Ukraine-Russia war latest: Putin U-turns on Zelensky peace talks with Trump pushing for deal ‘this week’
Russia has resumed its brutal aerial attack on Ukraine after claiming it ‘strictly observed’ Easter ceasefire
Russian president Vladimir Putin has for the first time proposed direct peace talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Volodymyr Zelensky.
Mr Putin has previously claimed he would only negotiate peace with Ukraine if the country held elections to form a new government, having repeatedly made false claims that Mr Zelensky is an illegitimate leader despite his election in 2019.
The Russian autocrat has suggested face-to-face talks for the first time since Russia’s invasion in February 2022, with Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a quick ceasefire deal have failed to bear fruit.
Mr Trump said Russia and Ukraine can do “big business” with Washington if they reach a deal. "Hopefully Russia and Ukraine will make a deal this week," the US president wrote on Truth Social over the weekend.
It comes as representatives from Ukraine, the UK, France and the US were set to meet in London on Wednesday to continue talks on a potential ceasefire.
While Mr Zelensky did not directly respond to Mr Putin’s proposal, he emphasised in his nightly video address that Ukraine "was ready for any conversation" that would stop strikes on civilians.
“Actions always speak louder than words,” he posted on X.
Zelensky accuses Russia of breaking Putin’s ‘truce’ as Ukrainians gather together to mark Easter
Starmer backs Ukraine ceasefire call as Russia’s ‘Easter truce’ ends
Russian attacks during Easter ceasefire declared by Putin killed 3 in Ukraine's Kherson region
How Ukraine’s 2.5-bn-year-old rock deposit became central to helping stop Russia
Watch: Pope Francis calls for peace in Ukraine during weekly audience
Russian hybrid attacks on Europe increasing, says Dutch intelligence
Russia is increasing its hybrid attacks on European countries, Dutch military intelligence has said.
Hackers in Russia have already targeted the Dutch public service, the MIVD agency added.
"The conflict in the grey zone between war and peace has become a reality. More and more, state actors try to undermine our society with hybrid attacks. Russia especially... is increasingly prepared to take risks," MIVD director Peter Reesink said in the agency's annual report.
MIVD detected for the first time an attack by Russian hackers against the digital operating system of an unspecified Dutch public service last year. It also found a Russian cyber operation against critical infrastructure in the Netherlands, possibly as preparation for sabotage.
Hybrid threats span from physical sabotage of critical infrastructure to disinformation campaigns.
Kremlin considers reviving plans for new Trump Tower in Moscow
Russian officials are considering reviving plans for a Trump Tower in Moscow to help boost relations with Donald Trump, the Moscow Times reported on April 21.
Kremlin officials considered proposing a “big deal” reportedly including a 150-storey skyscraper, which would involve Mr Trump attending the ceremony in Moscow, the Kyiv Independent reported.
Since Mr Trump’s election, Russian officials and companies have been tasked with developing proposals to resume cooperation with Washington. Rosneft, Rosatom and Polyus Gold, all Russian companies currently under US sanctions, have been involved in the plans to persuade Mr Trump to cooperate with Russia.
Talks will only go ahead if obstacles removed, says Kremlin - ICYMI
There are no concrete plans for talks between Russia and Ukraine, but such contacts are possible if Kyiv removes certain obstacles to peace, the Kremlin has said.
Moscow has repeatedly said it will only engage in talks when some of its demands are met - but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov did not specify which obstacles Russia was referring to.
In pictures: Fire rages after Russian attack on northeastern Sumy region
Zelensky to attend Pope Francis' funeral
Volodymyr Zelensky will visit Italy to attend Pope Francis’ funeral, a source in Ukraine’s presidential office told Reuters on Tuesday.
US president Donald Trump will also attend the funeral.
The 88-year-old pontiff died following a stroke that led to a coma and irreversible heart failure, the Vatican announced on Monday.
Starmer praises 'resilience' of Ukrainians
Sir Keir Starmer praised the “resilience” of Ukrainians as he addressed personnel taking part in Operation Interflex.
Addressing Ukrainians taking part in the programme to train troops, the Prime Minister thanked them for attending and said it is “incredible to see the resilience and inspiration that you have” as they head to the Russian front line.
Sir Keir thanked them for taking part in the training, and added: “I don’t think it could come at a more important point.
“I think it’s incredible that all of the predictions at the beginning of this conflict were that the aggressor Russia would succeed very quickly, and they didn’t.
“Because of the resilience of the Ukrainians, because as you fought back and forth for your country and fought for all of us in fighting for your country.”
Spain will meet Nato spending targets to help ‘defend Europe’ - Spanish PM
Spain will meet Nato’s spending target of 2 per cent GDP on defence this year, prime minister Pedro Sanchez said on Tuesday.
This comes far earlier than its self-imposed deadline of 2029, for a country which spent just 1.3 per cent on defence in 2024 - the lowest among Nato members.
Other European countries are under pressure from the Trump administration to lift military spending to as high as 5 per cent, with Washington reluctant to continue funding Kyiv in the war in Ukraine.
Mr Sanchez said he would meet the goal through additional spending of 10.47 billion euros (£8.98 billion), with a focus on increasing the size of its military, telecommunications, cybersecurity and procurement of military equipment.
"This plan will help us meet (the target) in record time," Mr Sanchez said. "Spain will contribute to defending Europe."
Russian journalist critical of army on the run after escaping house arrest
A Russian journalist facing up to a decade in prison for criticising the army has escaped house arrest and is wanted by police, Russian state media has reported.
Ekaterina Barabash, 63, was arrested in February on suspicion of spreading false information about the Russian military on social media.
Authorities were alerted to her disappearance on 13 April by an electronic monitoring system, AFP cited Tass state news agency as saying.
“The accused has been declared wanted,” the Moscow branch of Russia’s federal penitentiary service said according to Tass.
Barabash had been critical of the army while writing for multiple news outlets, and on Facebook accused them of having “razed whole cities to the ground”.
Criticising the army and its operations in Ukraine was made illegal shortly after Moscow’s invasion began, and authorities have launched thousands of cases against those it deemed critical.
Trump wanted nothing to do with Ukraine in first administration - former adviser
Donald Trump wanted nothing to do with Ukraine during his first stint as US president from 2017 until 2021, his former adviser has said.
“Right from the very beginning, president Trump wanted nothing to do with Ukraine,” Fiona Hill, who advised on European and Russian Affairs during Mr Trump’s first stint, said.
“In his first phone call with [former German chancellor] Angela Merkel, she most famously asked him, ‘Donald, what are you going to do about Ukraine?’” Ms Hill said.
“[Trump] said, ‘No, Angela, it’s got nothing to do with me, what are you going to do about Ukraine?’
“And he’s been very consistent with his idea of trying to distance himself from the war in Ukraine, and frankly equally consistent in his desire to reset the Russian relationship with the US.”
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