The US president appears to show increasing frustration with a lack of progress over a ceasefire deal. Meanwhile, North Korea says its fighters made an „important contribution“ to expelling Ukrainian forces from Russian territory – though Kyiv says its soldiers are still in Kursk.
Monday 28 April 2025 03:29, UK
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That’s all for our live coverage of the war in Ukraine today.
We’ll be back tomorrow with more updates and analysis, but if you’re just checking in, here is a recap of five key developments.
Donald Trump says his meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy at the Vatican yesterday went well and the next few days will prove if there was progress.
Asked about a change in attitude since their confrontational exchange in the White House, Trump says: „I see him as calmer, I think he understands the picture, I think he wants to make a deal.“
Trump then says he is very disappointed with Russia and calls for Vladimir Putin to stop fighting, and „reach a deal“.
He says he thinks Zelenskyy is ready to give up Crimea – „we’ll see what happens in the next few days“ – before adding: „Don’t talk to me about Crimea, talk to Obama and Biden about Crimea.“
Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014, when Barack Obama was US president.
More details now on North Korea’s confirmation that it has sent troops to fight for Russia.
State media quotes Kim Jong Un as saying: „They who fought for justice are all heroes and representatives of the honour of the motherland.“
Its ruling Workers‘ Party said the end of the battle to liberate Russia’s Kursk region showed the „highest strategic level of the firm militant friendship“ between North Korea and Russia, KCNA state news agency reported.
The party’s Central Military Commission said Kim made the decision to deploy troops under the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty he signed with Vladimir Putin last year.
„Under the order of the head of state, the sub-units of the armed forces of the Republic regarded the territory of Russia as the one of their country and proved the firm alliance between the two countries,“ KCNA cited the Commission as saying.
North Korea „regards it as an honor to have an alliance with such a powerful state as the Russian Federation,“ KCNA said.
North Korea has contributed troops, shells and missiles to assist Russia.
Ukrainian officials estimate North Korea has sent 14,000 troops, including 3,000 reinforcements to replace its losses.
A Reuters investigation found millions of North Korean shells have made their way to the frontlines in massive shipments by sea and then by train, helping Russia in a war of attrition Ukraine has struggled to match.
North Korea also dispatched ballistic missiles, long-range artillery and multiple-launch rocket systems.
Kyrylo Budanov, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief, said in late February that 120 long-range self-propelled artillery systems and 120 multiple launch rocket systems had made their way to Russia, beginning in late 2024.
Some were filmed by Ukrainian drones in Kursk.
In sum, North Korea’s deliveries represent the most significant direct military aid to Russia’s war effort.
North Korea has confirmed for the first time it deployed troops to fight for Russia in the war with Ukraine, according to state media.
KCNA reported its troops made an „important contribution“ to expelling Ukrainian forces from Russian territory, presumably Kursk.
Kim Jong Un made the decision to deploy troops to Russia and notified Moscow, it said.
It comes after Russia acknowledged North Korean troops were on the front lines yesterday, with a senior military official crediting their role in helping Russian forces reclaim control of the Kursk region.
Valery Gerasimov, the Russian chief of general staff, told Vladimir Putin: „I want to point out the participation of servicemen from the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea in the liberation of the Kursk Region’s border areas, who, in accordance with the Treaty on Comprehensive Strategic Partnership between our countries, provided significant assistance in defeating the invading group of the Ukrainian armed forces.
„Soldiers and officers of the Korean People’s Army, carrying out combat missions shoulder to shoulder with Russian servicemen, displayed high professionalism, fortitude, courage and heroism in repulsing the Ukrainian invasion.“
In occupied Donetsk, flags fly over the graves of Russian service members killed in the course of the war.
People can be seen visiting their friends and family in the cemetery.
A minerals deal between the US and Ukraine will not include financial aid given to Ukraine prior to its signing, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal says.
„It has been agreed that the document does not include assistance provided before its signing,“ he posted in an update on Telegram.
The apparent agreement goes some way to undermine Donald Trump’s initial motivation for the deal, which he said was needed to recoup the value of US aid donated to Ukraine by Joe Biden, despite it having no conditions attached at the time.
Shmyhal did not specify a date by which he expects the deal to be signed.
Russia has attacked Ukraine with 8,500 bombs, 200 missiles and 3,000 drones since Kyiv proposed a 30-day ceasefire, Volodymyr Zelenskyy says.
In his nightly address, the Ukrainian president said the majority of them were fired at „ordinary cities, at civilian targets“.
„The Russians talk a lot about their alleged readiness to accept American proposals, but, so far, no preparations by the Russian army for real silence have been recorded.
„It is absolutely clear that Russia is really trying to deceive the world – to deceive America and others – and to further drag out this war.“
A Moscow court has remanded in custody a Ukrainian citizen facing terrorism charges over the killing of a senior Russian military officer near the capital, Russia’s Investigative Committee says.
The Kremlin has blamed Ukraine for Friday’s car bomb that killed 59-year-old Yaroslav Moskalik, the latest in a series of Russian military officers and pro-war figures to be assassinated.
Ukraine has not commented on the incident.
The Investigative Committee, which deals with serious crimes in Russia, said the suspect had pleaded guilty to killing Moskalik and had said he was recruited by Ukraine’s security services.
Moskalik, who was deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of Russia’s General Staff, was killed in the town of Balashikha, hours before Donald Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff was due to hold talks with Vladimir Putin.
More comments to bring you now from secretary of state Marco Rubio’s interview with our US partner network, NBC News.
Rubio said that the coming week will be „very critical“ for the White House as it makes a „determination about whether this is an endeavor that we want to continue to be involved in“.
„Throughout this process, it’s about determining do both sides really want peace and how close are they or how far apart they are after 90 days of effort here … that’s what we’re trying to determine this week.“
He added:“ We cannot continue, as I said, to dedicate time and resources to this effort if it’s not going to come to fruition.“
There were reasons to be optimistic, said Rubio, but there were „reasons to be realistic“ as well.
„We’re close, but we’re not close enough.“
The proposals put forward by Donald Trump have been seen by European allies as giving in to Russia’s demands, with German defence minister Boris Pistorius going so far as to brand it a „capitulation“.
The US president has been ready to accept handing swathes of Ukraine to Russia and denying Kyiv NATO membership.
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Ukraine war latest: Trump 'very disappointed' in Russia and wants Putin to 'reach a deal' – Sky News
