Ukraine’s president Volodymyr Zelensky has contradicted Donald Trump to again insist that the Crimean peninsula belongs to Kyiv, citing both the constitution of his country and international law.
The US president had said Crimea, which is occupied by Vladimir Putin’s forces, would stay with Russia.
The spat erupted after a senior Russian general was killed in a car bombing near Moscow.
Authorities identified the officer as Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, a top general in the Russian military, and said a criminal case into the attack had been opened.
The Kremlin blamed Kyiv after an explosive device was placed in his car in Balashikha just outside Moscow.
Several high-ranking Russian military figures have been assassinated since the start of the war in Ukraine in operations blamed by Moscow on Kyiv.
Meanwhile in Moscow, Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met Vladimir Putin for critical talks on peace, after the US president claimed they were “very close” to a deal.
A Kremlin spokesman said the talks had brought the US and Russia closer.
Key Points
- Zelensky contradicts Trump to insist Crimea will never be Russian
- Trump lays into Zelensky – again
- Senior Russian military officer killed in car bombing
- Who was the Russian general killed in a car bombing?
- Kremlin blames Russian general killing on Ukraine
Trump U-turns on pledge to end war on Day 1
21:04
,
Jane Dalton
US president Donald Trump campaigned for the presidency on ending Russia’s war in Ukraine on “day one” but now appears to have backpedalled, saying it was made “in jest”.
Kremlin says Putin-Witkoff talks brought US and Russia closer
20:27
,
Jane Dalton
President Donald Trump's envoy Steve Witkoff met President Vladimir Putin for three hours in Moscow to discuss the US plan to end the war, and the Kremlin said the two sides' positions had moved closer.
Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov, who took part in the meeting, described it as constructive and very useful.
"This conversation allowed Russia and the United States to further bring their positions closer together, not only on Ukraine but also on a number of other international issues," he said.
"As for the Ukrainian crisis itself, the discussion focused in particular on the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine."
Kyiv and US agreed rare earths outline last week
20:06
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Jane Dalton
Kyiv and Washington have been working for months to finalise details on rare earths.
Eight days ago, Ukrainian Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent that was aimed at becoming a first step toward a broader joint economic partnership agreement.
She said the Kyiv Parliament and US Congress would have to approve the final text of the document.
Trump lays into Zelensky – again
19:49
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Jane Dalton
Donald Trump has again slated Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky, this time blaming him for not having signed the agreement on rare earths with the US.
The US president wrote on social media: “Ukraine, headed by Volodymyr Zelenskyy, has not signed the final papers on the very important Rare Earths Deal with the United States. It is at least three weeks late.
“Hopefully, it will be signed IMMEDIATELY.”
He said work on the Ukraine-Russia peace deal was going smoothly.
Crimea belongs to us by law, Zelensky insists
19:36
,
Jane Dalton
President Volodymyr Zelensky has again insisted the Crimean peninsula belongs to Ukraine, citing both the constitution of Ukraine and international law.
He spoke in defiance of US president Donald Trump, who said the territory, which is under Russian control, would remain with Moscow – suggesting that would be the case under a US-brokered peace deal.
"Crimea will stay with Russia. And Zelensky understands that, and everybody understands that it's been with them for a long time," Mr Trump told Time magazine.
But Mr Zelensky said: “Our position is unchanged: only the Ukrainian people have the right to decide which territories are Ukrainian.
“The constitution of Ukraine states that all temporarily occupied territories are temporarily occupied. They all belong to Ukraine, to the Ukrainian people.
“Ukraine will not legally recognise any temporarily occupied territories. I think this is an absolutely fair position.”
Zelensky may be forced to miss Pope's funeral
19:01
,
Jane Dalton
Ukraine’s President Zelensky has reportedly said he might miss Pope Francis's funeral in Rome tomorrow because of important military meetings.
Mr Zelensky, who had earlier said he would attend, said: "If I am not (there) in time, Ukraine will be represented at a proper level", noting that Ukraine's foreign minister and first lady will be there, the BBC reports.
The Ukrainian president said there were a "number of meetings" to be had over the Russian strike on Kyiv yesterday that killed 12 people.
"There are several closed questions about this strike and about Ukraine's corresponding steps. I don't know how long it will take. So if I have time, I will definitely be present (at the funeral)," Mr Zelensky said.
World leaders, including US President Donald Trump, are expected to attend the funeral.
