Vladimir Putin has ordered the largest conscription since his illegal invasion of Ukraine – with Kyiv accusing Russia of plotting new attacks, despite US president Donald Trump talking up a ceasefire. But is Trump losing patience with Putin? Follow the latest below.
Tuesday 1 April 2025 08:43, UK
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We’ve heard from China’s foreign minister who is on a three-day visit to Moscow and is expected to meet his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov.
Wang Yi told Russian state news agency RIA that a peace agreement on ending the war in Ukraine should be fair, binding and acceptable to all involved.
„We advocate eradicating the causes of the crisis through dialogue and negotiations, ultimately achieving a fair, long-term, binding peace agreement acceptable to all parties involved, which would make it possible to achieve truly lasting peace and stability,“ he said.
It’s worth noting that China’s President Xi Jinping has met Vladimir Putin more than 40 times over the last decade, with the two countries declaring a „no limits“ strategic partnership days before Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.
These maps show the latest territorial situation, indicating how much ground is held by Russian and Ukrainian forces respectively.
The first map shows a wide view of the conflict, and you can see closer views of the fronts in Donetsk, Kharkiv, Luhansk and of the Russian region of Kursk, where Vladimir Putin’s forces have advanced and pushed Ukraine’s positions back in recent weeks.
As peace talks rumble on, Vladimir Putin is reportedly calling up more citizens to strengthen Russia’s military.
According to Russian news agency Interfax, Putin has ordered a further 160,000 Russian men between the ages of 18 and 30 to be called up, with the new order to be completed by 15 July.
That number marks an increase from previous military drafts, with 150,000 called up last year and 134,500 in 2022.
Ukraine: Russia is preparing new attacks
The move comes as Volodymyr Zelenskyy has accused Russia of dragging out the peace process as it prepares for a major new offensive.
„According to our intelligence, Russia is preparing for new offensives in Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions,“ the Ukrainian president said last week.
„They are dragging out negotiations and trying to drag the US into endless, meaningless discussions about fake conditions to buy time and then try to seize even more land.“
By Ivor Bennett, Moscow correspondent
The Kremlin was careful not to take the bait when asked about Donald Trump’s „anger“ towards Vladimir Putin.
Spokesperson Dmitry Peskov deployed his trademark technique of downplay, deflect, dismiss.
„The statements were given in paraphrase, they were not quoted“ he said, appearing to question the accuracy of the reports that the American president was „pissed off“ with Putin.
„Several different statements were made,“ he added.
It’s certainly true that a retort could have risked provoking Trump and I think that was a consideration of Peskov.
Primarily, though, I think his response reveals a lack of concern from the Kremlin right now at America’s apparent annoyance.
That’s immediately clear on state TV. The morning news bulletin on the ‚Russia 1‘ channel, for example, didn’t mention Trump’s criticism of Putin whatsoever. The only reference to the US president regarded his threats towards Volodymyr Zelenskyy, if Ukraine pulls out of the mineral deal with Washington.
Do Trump’s actions speak louder than his words?
I think this is because, despite Trump’s tough words, his actions towards Moscow remain soft and friendly.
According to the Kremlin, the US and Russia have begun talks on their own joint rare earth projects, with some US firms already expressing interest.
It makes one wonder – how genuine is the American president’s anger?
On the one hand, his comments could reflect a growing frustration at the lack of progress towards a ceasefire.
So far, Putin still hasn’t made any kind of concessions.
Watch below: Who benefits from Black Sea ceasefire?
On the other hand, however, it may just be an attempt to appear even-handed.
Trump’s barbs towards Zelenskyy, and praise of Putin, have led to accusations that he’s pro-Russian, and being played by the Kremlin.
This might just be an attempt to shake those accusations.
Either way, for now at least, Russia doesn’t seem too fussed.
Sir Keir Starmer and Volodymyr Zelenskyy spoke on the phone last night, discussing the „real momentum“ behind efforts to secure long-term security for Ukraine.
It was also revealed that a meeting of British, French and Ukrainian military leadership would take place „in the coming days“ to drive forward „the next stage of detailed planning“.
That follows the latest meeting of the „coalition of the willing“ in Paris last week – a group of 31 countries working to end the war in Ukraine.
After that meeting, French President Emmanuel Macron announced his plan for a „reassurance force“ in Ukraine to act a a security guarantee and be deployed the day after a peace deal.
Bucha anniversary marked
Starmer and Zelenskyy also discussed the third anniversary of Ukraine’s liberation of Bucha – a town near Kyiv – from Russian forces.
The town became associated with allegations of war crimes against Russia during its illegal invasion of Ukraine.
A UN report in December 2022 found that Russian troops executed civilians in Bucha.
The report documented the killing of at least 73 civilians, including 16 women and three children.
Russia has been accused of delaying a ceasefire and „playing games“ by a host of European foreign ministers.
The European Union’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Russia is „not really wanting peace“ – adding the key question is now over how more pressure can be put on Russia.
Meanwhile, Poland’s foreign minister Radoslaw Sikorski called for a form of deadline for Russia to accept a ceasefire in Ukraine.
That’s after Finnish President Alexander Stubb suggested 20 April is a „good time for a complete ceasefire without any conditions“.
Stubb spoke to Sky News after playing golf with Donald Trump at the weekend – and suggested the US president is losing patience with Putin.
Watch the interview below
It’s not the first time Putin has been accused by Ukraine and its Western allies of not being serious about ending the war since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022.
And Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also repeatedly said Russian attacks on his country show Putin doesn’t want to end the war.
We heard more from Donald Trump overnight after his comments over being „very angry“ and „pissed off“ with Vladimir Putin for criticising Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s credibility.
Speaking to reporters inside the Oval Office, Trump said he wants to see the Russian president follow through and make a deal to end the war in Ukraine.
He also said he doesn’t want to have to move forward with secondary tariffs – something he’s threatened to impose on buyers of Russian oil.
However, even as the US president reiterated to reporters he was disappointed with Putin, he still made positive noises, adding: „I think we are making progress, step by step.“
Trump’s latest comments come after we also heard from the Kremlin yesterday, which said Putin remains „absolutely open“ to contact with the US president.
„Their conversation will be promptly organised when needed,“ it added.
Good morning and welcome back to our coverage of the war in Ukraine.
We’ll be resuming our live updates shortly – but first, here’s a summary of the past 24 hours:
We’ll taking a pause on our coverage of the war in Ukraine.
But you can follow more updates on any reaction to Donald Trump’s comments about Vladimir Putin in our US coverage here…
Russia has said Vladimir Putin remains „absolutely open“ to contact with Donald Trump.
Reacting to comments made by the US leader yesterday, the Kremlin said a conversation between Trump and Putin „can be arranged as needed“.
But no call had been scheduled so far for this week.
On Trump’s comments that he was „pissed off“ with Putin, the Kremlin said: „The statements were given in paraphrase, they were not quoted. That is the first thing.“
They also said that Russia and the US were working on unspecified ideas on a possible peace settlement in Ukraine.
„The president remains absolutely open to contacts with President Trump, so their conversation will be promptly organised when needed,“ the Kremlin added.
We reported earlier on comments made by Trump over the weekend in which he said he was „very angry“ and „pissed off“ after Putin criticised the credibility of Volodymyr Zelenskyy, in a phone call with Sky News‘ US partner network, NBC News.
Trump said the Russian president’s recent comments, calling for a transitional government to be put in place in Ukraine in a move that could effectively push out Zelenskyy, were „not going in the right direction“.
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Ukraine war latest: Putin orders largest conscription drive since war began – as Russia accused of plotting new attacks – Sky News
