Rescuers and civilians pull victims from the rubble of a Russian missile strike on a residential building in Kyiv, Ukraine, April 24 2025 (Kostiantyn Liberov/Libkos/Getty)

EA on France 24 and Times Radio: Ukraine Rejects a US-Russia Ultimatum

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Putin and Trump’s “Nonsense Deal” on Ukraine

Wednesday’s Coverage: US Presses Kyiv to Cede Crimea to Russia

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 2206 GMT:

The office of Ukraine’s Prosecutor General says it has identified the body of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, abused and possibly killed after months in Russian captivity.

A forensic medical examination revealed signs of torture and ill-treatment, the office said. There were abrasions and hemorrhages on various parts of the body, and a rib was broken.

Roshchyna, 27, disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Russian-held eastern Ukraine. Her body was discovered among bodies that Moscow handed over to Ukraine in February.

UPDATE 2200 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky says that preliminary information indicates that a North Korean ballistic missile was used in Russia’s mass strikes that killed at least 12 people and wounded 90 in Kyiv.

There must be real pressure on Russia to stop this. Even in the midst of international diplomatic efforts to end this war, Russia continues killing civilians. That means Putin is not afraid.

There must be a full and unconditional halt to the strikes, and Russia must agree to it. This war must be ended justly. And to truly guarantee the safety of our people, we need to strengthen our air shield.

UPDATE 1706 GMT:

The UK has issued 150 new trade sanctions against Russia, targeting software and technology used in Russian defense and energy sectors.

Bans include video game controllers used to pilot drones on the frontlines in Ukraine.

UPDATE 1703 GMT:

The toll in Kyiv has risen to 12 killed and 90 injured from Russia’s mass murder with missiles and drones early Thursday.

UPDATE 1656 GMT:

At a European summit on energy security, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has spoken of the continent’s failure as “Russia intentionally weaponized energy supplies”.

For decades…we failed to recognize the costs that came with this dependence: the risk of blackmail, economic coercion, price shocks. That reality was exposed after the full scale invasion of Ukraine.

She hailed efforts to diversity supply and accelerate the transition to clean energy transition, but “we all know that there is so much more to do”.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer said:

Europe must never again be in a position where Russia thinks that they can blackmail us on energy and until Russia comes to the table and agrees a full and unconditional ceasefire.

We must continue to crack down on their energy revenues, which are still fueling Putin’s war chest.

UPDATE 1645 GMT:

During a trip to Madagascar, French President Emmanuel Macron has said, “The only thing to do is for President Putin to finally stop lying.”

He explained that the Russian leader was telling US negotiators “he wants peace” but continuing “to bombard Ukraine”.

“In Ukraine, they only want a single answer: Does President Putin agree to an unconditional ceasefire?” Macron summarized.

If President Putin says yes, the weapons will fall silent tomorrow, lives will be saved.

US anger should be directed at only one person, President Putin.

UPDATE 1346 GMT:

In a rare rebuke of Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump has posted:

I am not happy with the Russian strikes on KYIV. Not necessary, and very bad timing. Vladimir, STOP! 5000 soldiers a week are dying. Lets get the Peace Deal DONE!

Asked by reporters about when he could deliver a deal, Trump — who proclaimed he would halt the Russian invasion on his first day in the White House in January — said, “I have my own deadline.”

Responding to a follow-up on whether Putin will listen to him, Trump maintained, “Yes.”

UPDATE 1112 GMT:

Speaking alongside South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Pretoria, Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has spoken about some of the individuals murdered in Kyiv by Russia earlier this morning.

He agreed with Ramaphosa on the need for a ceasefire, but emphasized that its effectiveness depends on Russia. So more pressure should be put on Russia to end the war, he argued, including through the G20 format chaired by South Africa.

Zelensky also cited the necessity of rescuing Ukrainian children deported by Russia during the war.

Commenting on Wednesday’s multilateral meeting in London, amid a refusal by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio to attend, Zelensky said they were “not easy, but constructive”: “[It] ended not with disagreements, but with a will to work further.”

He dismissed later comments, such as Donald Trump’s tantrum and insults, as “emotions”.

UPDATE 1007 GMT:

The European Union will not support any US move to recognize Crimea as Russian territory and will not pressure Kyiv to cede the peninsula.

A “senior European official” said the Trump Administration had already been informed. Major European NATO powers should “discourage” the US from doing so unilaterally, noted the official.

On Tuesday, EU foreign policy head Kaja Kallas said, “Crimea is Ukraine.” A EU diplomat expanded, “Crimea and future NATO membership aspirations [of Ukraine] are red lines for us. We can’t give them up.”

German MP Thorsten Frei, a close ally of incoming Chancellor Friedrich Merz explained:

Putin would achieve all his goals and the message that would be sent out would be: “I can afford such aggression. I will prevail in the end and achieve my goals.”

And that means…if you look at the tradition in which Putin sees himself, that he will continue.

The UK joined the EU in a statement by Deputy Foreign Minister Stephen Doughty, “The UK’s position regarding Ukrainian sovereignty is well known and our position has not changed, and we do not recognize Russian sovereignty over any territory illegally seized from Ukraine, including Crimea.”

UPDATE 0955 GMT:

At least 12 people were killed and at least 104 injured by Russian attacks across Ukraine over the past day.

The toll in Kyiv has been revised to eight slain and at least 77 wounded.

Three civilians were killed and seven injured in the Donetsk region in eastern Ukraine. An 81-year-old woman was murdered and 10 other people hurt in the Kherson region in the south by attacks on 39 settlements.

