Russian President Putin may be willing to drop his demand for full control over four Ukrainian regions if the US makes concessions such as recognizing Crimea's control and denying Ukraine's NATO accession, according to interlocutors. Representatives from Ukraine, Britain, France, and the US will meet in London on April 23 to discuss an unconditional ceasefire aimed at establishing a lasting peace.
https://www.ukrinform.net/rubric-polytics/3984927-putin-invites-witkoff-to-freeze-front-line-in-ukraine-ft.htmlUS Senator Marco Rubio has expressed optimism about potential progress in peace talks between US, Ukrainian, and European officials, which will continue in London on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Odesa was hit by a "massive attack" from Russian drones, injuring at least three people, including Oleh Kiper, head of Odesa regional administration. In southern Ukraine's Zaporizhzhia city, Russia launched two aerial glide bombs, killing a 69-year-old woman and injuring 22 people, including three children. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has stated that Moscow is open to discussing halting strikes on civilian facilities, but emphasized the need for clear definitions of what constitutes a military target.
https://www.gulftoday.ae/news/2025/04/23/russian-drones-batter-odesa-as-peace-talks-come-to-a-cruxUkraine and Russia are likely to have to cede some territory as part of peace talks, which were postponed due to a fresh wave of Russian air strikes in Ukraine. The strikes, including a drone attack on a bus in Marganets that killed nine people, occurred amid a brief Easter truce. Diplomatic efforts are ongoing, with US envoy Keith Kellogg and French diplomat Emmanuel Bonne expected to attend talks in London, despite the difficulties in reconciling positions between the two sides. Ukrainian officials, including President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aide Andriy Yermak, will also participate in the meeting.
https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/us-will-walk-away-unless-russia-and-ukraine-agree-deal-vance/article69482578.eceA terrorist attack occurred in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, resulting in dozens of deaths and injuries. The Pakistan-based terror outfit, The Resistance Front, an offshoot of banned Lashkar-e-Taiba, has claimed responsibility for the attack. Global leaders, including US President Donald Trump, Russian President Vladimir Putin, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman, Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar, United Arab Emirates officials, Iranian Government representatives, and Sri Lankan Government officials, have condemned the incident and expressed solidarity with India. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has cut short his visit to Saudi Arabia and is returning to New Delhi, while Home Minister Amit Shah has left for Kashmir to meet intelligence agencies. An investigation into the attack is underway, and PM Modi has vowed to bring those responsible to justice.
https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/how-the-world-reacted-to-the-terror-attack-in-kashmir-that-left-26-dead-8230595#pfrom=home-ndtv_topscrollUS President Donald Trump has ruled out "playing hardball" with China in the trade war, suggesting that US tariffs on Chinese goods will be cut down significantly as he floats a potential trade deal with China.
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-04-23/trump-rules-out-playing-hardball-with-china/105205212US President Donald Trump has failed to secure a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to halt the Ukrainian offensive, despite promising to strike a deal on the campaign trail. Trump hopes for a peace agreement this week, but Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warns against rushing into a ceasefire, citing the issue's complexity. US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Moscow this week, marking his fourth visit since Trump took office.
https://channelnewsasia.com/world/ukraine-ready-direct-talks-russia-only-after-ceasefire-zelenskyy-5081706US President Trump has announced a 90-day pause on "reciprocal" duties amid global negotiations, following warnings from the IMF's economic counselor Pierre-Olivier Gourinchas that trade policy uncertainty is at an all-time high. The IMF's forecast aligns with private sector economists' assessments, predicting negative impacts on the economy in both the short and long term. The likelihood of a US recession has increased to 40% over the past six months, up from 25%, despite the IMF not predicting an imminent recession.
https://www.scrippsnews.com/politics/economy/imf-warns-economic-uncertainty-will-persist-amid-us-tariff-concernsUS President Donald Trump has expressed strong support for India's efforts to bring the attackers responsible for the Pahalgam terror attack to justice, calling Prime Minister Narendra Modi and offering his condolences to the victims' families. The attack in Jammu and Kashmir killed 26 people, including five tourists from Maharashtra.
https://www.livemint.com/news/us-news/donald-trump-on-pahalgam-terror-attack-us-stands-strong-with-india-against-terrorism-says-pm-modi-and-incredible-11745341967333.htmlRussian Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov stated that President Putin's side is open to a peaceful settlement, but refused to discuss the time frame for a potential ceasefire deal. US President Trump has been pushing both sides towards a ceasefire, with recent efforts including a phone call with Putin and multiple visits by businessman Witkoff to Russia.
https://www.themoscowtimes.com/2025/04/22/witkoff-to-visit-russia-again-this-week-for-ukraine-talks-a88831