Russian Invasion of Ukraine | A War in Europe After Hours

[Tom]

Ukraine captured Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia.

The Ukrainian military has captured two Chinese citizens who fought in the Russian army.

"This happened in the Donetsk region" - President Zelenskyy.

 

[David76]

I'd usually be quite hopeful that this might bring some change for the better but you can't tell with Trump

When U.S. President Donald Trump paused military aid to Ukraine last month, the man described as his "spiritual advisor," Pastor Mark Burns, backed the decision.

This week, Burns is urging him to send Kyiv more tanks, fighter jets, and air defense.

"I now believe that supporting Ukraine is America first," he told the Kyiv Independent in an interview on April 9.

Burns's dramatic shift in stance comes after a trip to Ukraine where he witnessed the atrocities committed by Russia first-hand, visiting the site of a missile attack in Kryvyi Rih, which killed 20 people, including nine children.

The Kyiv Independent spoke with Burns to find out more about his visit, and why he's now urging everyone to "throw politics out the window" and back Ukraine.

Editor's note: The interview has been edited for language and clarity.

The Kyiv Independent: Can you describe what has caused you to change your stance on Ukraine?

Pastor Mark Burns: Obviously being on the ground in Ukraine has changed my opinion significantly. I am on record as being one of the staunch opponents of supporting Ukraine.

But it took me being in Kyiv, being at Bucha, seeing the atrocities that have taken place, innocent lives being killed, executed, and knowing the nearly 700 religious institutions have been intentionally targeted by the Russians, and 20,000 children have been kidnapped and deported back to Russia, not including the 1.3 million children that are unaccounted for.

When you hear these atrocities… It changed my perspective significantly. I now believe that supporting Ukraine is America first.

Not really been much news lately since the failed ceasefire proposals.

 

[Tom]

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1911787320153452912

He's beyond belief, he comes across as weak, whiny and victim blaming.

 

[Bob the Ninja]

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1913138317761077334

Depending on what they mean by "move on", it looks like Trump is going to hang Ukraine out to dry. Why would Putin entertain a ceasefire now….

Marco Rubio said just moments ago from the French capital that the US will walk away from its efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine unless there are clear signs of progress in the coming days

"We need to figure out here now, within a matter of days, whether this [peace deal] is doable in the short term, because if it's not, then I think we're just going to move on," he said.

"We're not going to continue with this endeavour for weeks and months on end," he added.

Rubio with French counterpart Jean-Noel Barrot and the UK's David Lammy yesterday

Rubio said Donald Trump is still interested in pursuing peace, but that the US has many other priorities around the world

"We need to determine very quickly now - and I'm talking about a matter of days - whether or not this is doable in the next few weeks. If it is, we're in. If it's not, then we have other priorities to focus on as well."

Ukraine war latest: Poland scrambles fighter jets after Russian attack on Ukraine causes emergency power outages

Polish and allied fighter jets were deployed this morning after Russia launched airstrikes towards western Ukraine, near Poland's border, Poland's armed forces said. Follow live updates below.

news.sky.com

 

[Scotty G]

So much for ending the war, it was supposed to be so easy, just talk nice with Putin, offer him a deal, all it took.

Turns out, Putin isn't interested in peace, even on favorable terms, who would have thought.

 

[Black Sheep]

Out of the blue, Putin has, apparently, started an Easter ceasefire. I wonder what's behind that?

• Vladimir Putin announced Russia will cease "all military operations" as part of an "Easter truce" in Ukraine lasting 30 hours;
• The temporary measure began at 4pm UK time, with Moscow adding it assumes Kyiv will "follow our example";
• Ukraine's foreign minister said Putin's words "cannot be trusted" and added there is a "long history" of his statements not matching his actions;
• Meanwhile, Volodymyr Zelenksyy said Russian attack drones were "detected in our skies" just 45 minutes before Russia's truce began as he accused Putin of "playing with human lives";

Ukraine will no doubt break the ceasefire by getting bombed.

 

[Franco Pinion]

The truce didn't last long. Russia broke their own truce about 2 hours later when they shelled Kherson.

Pathetic, no-one believes anything Russia says.

 

[Hera]

"Since the beginning of the day, 45 Russian assaults have occurred on the front"

 https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1913948355257843767

 

[Bad Gizmo]

"Since the beginning of the day, 45 Russian assaults have occurred on the front"

Presumably, nobody in Ukraine was caught off guard.

This is exactly what a ceasefire means to Putin, sweet f.a.

 

[Tom]

After a few quiet weeks, the Trump administration has erupted again with threats to both Ukraine and Russia. Once again, Trump telling Zelenskyy that he "has no cards to play" and to accept the deal.

Trump rant on his social media platform



The White House, Rubio, and VAnce all stating today that "America will walk away" if there isn't a "yes" from both sides.

What Russia gets under Trump's proposal

1. "De jure" U.S. recognition of Russian control in Crimea.
2. "De-facto recognition" of the Russia's occupation of nearly all of Luhansk oblast and the occupied portions of Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia.
3. A promise that Ukraine will not become a member of NATO. The text notes that Ukraine could become part of the European Union.
4. The lifting of sanctions imposed since 2014.
5. Enhanced economic cooperation with the U.S., particularly in the energy and industrial sectors.

What Ukraine gets under Trump's proposal

1. "A robust security guarantee" involving an ad hoc group of European countries and potentially also like-minded non-European countries. The document is vague in terms of how this peacekeeping operation would function and does not mention any U.S. participation.
2. The return of the small part of Kharkiv oblast Russia has occupied.
3. Unimpeded passage of the Dnieper River, which runs along the front line in parts of southern Ukraine.
4. Compensation and assistance for rebuilding, though the document does not say where the funding will come from.

Other elements of the plan

• The Zaporizhzhia nuclear power plant — the largest such facility in Europe — will be considered as Ukrainian territory but operated by the U.S., with electricity supplied to both Ukraine and Russia.
• The document references the U.S.-Ukraine minerals deal, which Trump has said will be signed on Thursday.

https://www.axios.com/2025/04/22/trump-russia-ukraine-peace-plan-crimea-donbas

No way Ukraine will or should accept that deal.