Casualties were also reported in the Sumy, Kharkiv, Zhytomyr, and Khmelnytskyi reginos.

Russia fired 70 missiles and 145 drones across Ukraine overnight.

Air defenses downed 48 missiles and 64 drones, and 68 UAVs were lost to electronic counter-measures.

UPDATE 0809 GMT:

Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has cut short a visit to South Africa, returning home because of Russia’s murderous missile and drone strikes.

Zelensky will still meet South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to inform him “about the situation and our need to intensify global diplomatic efforts”.

It is extremely important that everyone around the world sees and understands what is really happening….

The strikes must be stopped immediately and unconditionally. We also count on support in humanitarian matters — in the return of our prisoners and Ukrainian children abducted by Russia.

UPDATE 0658 GMT:

Ukraine and the Trump Administration have agreed to develop a free trade zone, says Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal after meeting US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Washington on Wednesday.

Ukraine and the US launched initial talks on a free trade zone in 2021.

Ukrainian trade with the U.S. has dropped in recent years, with only $874 million of exports and $3.4 billion of American imports last year. The commerce has been further threatened by Donald Trump’s global tariffs of 10% on all goods and by a 25% tariff on metal products.

Shymyhal said he and Bessent also discussed “important political aspects” of the proposed rare earth minerals deal.

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

UPDATE 0646 GMT:

Donald Trump’s envoy to Russia, real estate developer Steve Witkoff, is reportedly proposing the lifting of sanctions on Moscow’s energy assets, including the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline.

Five sources told Politico of the initiative by Witkoff, who is scheduled meet Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Thursday. They said the proposal has “not found much traction in the White House”, with opposition from Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

Rubio rejected the report:

UPDATE 0609 GMT:

Reinforcing that Ukraine will not accept a Trump Administration ultimatum to give up territory to Russia, President Volodymyr Zelensky has shared a declaration from Trump’s first term denouncing Moscow’s occupation of Crimea and reaffirming Ukrainian territorial integrity.

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in the Crimea Declaration of July 2018:

Russia, through its 2014 invasion of Ukraine and its attempted annexation of Crimea, sought to undermine a bedrock international principle shared by democratic states: that no country can change the borders of another by force.

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

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Hours after the Trump Administration withdrew from talks in London to end Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has murdered at least nine civilians and injured more than 70 in a missile and drone assault on Kyiv.

The Russians struck around 1 a.m. and then around 4 a.m.

Among the wounded are six children and a pregnant woman At least 42 people have been hospitalized. A rescue operation in the Svyatoshinsky district, with dogs and engineering teams, is ongoing to retrieve victims buried under rubble.

Interior minister Ihor Klymenko said,“Mobile phones can be heard ringing under the ruins. The search will continue until everybody is got out. We have information about two children who cannot be found at the scene of the incident.”

The head of the Kyiv military administration, Tymur Tkachenko, described the attack as “Russian peace in all its glory”.

Trump’s Temper Tantrum After Ukraine Rejects US Ultimatum

On Wednesday, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio pulled out of high-level talks in London with counterparts from Ukraine, the UK, Germany, and France to end Russia’s 38-month full-scale invasion.

Rubio balked after Kyiv rejected a Trump Administration proposal, effectively an ultimatum, which demanded that Russia get legal recognition of its 11-year occupation of Crimea and de facto recognition of its seizures of part of four other regions in the south and east of Ukraine.

The Administration proposal also bars Ukraine entry into NATO and looks forward to “enhanced economic cooperation”, particularly in the energy and industrial sectors, with Russia — presumably after the lifting of all sanctions on Moscow.

Meanwhile, Ukraine only receives vague references to a security guarantees and funding for recovery, with no substance on how these would be assured.

On Tuesday night, Ukrainian officials responded to European counterparts with the proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire as discussions continued on how to ensure its territorial integrity and sovereignty.

Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Sydyrenko followed up on Wednesday:

Ukraine is ready to negotiate—but not to surrender.

There will be no agreement that hands Russia the stronger foundations it needs to regroup and return with greater violence. A full ceasefire—on land, in the air, and at sea—is the necessary first step.

The office of French President Emmanuel Macron offered support: “Ukraine’s territorial integrity and European aspirations are very strong requirements for Europeans.”

That triggered a renewal of the US ultimatum from Vice President J.D. Vance, “We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes, or for the United States to walk away from this process.”

Later in the day, Donald Trump threw a tantrum, hurling invective at Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky:

We are very close to a Deal, but the man with ‘no cards to play’ should now, finally, GET IT DONE.

I look forward to being able to help Ukraine and Russia get out of this Complete and Total MESS, that would have never started if I were President!

He blustered, with no knowledge about Russia’s seizure of the peninsula in 2014, “Nobody is asking Zelensky to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory but, if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired?”

Kyiv reacted calmly. Defense Minister Defense Minister Rustem Umerov praised “very productive and successful” lower-level talks with Trump’s envoy to Ukraine, Keith Kellogg. Zelensky posted:

However, after Russia’s mass murders in Kyiv, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha expressed anger as well as determination:

Yesterday’s Russian maximalist demands for Ukraine to withdraw from its regions, combined with these brutal strikes, show that Russia, not Ukraine, is the obstacle to peace.

Moscow, not Kyiv, is where pressure should be applied….

Putin demonstrates through his actions, not words, that he does not respect any peace efforts and only wants to continue the war.

Weakness and concessions will not stop his terror and aggression. Only strength and pressure will.