WATCH: Witkoff and Putin meet in Moscow to discuss Ukraine
18:46
,
Bryony Gooch
What the killing of a Russian general in Moscow means for Trump’s plan for peace in Ukraine
18:31
,
Bryony Gooch
The latest killing of a Russian general underscores the fact that Ukraine is still very much in the fight for its survival, world affairs editor Sam Kiley reports.
Territorial concessions on the table if Russia commits to full and unconditional ceasefire, says Zelensky - reports
18:22
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Bryony Gooch
President Zelensky has suggested that Ukraine would be willing to “discuss territorial issues” with Russia, but only on the condition of a “full and unconditional ceasefire”.
He said in a press conference: “A full and unconditional ceasefire opens up the possibility to discuss everything”, according to the BBC.
“What President Trump says is true, and I agree with him in that today we do not have enough weapons to return control over the Crimean peninsula”, he added.
Previously, Kyiv has rulled out territorial concessions in exchange for peace. Donald Trump said in an interview with Time magazine, published today: “Crimea will stay with Russia”.
Mapped: Territory Ukraine could lose as details of US peace deal proposal revealed
18:16
,
Bryony Gooch
The US has laid out its “final” proposals for peace in Ukraine, making clear the territory which it says Kyiv must cede to Moscow in order to achieve peace.
The document, seen and published by Reuters, described a “final offer” made to both sides, including the legal recognition by Washington of Russian control over Crimea.
Washington also proposed de facto US recognition of Russian control of the occupied eastern Ukrainian region of Luhansk and parts of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Kherson, all of which lie on the frontline.
It is unclear where the lines of demarcation would be, and whether Washington is demanding that Ukraine cede all of the land currently occupied by Russia in the regions of Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk and Kherson.
Here is a map of Ukraine in April 2025 by my colleague Alex Croft.
Kremlin blames Russian general killing on Ukraine
17:54
,
Bryony Gooch
The Kremlin has pointed the finger at Kyiv after Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik was killed by an explosive device placed in his car in Balashikha just outside Moscow.
Moskalik was deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff of the Russian armed forces.
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told a state TV reporter: “The Kyiv regime once again simply shows its true nature. The Kyiv regime continues to be involved in terrorist activity on the territory of our country.”
“It shows once again that, despite the peace talks, we must be on guard and understand the nature of this regime.”
'Reasons to believe' Ukraine involved in Russian general killing, says Russian foreign ministry
17:46
,
Bryony Gooch
“There are reasons to believe that Ukrainian special services were involved in the killing”, said Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova.
Russia’s investigative committee said that Lieutenant General Yaroslav Moskalik, a deputy head of the main operational department in the General Staff of the Russian armed forces, was killed by an explosive device placed in his car in Balashikha just outside Moscow.
Ms Zakharova continued: “If the investigation confirms the Ukrainian trace in this case, this will once again demonstrate to the world community the barbaric and treacherous nature of the Kyiv regime, which is betting on an escalation of military confrontation with Russia and irresponsibly ignoring constructive proposals aimed at finding a peaceful solution to the conflict”.
The spokesperson offered no evidence of Ukraine’s involvement in her speech.
In pictures: Mourners attend makeshift grave to teenager killed in Kyiv attack
17:29
,
Bryony Gooch
Ballistic missile that killed Kyiv civilians had components manufactured in US, says Zelensky
17:14
,
Bryony Gooch
President Zelensky has claimed that in the analysis of a missile that killed civilians in Kyiv, at least 116 components from the weapon were sourced from other countries, with most of them “unfortunately” manufactured by American companies.
As Trump envoy Steve Witkoff attended talks with Putin on Friday, Zelensky emphasised the importance of collective efforts in defence on X.
“In today’s world, any war can very quickly draw in a wide range of actors, and any country that becomes a victim of aggression is never defending itself against a single entity, but against a group of accomplices.
“That is why it is so important for defense to be based on collective efforts as well.”
He continued that Ukraine was grateful to “everyone around the world who is helping us protect the lives of our people, supplying us with air defense systems and missiles for them.
“We thank all those who continue to maintain pressure on Russia for this war – and on its accomplices. We insist that Russia must immediately and unconditionally agree to a full ceasefire.”
He continued that Ukraine had agreed to President Trump’s proposed ceasefire and offered to extend the ceasefire that could have been established on Easter, even proposing to Russia to halt strikes on civilian targets, which he claimed Russia rejected.
