In a recent interview, Donald Trump suggested that Vladimir Putin could potentially prompt him to support Ukraine, though not necessarily President Zelenskyy. Trump cited his past difficulties with Zelenskyy, referencing a past Oval Office meeting where he felt Zelenskyy’s requests were unreasonable. Trump alluded to various forms of support for Ukraine beyond military aid, such as sanctions and banking restrictions. He later reported a positive meeting with Zelenskyy at the Vatican, expressing uncertainty about the progress made but hinting at the possibility of further sanctions against Russia.
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Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) delivered a Senate floor speech condemning Vladimir Putin’s war crimes in Ukraine, specifically citing the Palm Sunday attack on civilians. He asserted that Putin’s aggression is solely responsible for the ongoing conflict and that any peace initiatives have been rejected by Putin, who consistently violates agreements. Wicker commended the Trump administration for setting a timeline for Putin to choose peace and expressed support for bipartisan efforts, including the Sanctioning Russia Act of 2025, to hold Putin accountable. He concluded that Putin has consistently acted in bad faith, breaking promises throughout the conflict.
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President Trump urged President Putin to cease hostilities in Ukraine, advocating for a peace agreement already under consideration. He expressed disappointment over recent Russian missile strikes on Kyiv, questioning Putin’s commitment to ending the conflict. Trump even suggested Putin may be deliberately misleading him and that alternative strategies, including sanctions, might be required. Secretary of State Rubio concurrently highlighted the importance of this week in achieving a potential Ukraine peace deal.
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With a 100-day deadline approaching, Secretary of State Marco Rubio declared this week critical for a Ukraine-Russia peace deal. The Trump administration, having invested significant time and effort, is prepared to withdraw its mediation efforts if no progress is made toward a negotiated settlement requiring concessions from both sides. While the administration believes it has brought the parties closer, a breakthrough remains elusive, leaving President Trump increasingly impatient with Vladimir Putin’s continued aggression. Despite positive remarks from Zelensky following a meeting with Trump, Russia dismissed American impatience, maintaining its readiness for dialogue.
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In a recent interview, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy expressed gratitude for the U.S.’s efforts to end the war but emphasized Russia’s longstanding ambition to dismantle American global leadership and economic power. He highlighted this as a continuation of Soviet-era policies, now resurrected under Putin’s rule, and asserted that Russia’s influence extends to former USSR states, with the ultimate goal being to target the United States. Zelenskyy further noted the alignment of Russia with Iran and North Korea in their shared antagonism towards the U.S., using the Ukraine conflict as a proxy battleground. This strategy, he argued, masks the weakness of Russia’s military, which has failed to decisively defeat Ukraine.
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During a Kharkiv press conference, Nebraska Senator Tom Brewer emphasized the critical nature of continued US military support for Ukraine, highlighting the dependence on US-supplied weapons and ammunition. His fifth visit to Ukraine, alongside a Nebraska delegation, focused on assessing Ukraine’s military and humanitarian needs for subsequent reporting to US officials. Senator Brewer also expressed evolving concerns regarding Donald Trump’s understanding of Vladimir Putin, contrasting initial overly positive assessments with a growing awareness of Putin’s true nature. Finally, the senator discussed the US peace proposal, noting the problematic nature of concessions such as recognizing Crimea’s annexation, which directly contradicts Ukrainian law.
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On the same day US envoy Steve Witkoff met with Vladimir Putin for three hours of constructive talks focusing on Ukraine and other international issues, a senior Russian general, Yaroslav Moskalik, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. Witkoff’s visit, his fourth since January, comes as President Trump’s 100-day deadline for ending the war approaches, with ongoing disagreements between the US and Ukraine regarding proposed peace deals. These competing proposals differ significantly on the status of Crimea and the level of concessions required from Ukraine. The general’s death, following a similar assassination of another Russian general in December, adds another layer of complexity to the already tense situation.
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Lt. Gen. Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Russian armed forces’ main operations directorate, was killed in a car bombing near Moscow. The attack, similar to previous incidents claimed by Ukraine, occurred as Vladimir Putin met with Donald Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, to discuss potential peace deals in Ukraine. These talks, however, are complicated by significant differences between US and Ukrainian proposals for ending the conflict and by the ongoing violence. The Kremlin opened a criminal investigation into the bombing, while Kyiv has yet to comment.
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A large-scale Russian air attack on Kyiv resulted in twelve deaths, including two children, and over ninety injuries. Following the attack, Donald Trump publicly urged Vladimir Putin to halt the violence, despite simultaneously advocating for a peace deal potentially involving Ukrainian territorial concessions. Trump’s call for a ceasefire comes amidst his self-imposed deadline and reported attempts to broker a peace agreement favorable to Russia. Ukrainian officials, however, rejected Trump’s perceived pro-Russian stance and reiterated their demand for an unconditional cessation of hostilities. The attack underscored the ongoing conflict’s brutality and the continued challenges to achieving a peaceful resolution.
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Despite Russian President Vladimir Putin’s declared “Easter truce,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reported continued Russian shelling and assaults, citing hundreds of attacks in the first six hours. While the Kremlin claimed adherence to the ceasefire and accused Ukraine of violations, Zelensky stated that Russia was only creating an impression of a truce while attempting localized advances. Zelensky reiterated Ukraine’s willingness to extend a ceasefire beyond Easter, contingent on Russia’s reciprocation. The situation highlights the ongoing challenges in achieving a lasting peace.
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John Q. Hosedrinker