After weeks of Kyiv calling for an Easter ceasefire, Russia on Thursday evening announced its own between April 11 and April 12 – without acknowledging Ukraine’s earlier appeals. A positive step, nonetheless.
And after Russia’s recent setbacks following the loss of Starlink, Ukraine appears to be regaining the initiative, with some advantages in drone development.
Oleksandr Syrsky, Ukraine’s commander-in-chief, said Ukrainian forces are “breaking Russia’s backbone” and that Ukrainian drones are inflicting record losses on Russian forces, while Russian sources have voiced concerns over Kyiv’s new AI drones.
Moscow is also reportedly considering, in a historically rare move, canceling the May 9 WWII Victory Day parade amid fears of Ukrainian strikes, as attacks on Russian oil hubs are becoming daily – a trend that Kyiv’s former spy chief and now Presidential Offiice head, Kyrylo Budanov, says may shape Moscow’s approach in upcoming talks – talks that are delayed again by Iran, according to President Volodymyr Zelensky.
Meanwhile, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) said it uncovered a spy unit responsible for managing weapons caches for contract killings, while the foreign ministry introduced new diplomatic license plates, breaking a historic tie to Moscow
On the economy front, Ukraine’s Asvio signed a deal to absorb the insolvent Motor-Bank, whose former owner – once the main shareholder of aircraft engine maker Motor Sich – is now charged with treason in Ukraine.
Hungary, Middle East, and Zelensky’s bold comment to Trump
In Hungary, more damaging reports emerge ahead of weekend elections: The top diplomat is now being accused of sharing Kyiv’s EU accession documents with Moscow, while another leaked call claims Budapest offered Tehran assistance after the 2024 pager explosions.
Zelensky also dismissed US President JD Vance’s campaigning for Hungary’s Viktor Orban as “not helpful” and warned the world that Russia reportedly provided intel to Iran on US bases – in addition to saying that he is one of the few in the world who told US President Donald Trump in his face that he is “not always right.”
Now the question is – will Trump do the right thing and extend the Russia sanctions on April 11, after the Iran debacle?
And to wrap it up, the situation in the Middle East remains uncertain. Tehran condemned Israel’s 100 strikes in 10 minutes on Beirut, leaving the fate of the Strait of Hormuz uncertain, while US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth now threatens Tehran to surrender all enriched uranium – or face consequences.
The UK and Norway also say they tracked a Russian submarine near critical undersea cables, just as Moscow claims Kyiv is plotting Arctic attacks. Sounds familiar?
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