Kyiv bombing injured 90 with 30 remaining hospitalised with 'severe injuries and amputations'
17:03
,
Bryony Gooch
President Zelensky confirmed that the attack on Kyiv injured nearly 90 people, with more than 30 in hospital, as well as killing 12 people.
Posting on X, he said: “On that day, in Kyiv, the Russians, unfortunately, killed 12 of our people and nearly 90 people were injured.
“More than 30 people remain hospitalized, including those with severe injuries and amputations.”
He said an investigation into the details about the ballistic missile was ongoing and rescue operations had been completed at the site of one of Russia’s strikes from Thursday.
Zelensky slams insufficient pressure on Russia and North Korea
16:52
,
Bryony Gooch
Volodymyr Zelensky has called for more pressure on Russia and North Korea as US envoy Steve Witkoff went to Russia for talks with Putin.
In his latest post on X, Zelensky again stated it was “clear” the ballistic missile that killed 12 people in Kyiv was from North Korea.
He continued: “The lack of sufficient pressure on Russia allows them to import such missiles and other weapons – and to use them here, in Europe.
“The lack of sufficient pressure on North Korea and its accomplices enables, in particular, the production of such ballistic missiles.
“The missile that killed civilians in Kyiv contained at least 116 components sourced from other countries – and most of them, unfortunately, were manufactured by American companies.”
Talks between Russia and US bring countries 'closer together' says Kremlin aid
16:46
,
Bryony Gooch
Talks between Vladimir Putin and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff, have reportedly brought Russia and the US closer together, said Kremlin foreign policy aide Yuri Ushakov.
He told reporters: "This conversation allowed Russia and the United States to further bring their positions closer together, not only on Ukraine but also on a number of other international issues.”
"As for the Ukrainian crisis itself, the discussion focused in particular on the possibility of resuming direct negotiations between representatives of the Russian Federation and Ukraine."
Why Zelensky may fear being dragged into a boxing match with Kyiv’s mayor
16:35
,
Alex Croft
The Independent’s chief international correspondent Bel Trew writes:
The bitter feud between Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and the powerful mayor of his country’s capital, Vitali Klitschko, has been no secret.
Klitschko, a former heavyweight boxer, has in the past publicly accused the president of Ukraine of having autocratic tendencies, even saying in 2023 Zelensky was pushing Ukraine to become “no different from Russia, where everything depends on the whim of one man”.
Some believe Klitschko, who leads the opposition political party UDAR (which means "punch" in Ukrainian), harbours presidential ambitions himself.
Watch: US special envoy Witkoff meets Putin in Moscow to discuss Ukraine
16:22
,
Alex Croft
Kremlin aide: Talks between Putin and Trump envoy 'constructive'
16:06
,
Alex Croft
Talks between Vladimir Putin and Trump envoy Steve Witkoff have been described as “constructive and useful” by a Kremlin aide.
The three-hour-long discussions brought the two sides closer on the issue of Ukraine, Yuri Ushakov said.
The two sides discussed renewing direct negotiations between Russia and Ukraine, he added.
Two civilians killed and one injured in Ukrainian drone attack in Belgorod
15:55
,
Alex Croft
Two civilians were killed and one critically injured following a Ukrainian drone attack on a car in Russia's Belgorod region on Friday, local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov has said.
Ukraine recently staged a small incursion into the Belgorod region, a small distance south from the Kursk region.
The Independent cannot independently verify the report.
Watch: Trump insists he is 'putting pressure' on Putin behind scenes amid claims his Ukraine peace plan favors Russia
15:40
,
Alex Croft
Mapped: Territory Ukraine could lose as details of US peace deal proposal revealed
15:23
,
Alex Croft
The US has laid out its “final” proposals for peace in Ukraine, making clear the territory which it says Kyiv must cede to Moscow in order to achieve peace.
A Washington team has been engaging in intense shuttle diplomacy, looking to force through a deal between Ukraine and Russia as progress towards peace appeared to be slowing.
During talks in Paris and London over the past 10 days, US officials passed on the proposals to their European and Ukrainian counterparts - who responded with their own set of proposals, laying bare stark differences in their position.
