After 1,154 days of war in Ukraine, the second round of talks between Ukraine and its Western partners (United Kingdom, France, and United States) to achieve a ceasefire with Russia "will take place on Wednesday" following the meeting held in Paris last week, which ended without an agreement.
Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed bilateral talks with Ukraine on Monday for the first time since the early days of the war, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Kyiv was eager to discuss an "unconditional ceasefire" with Russia, followed by a "real and lasting peace."
U.S. President Donald Trump warned that he expected an agreement this week and threatened to withdraw from the talks if there is no progress towards peace.
Less than 24 hours after an alleged Easter ceasefire ended, the Ukrainian city of Odesa was hit by a massive Russian attack that struck one of its "densely populated" districts, resulting in three injuries.
Additionally, the Ukrainian city of Zaporiyia was targeted by a Russian attack with two guided aerial bombs, killing one woman and injuring 15 others, including three children.
On the other hand, Russian anti-aircraft defenses shot down ten Ukrainian drones last night over the regions of Belgorod and Oryol, as well as the annexed Crimean peninsula.
The EU insists that Russia is the aggressor by resuming combat after the ceasefire in Ukraine. The European Union (EU) emphasized on Tuesday that Russia remains the aggressor in the war in Ukraine, where it has resumed military operations after the Easter Sunday truce, according to Efe. "When we look at Russia's exact actions, we see Russia as an aggressor. We see that Russia has a history as an aggressor," stated the EU's Foreign Affairs spokesperson Anitta Hipper during the daily press briefing of the European Commission, when asked about the ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin. Hipper highlighted that it is Ukraine who has agreed to implement an unconditional ceasefire following diplomatic contacts initiated separately by the United States with Kyiv and Moscow. "First and foremost, we have to judge Russia by the facts. And the facts are that Russia continues to bombard innocent lives," emphasized the EU spokesperson. She added, "What we are doing is what we have done from day one: we will continue to support Ukraine in achieving a lasting, just, and comprehensive peace," she concluded.
Attack in Zaporiyia with two guided aerial bombs leaves at least three children injured. Russia attacked the Ukrainian city of Zaporiyia on Tuesday with two guided aerial bombs, killing a woman and injuring 15 others, including three children, as stated by regional governor Ivan Fedorov. He mentioned that the attack damaged residential buildings and an unidentified infrastructure facility. Local authorities released images of a multi-story residential building with charred upper floors and rescuers assisting the injured. Fedorov mentioned that doctors were treating 14 and 4-year-old children, as well as other injured individuals during the attack, in which one of the guided bombs hit a densely populated area of the city around 11:40 a.m. (08:40 GMT). Guided bombs, highly destructive, are difficult to intercept by Ukrainian air defenses. Zaporiyia, a significant logistical and industrial center in southeastern Ukraine located about 50 km (30 miles) from the front line, has been a frequent target of intense Russian guided bomb attacks. Russia, which began its large-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, partially occupies the Zaporiyia region, which also hosts Europe's largest nuclear power plant.
The Kremlin says that talks with Ukraine could take place if "obstacles" are removed. The Kremlin stated on Tuesday that there are no concrete plans for talks between Russia and Ukraine, but such contacts could take place if Ukraine is willing to remove certain obstacles, as reported by Reuters. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov did not specify which obstacles Moscow was referring to.
Russian drones attacked the Ukrainian port city of Odesa. One dead and thirteen injured by guided bombs in Zaporiyia. Today, Russian guided bombs killed one person and injured thirteen others in a residential area of the southern city of Zaporiyia, as reported on Telegram by regional governor Ivan Fedorov. A video released by Ukrainian emergency services, which Afp could not authenticate, shows the interior of devastated apartments, a building with the top floor damaged and charred, and firefighters assisting the injured.
Russia says there are no concrete plans for negotiations with Kyiv on a moratorium on attacks on civilian infrastructure. The Kremlin declared on Tuesday that there are no concrete plans for negotiations with Kyiv on a moratorium on drone and missile attacks on civilian infrastructure, proposed by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. "There are no concrete plans, but President Putin has confirmed his willingness to discuss this issue," said the Russian Presidency's spokesperson Dmitry Peskov in his daily telephone press conference, as reported by Efe. He added that the moratorium on attacks on civil infrastructure must clearly specify when it can be considered a military target and when it cannot. "President Putin explained precisely yesterday the complexity of this issue when answering a question from journalists. That is, when talking about civil infrastructure facilities, it is necessary to clearly differentiate in which situations they can be military targets and in which they cannot," stated Peskov. The Kremlin chief mentioned on Monday that he will study the moratorium proposal and is willing to discuss it in a bilateral format with Ukraine, but warned that Ukrainian forces often occupy positions in civilian facilities, turning them into military targets. When asked if the ban decreed by Zelensky on negotiating with Putin could be an impediment to contacts between Moscow and Kyiv, Peskov responded that if the Ukrainian side is willing to do so, it should "legally clear" the obstacles for it. "President Putin has repeatedly stated his willingness to resolve issues through negotiations," emphasized the spokesperson.
Russian drones strike Odesa, Ukraine, as peace negotiations reach a critical point. Russian drones struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa in a nighttime attack, local authorities said on Tuesday, less than 24 hours after an alleged Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by Moscow ended and just over a day before Ukrainian, British, French, and American officials meet in London to discuss the war. U.S. President Donald Trump stated last week that negotiations are "reaching a critical point" and insisted that neither party is "playing" with him in his efforts to end the war, after Secretary of State Marco Rubio suggested last week that the United States could withdraw from the negotiations if they do not progress. A new meeting is expected tomorrow in London, and Rubio suggested it could be decisive in determining whether the Trump administration continues its involvement. Odesa was the target of a "massive attack" by Russian drones overnight, injuring at least three people, as reported by the head of the Odesa regional administration, Oleh Kiper, on his Telegram page, according to Ap. A residential building in a densely populated urban area, civilian infrastructure, and an educational facility were hit, he said. The Ukrainian Air Force mentioned that Russia launched 54 Shahed drones and decoys in Ukraine overnight, marking a resumption of long-range attacks that have flown over civilian areas and spread terror throughout the war.
Putin does not plan to attend Pope Francis' funeral. Russian President Vladimir Putin does not plan to attend the funeral of Pope Francis, which will take place on Saturday in St. Peter's Square in the Vatican, the Kremlin stated on Tuesday, as reported by Afp. "No, the president does not have plans to do so," stated his spokesperson, Dmitry Peskov, during his daily press conference when asked about the matter. The Argentine pope passed away on Monday at the age of 88.
Putin says Russia is open to peace initiatives. Russian President Vladimir Putin proposed on Monday bilateral talks with Ukraine for the first time since the early days of the war, and his Ukrainian counterpart, Volodymyr Zelensky, stated that Kyiv was willing to discuss ending attacks on civilian targets, as reported by Reuters.