Firefighters battle a blaze following a Russian missile attack on Kyiv, Ukraine, April 6, 2025

EA-Bertelsmann VideoCast: A Beginner’s Guide to Europe’s Defense and Security

EA-Times Radio VideoCast: Defying Ceasefire Talks, Russia Demands Ukraine’s Capitulation

Sunday’s Coverage: Zelensky on Russia’s Murders — “Diplomacy Means Nothing to Them”

Map: Institute for the Study of War

UPDATE 0845 GMT:

Poland has added to international condemnation of Russian strikes on Ukraine’s civilians, including the killing of 20 and injuring of 75 in Kryvyi Rih last Friday.

The Foreign Ministry said in a statement:

UPDATE 0506 GMT:

UK military analysts assess that the gradual advance of Russia’s 18-month offensive in eastern Ukraine is slowing.

The analysts say the Russians only gained 143 square km (55.2 square miles) in March, compared to 730 square km (281.9 square miles) in November, 394 (152.1 square miles) in December, and 196 (75.7 square miles) in February.

Most of the advances last month were in the central Donetsk region, but Russia “did not improve its operational positions”, the analysts report. They cited Ukrainian tactical gains in counter-attacks near the city of Pokrovsk, which the Russian have tried and failed to overrun since July.

ORIGINAL ENTRY: Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky has noted the inaction by the Trump Administration over Russia’s latest mass killings of civilians.

Zelensky addressed the nation on Sunday night as the toll continued to rise from Friday’s strike on Kryvyi Rih in south-central Ukraine, and after more deaths from 109 drones and 23 missiles fired in the early morning.

Ukraine has agreed to the United States’ proposal of a full, unconditional ceasefire. Putin is refusing. We are awaiting a response from the United States — none has come so far, and we also expect a response from all in Europe and around the world who truly want peace.

The President noted that some of the missiles were fired from the Black Sea, following the Kremlin’s rejection of a Ukraine-US agreement for a halt of naval attacks.

“Our partners know exactly which vessels were involved and from which part of the sea the launch occurred,” he said.

The toll in Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s hometown, rose to 20 killed and 75 wounded in the missile strike on a residential building and a playground. Nine children were slain and 12 injured, two critically and two others seriously.

Early Sunday, amid Russian attacks across Ukraine, one civilian was killed in Kyiv and another in Kherson in the south of the country.

“These Russian Strikes Must Stop”

Donald Trump told reporters, “We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop. I don’t like the bombing, the bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people being killed.”

However, he gave no indication of how the US would get the Kremlin to halt its assault.

French President Emmanuel Macron posted on social media:

Russia continues its war with renewed intensity, showing no regard for civilians.

These Russian strikes must stop. A ceasefire must be reached as soon as possible. And strong action must follow if Russia continues to stall and reject peace.

How much longer will Russia toy with peace offers from the United States and Ukraine, while continuing to kill children and civilians?

US Ambassador Updates Tweet to Blame Russia

Criticized for not initially blaming Russia for the deadly strike on Kryvyi Rih, the US Ambassador to Ukraine named Moscow in a subsequent tweet on Sunday.

Bridget Brink posted:

In her post on Friday night, Brink avoided any citation of the Russians.

Ukraine President Zelensky said on Saturday night, “Staying silent about the fact that it is Russia killing children with ballistic missiles is wrong and dangerous. It only emboldens the scum in Moscow to continue the war and keep ignoring diplomacy.”