The Independent has mapped the territory Ukraine stands to lose here:
Trump describes Ukraine peace talks as 'very fragile'
15:04
,
Alex Croft
White House correspondent Andrew Feinberg reports from the South Lawn of the presidential home:
Speaking from the White House’s South Lawn shortly before boarding his helicopter, Donald Trump has described the Russia-Ukraine peace negotiations as “very fragile”.
"I think Russia and Ukraine, I think they're coming along. We hope, very fragile,” he said.
He said the US aims to save “5,000 young Ukrainian and Russian men” each week - which he adds would be a “big honour”.
“I think we're pretty close. No deadline. I just want to do it as fast as possible,” the US president continued.
“None of this stuff should have happened. This should have been taken place by Biden. It should have been fixed by Biden, but he couldn't nor did he come close to doing it."
Kyiv mayor Klitschko defends claims that Ukraine may have to cede land
14:45
,
Alex Croft
Kyiv mayor Vitali Klitschko has said he “did not say anything new” after angering officials with his claims that Ukraine may have to cede land in a peace deal.
"It is very regrettable that, as we can see, this scenario is quite possible. A lot of world politicians and media are talking about it today," Mr Klitschko said on Telegram.
“In the interview, I stressed that the Ukrainian people will not accept Russian occupation of their country."
In an interview with the BBC, the mayor had earlier said: "One of the scenarios is… to give up territory. It's not fair. But for the peace, temporary peace, maybe it can be a solution, temporary.”
This drew criticism from Serhi Leshchenko, an adviser to Volodymyr Zelensky who said: “I think it’s counterproductive to make any comments on this topic, since we have no official proposal on the table regarding this.”
UN refugee agency reduces support for displaced Ukrainians due to US funding cut
14:31
,
Alex Croft
The UN’s refugee agency has had to reduce support for displaced people in Ukraine due to the blaming the suspension of US aid and broader donor cuts, it said on Friday.
Across the world, humanitarian agencies are grappling with the impact of U.S. President Donald Trump's decision to withdraw foreign aid.
"Some of the programmes that we previously used to implement with the generous support of U.S. funding are on hold," Karolina Lindholm Billing, UNHCR Representative in Ukraine told reporters via a videolink.
They include psycho-social support, which is needed on a huge scale, emergency shelter material and cash assistance, the agency said.
The loss of U.S. aid, which last year, accounted for 40% of UNHCR funding has had the most impact, but other Western donors have also retreated as they prioritise defence spending.
As a result, the agency said its appeal for $3.32 billion (£2.52 billion) to support 8.2 million people in Ukraine was only 25 per cent funded.
In pictures: Putin welcomes Witkoff to Kremlin
14:09
,
Jane Dalton
Ukraine adamant it will not cede territory to Russia
14:05
,
Jane Dalton
Ukraine was adamant last week that it would never agree that Russia would own any of its territory and that it would remain a sovereign nation, officials say.
Foreign Ministry spokesman Heorhy Tykhy said that government representatives reconfirmed the following three points in talks with UK, US and EU representatives in London last week: "First, Ukraine will never recognise any of its parts as belonging to Russia.
“Second, Ukraine will never agree to any restrictions on its armed forces, defence capability defence industry or military assistance from its partners.
“And third, no third country has the right to veto Ukraine's choices of alliances and unions."
Donald Trump has told Time magazine that "Crimea will stay with Russia".
Blast was 'terror attack', Moscow says
13:56
,
Jane Dalton
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova described Lt Gen Moskalik's killing as a terror attack.
It’s the second such attack on a top Russian military officer in four months.
In December, Lieutenant General Igor Kirillov died when a bomb hidden on an electric scooter parked outside his apartment building exploded as he left for his office.
The Russian authorities blamed Ukraine for the killing of Lt Gen Kirillov, and Ukraine's security agency acknowledged that it was behind that attack.
Lt Gen Kirillov was the chief of Russia's Radiation, Biological and Chemical Protection Forces, the special troops tasked with protecting the military from the enemy's use of nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and ensuring operations in a contaminated environment. His assistant also died in the attack.
In pictures: Scene of deadly blast
13:53
,
Jane Dalton
Watch: Flames rage from car after Putin general dies in bombing
13:37
,
Jane Dalton
Trump: 'Crimea will stay with Russia'
13:10
,
Alex Croft
As US proposals lay out Washington’s vision for peace in Ukraine, comments have emerged from Donald Trump about the fate of the Crimean peninsula.
