traditional family values” in their home countries, the Russian state-controlled RBC news agency reported on April 29, citing the document and an undisclosed source.
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