Top aides to former US President Donald Trump, Senator Marco Rubio and ambassador Steve Witkoff, are in Paris for a new round of talks with European leaders aimed at brokering an end to the war in Ukraine. The discussions, scheduled from April 16 to 18, mark a shift in diplomatic dynamics, bringing Europe more directly into a process it has long been sidelined from despite being deeply affected by the ongoing war.
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Steve Witkoff will travel to Paris, France, 16–18 April for talks with European counterparts to advance President Trump’s goal to end the Russia–Ukraine war and stop the bloodshed,” a statement from the Trump-aligned delegation read.
“While in Paris, they will also discuss ways to advance shared interests in the region.”
The only way forward is mutual cessation. We are ready to stop the fighting, but not to surrender
Until now, peace initiatives have largely excluded European governments, even as leaders across the continent have insisted they have a vital interest in shaping any post-war security framework. The new initiative appears to offer Europe a larger seat at the table, though critics caution that the talks are still heavily driven by US political agendas.
US and Ukraine Nearing Agreement on Strategic Minerals
On the economic front, First Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko announced that Ukraine and the United States have made “substantial progress” on a strategic minerals deal. The agreement is part of a broader initiative by Trump to restructure US involvement in Ukraine and to recover part of the military assistance already provided.
“Our technical teams have worked very thoroughly together on the agreement, and there is significant progress,” Svyrydenko said in a post on X (formerly Twitter). “Our legal staff has adjusted several items within the draft agreement.”
She confirmed that both countries have agreed to sign a memorandum in the near future to formally document that progress.
Deputy Ukrainian Economy Minister Taras Kachka echoed her comments during a televised interview: “A final document won’t be signed this week. There is a lot of work to be done because the ideas included in the agreement by the U.S. side need to be developed further.”
The deal is politically sensitive. Trump has reportedly pitched the agreement not only as a tool for future investment, but also as a mechanism to offset what he views as “excessive” past aid to Ukraine. While no repayment will be demanded for past US military support, the minerals deal is seen as an attempt to tie future support to mutual economic benefit.
However, President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly rejected the notion of treating US aid as debt. “Assistance is not a loan,” he previously stated. “It was given in defense of democracy and our shared values.”
According to Bloomberg News, US officials have recently revised their estimates of total assistance to Ukraine since 2022, lowering the figure from $300 billion to around $100 billion.
Last month, the Trump camp proposed an updated version of the minerals deal, which reportedly offers no security guarantees for Ukraine, but requires that revenues from the extraction of natural resources by both state-owned and private enterprises be deposited in a joint investment fund.
“It will create opportunities for investment and development in Ukraine and establish conditions for tangible economic growth for both Ukraine and the United States,” Svyrydenko added, though she offered no specific terms. The deal would still require approval by Ukraine’s parliament.
Palm Sunday Missile Strike Kills 34 in Sumy
On Sunday, April 13, Russia launched a deadly missile strike on the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing at least 34 people and injuring over 100 more. The attack occurred at around 10:20 am local time, coinciding with Palm Sunday celebrations, and is the deadliest civilian assault in Ukraine this year.
Two Iskander-M ballistic missiles struck the city center, targeting areas where residents had gathered for religious services. Among those killed was Olena Kohut, a celebrated organist with the Sumy Regional Philharmonic Orchestra.
The attack caused widespread devastation, destroying buildings, vehicles, and a trolleybus filled with civilians. Local authorities have declared three days of mourning.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky condemned the attack as “a terrorist act” and invited Donald Trump to visit the site and witness the destruction firsthand.
“This is what Russian peace looks like,” Zelensky said. “We need the world to see the cost of indifference and the danger of delay.”
In response, Trump commented, “It was a horrible thing,” adding, “I was told they made a mistake. But I think it’s a horrible thing.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz denounced the strike, writing on social media: “These attacks show just what Russia’s supposed readiness for peace is worth.”
Friedrich Merz, leader of Germany’s CDU party and Chancellor-in-waiting, was more direct: “This was clearly a war crime. There is no greater example of perfidy: a targeted and planned war crime.”
The strike follows a pattern of Russian attacks on civilian areas in recent months, underscoring the continued escalation despite diplomatic efforts.
Ukraine Retaliates against Missile Brigades
In what officials are calling a retaliatory strike, Ukrainian drones targeted Russia’s 112th Missile Brigade in the city of Shuya, Ivanovo Oblast, on April 16. According to independent Russian media outlet Astra, the brigade had participated in the Palm Sunday strike on Sumy.
The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed it intercepted seven drones over Ivanovo Oblast, and while local authorities reported no fatalities, two people were injured and received medical attention.
Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed a separate drone strike on April 15 against the 448th Missile Brigade in Russia’s Kursk Oblast—another unit allegedly involved in the Sumy attack.
The operation, coordinated by Ukraine’s Unmanned Systems Forces, Special Operations Forces, and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), is part of a broader strategy to hold Russian units accountable for attacks on civilians.
Ukrainian intelligence believes cluster munitions were used in the Sumy strike, which would constitute a grave breach of international humanitarian law when deployed in civilian-populated areas.
Russia Breaches Energy Ceasefire over 30 Times, Ukraine Says
Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry says Russia has violated a partial energy ceasefire more than 30 times since its implementation on March 25. The agreement was supposed to protect critical infrastructure from further attacks.
“Detailed information on each of these violations is regularly shared with partner countries and international organizations,” ministry spokesperson Heorhii Tykhyi said on April 16.
Three additional strikes occurred in the past 24 hours, hitting transformers in Mykolaiv and Kherson oblasts, as well as a power transmission line in Poltava Oblast.
The energy ceasefire was reportedly brokered during a phone call between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin on March 18. In exchange, the US agreed to support Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports by easing maritime insurance restrictions and improving access to ports and payment systems. Despite the agreement, Kyiv claims Russia continues to target the power grid, ignoring its own commitments.
Earlier, a broader ceasefire proposal brokered in Jeddah on March 11 called for a full 30-day halt in hostilities. Ukraine agreed, but Russia rejected it, demanding an end to all foreign military aid to Kyiv, a condition Ukraine called unacceptable.
“The only way forward is mutual cessation,” said a senior Ukrainian defense official. “We are ready to stop the fighting, but not to surrender.”
Russia has repeatedly used missile and drone strikes to target Ukraine’s energy infrastructure since the beginning of its full-scale invasion. In response, Ukraine has launched long-range drone operations deep into Russian territory, targeting oil and gas facilities.
Compiled by Ana Dumbadze