“Crimea will stay with Russia,” he told Time in an interview marking his first 100 days in power.
He also blamed Kyiv for starting the war, saying:“I think what caused the war to start was when they started talking about joining NATO.”
The US proposals for peace in Ukraine stipulate that Washington will legally recognise Crimea as under Russian control - a topic which last week provoked a war of words between Mr Trump and Volodymyr Zelensky, who reiterated that it was Ukrainian territory.
Trump envoy meets Putin in Moscow
13:04
,
Alex Croft
Donald Trump’s envoy has met with Vladimir Putin on Friday, at what Trump has said is a key moment in diplomacy to end the war in Ukraine.
Mr Witkoff has emerged as Washington's key interlocutor with Mr Putin as the US president pushes for a deal to end the war, and has already held three long meetings with the Kremlin leader.
Video published by the Kremlin showed Mr Witkoff and Mr Putin shaking hands and exchanging pleasantries before sitting down on opposite sides of a white oval table.
Mr Putin was accompanied by his foreign policy adviser Yuri Ushakov and investment envoy Kirill Dmitriev.
Giving up territory a decision 'for Ukraine' insists No 10
12:46
,
Alex Croft
The Independent’s Whitehall editor Kate Devlin writes:
No 10 has insisted that Keir Starmer believes it is “for Ukraine” to decide to give up territory in a bid to end the war with Russia.
The mayor of Kyiv, Vitali Klitschko, has said Ukraine may have to give up land, amid growing pressure from President Donald Trump to accept territorial concessions.
Downing Street also said that all options remain "on the table" when it comes to potential peacekeeping support for Ukraine after any ceasefire.
Asked whether troops would only be deployed if the US offered a "backstop" to a peace deal, the PM’s spokesman said he would not give a running commentary on talks, but added: "As the Prime Minister has said in recent days, we're working closely with the US. We're all focused on ending the bloodshed and securing a lasting peace for Ukraine."
Watch: Putin aide Lavrov accuses Europe of 'reviving Nazi views' over Ukraine
12:41
,
Alex Croft
Who was the Russian general killed in a car bombing?
12:21
,
Alex Croft
Yaroslav Moskalik was killed in a car bombing near eastern Moscow, Russian authorities have announced.
But who was the senior ranking military officer?
Mr Moskalik, who held the rank of major general, had participated in several high-level Russian delegations, according to defence ministry bulletins and media reports.
He joined the Russian contingent in a meeting in October 2015 of the Normandy Format, a group made up of teams from Germany, Russia, Ukraine and France who oversaw the Minsk agreements designed to end the war between Ukraine and Russian-backed separatist forces that broke out in 2014.
Moskalik represented the army's General Staff at the negotiations alongside Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and Kremlin aide Yuri Ushakov, according to the Kremlin website.
Russia's RBC newspaper listed Moskalik as a participant in the security subgroup in the Minsk talks.
More than 100 drones launched by Russia overnight, says air force
12:11
,
Alex Croft
Ukrainian air defences shot down 41 out of 103 Shahed-type drones and other drones launched by Russia overnight, the air force said.
Forty drones disappeared from radars without causing damage, the statement said according to The Kyiv Independent.
Drones which disappear from radars are often decoys, which Russia launches alongside real drones to confuse and overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses.
Senior Russian military officer killed in car bombing, say Moscow authorities
11:49
,
Alex Croft
A senior Russian military officer was killed in a car bombing near Moscow, Russia's Investigative Committee said.
It named the officer as Yaroslav Moskalik, deputy head of the Main Operations Directorate of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and said it had opened a criminal case into the incident.
"According to available data, the explosion occurred as a result of the detonation of a homemade explosive device filled with destructive elements," the Investigative Committee said in a statement.
The statement did not say who might be behind the incident. Several high-ranking Russian military figures have been assassinated since the start of the war in Ukraine in operations blamed by Moscow on Kyiv.
Sam Kiley | Why Crimea matters so much to Putin – and now Trump
11:44
,
Alex Croft
The Independent’s world affairs editor Sam Kiley writes:
Crimea is footnoted in British history for the Earl of Cardigan and his disastrous leading of the Charge of the Light Brigade. To Vladimir Putin it’s where history itself must turn.
Donald Trump, taking an 18th-century might-is-right approach, has said that the peninsula was captured without a fight by Russia from Ukrai
