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Ukraine and the US signed an agreement on minerals: what is known

Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko showed a photo of the signing of the Agreement on the Establishment of the US-Ukraine Reconstruction Investment Fund.

The agreement still needs to be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada - without this, the agreement will not be implemented

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Ukraine and the United States have signed an agreement on minerals .
obozrevatel.com/ukr/entity/red…

It provides for the creation of a joint investment fund, which will be replenished from the development of Ukrainian subsoil.

According to the updated text of the agreement, Ukraine retains ownership of all subsoil and does not have to repay old "debts" .

The agreement complies with the Ukrainian Constitution and does not change the European integration course.
- However, the document still needs to be ratified by the Verkhovna Rada - without this, the agreement will not be implemented

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"Tanks or pensions": The Economist wrote about Putin's dilemma that could change the course of the war

Russia's economy , which until recently showed signs of stability, is rapidly losing ground under the influence of internal and external factors.

- The Goldman Sachs High-Frequency Index shows a sharp slowdown in Russia's annual economic growth from about 5% at the end of last year to almost zero
economist.com/finance-and-ec… 2/
The Russian government, despite the caution of official statements, acknowledges the existence of problems . In early April, the central bank stated that recently "a number of sectors have recorded a decline in production due to a sharp drop in demand."

According to the publication, after the start of the full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, economists predicted a drop in Russia's annual GDP of up to 15%. In fact, that year there was a decrease of 1.4%, and in the following years there was a growth of 4.1% in 2023 and 4.3% in 2024.

Journalists identified three main reasons for the slowdown in annual economic growth in Russia

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ISW explained what is behind Putin's statement about a "truce" on May 9 and what the Kremlin is seeking

obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics-n… 2/
Russian dictator Vladimir Putin continues to refuse any ceasefire against Ukraine except on terms that facilitate his military efforts.

So his announcement of yet another unilateral “truce” – this time in honor of the Soviet and Russian military holiday of May 9 – is yet another attempt by the Kremlin
obozrevatel.com/entity/kreml/

- to hold legitimate negotiations hostage in order to secure further concessions from Kyiv and Washington.

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Putin would like to cut off Ukraine from the Black Sea, but found himself in a hopeless situation: interview with Seleznev 2/
The activation of the Russian occupation army in the Pokrovsky
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and Kramatorsk
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directions may be associated with the transfer of reserves released in the Kursk region ,
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and is largely related to the enemy's plans to completely occupy the Donetsk region by May 9

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Fact check: It wasn’t ‘in jest.’ Here are 53 times Trump said he’d end Ukraine war within 24 hours or before taking office

cnn.com/2025/04/25/pol… 2/
When President Donald Trump was reminded in an interview with Time magazine


- this week that he had said he would end the Russian war on Ukraine on “day one,” he claimed he hadn’t been speaking literally or seriouslytime.com/7280114/donald…

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Russia does not have the military power to seize Ukraine: ISW explained why there is no "big concession" that Trump is talking about 2/
US President Donald Trump recently called Russia's alleged abandonment of plans to occupy all of Ukraine a "very significant concession."


- However,
the Kremlin launched a full-scale invasion precisely for this purpose, and subsequent years of bloody war have demonstrated Russia's inability to achieve this goalobozrevatel.com/ukr/person/don…

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Trump will not be able to jump off, because dictator Putin will not let him out of this situation. Interview with the Immortal

Last week in Paris, the United States presented its proposal for a settlement of the war to Ukraine and its European partners and awaited their response at talks in London.

That meeting of high-ranking representatives of Ukraine, Europe, and the United States, which was supposed to present a joint plan for a peaceful settlement, never took place.

- This is not surprising, because the "Trump plan", the presentation of which had been awaited for a long time, as it turned out, resembles more of a Putin-style "comprehension of the goals of the "SVO" than a list of mutual concessions.

The scale of this demand shows that Trump’s negotiator Steve Witkoff has apparently already made a deal with Putin during the talks in St. Petersburg, and that the US is now trying to impose it on the Europeans and Ukraine.

What the Kremlin is demanding today, and which, regrettably, the US supports, is nothing more than rewriting the internationally recognized borders of Europe for the Russian dictator Putin.

Of course, neither Europe nor Ukraine will agree to such steps. At a press conference in Kyiv on the eve of the announced meeting in London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that recognizing Crimea as Russian is out of the question.

One way or another, but now the question arises - what will happen next?

Will the US, as it threatened the day before, withdraw from the negotiation process, recognizing this as the first foreign policy defeat of US President Donald Trump, or will they continue to "twist the hands" of Ukraine and Europe?

Ukrainian diplomat and politician Roman Bezsmertny shared his thoughts on these and other relevant issues in an exclusive interview. 2/
The scale of this demand shows that Trump’s negotiator Steve Witkoff has apparently already made a deal with Putin during the talks in St. Petersburg, and that the US is now trying to impose it on the Europeans and Ukraine.

What the Kremlin is demanding today, and which, regrettably, the US supports, is nothing more than rewriting the internationally recognized borders of Europe for the Russian dictator Putin.

- Of course, neither Europe nor Ukraine will agree to such steps.

At a press conference in #Kyiv on the eve of the announced meeting in London, Ukrainian President Volodymyr @ZelenskyyUa said that recognizing Crimea as Russian is out of the question.

One way or another, but now the question arises - what will happen next?

Will the US, as it threatened the day before, withdraw from the negotiation process, recognizing this as the first foreign policy defeat of US President Donald Trump ,
obozrevatel.com/ukr/person/don…

- or will they continue to "twist the hands" of Ukraine and Europe?

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Today, Friedrich Merz says he wants Europe to gain complete "independence" from the US, and has put forward the idea of ​​creating a new European defense union to replace NATO, including nuclear cooperation with France and the UK.

He is hawkish on Russia and, apparently, intends to speak out against Trump just as decisively.

obozrevatel.com/ukr/novosti-mi… 2/
The Christian Democratic Union (CDU-CSU) and the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD)
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have reached a coalition agreement, which was concluded against the backdrop of strong pressure on German politicians to quickly form a new government that can confront the historic challenges of US President Donald @realDonaldTrump trade war and the military threat from Vladimir Putin’s Russia.

Friedrich Merz is likely to be elected as German Chancellor on May 6.

The coalition agreement is expected to be signed the day before. This is good news for Ukraine, as the coalition that Merz has assembled has every chance of agreeing on a much more active line of support for Ukraine and strengthening European security than Germany has managed in recent years

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Rubio canceled his trip to London because Zelensky did not want to recognize Crimea as Russian, - CNN

cnn.com/2025/04/23/eur… 2/
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will not attend talks in London on Wednesday aimed at working toward an end to Russia’s war in Ukraine,

as Kyiv signaled it would reject a key detail of the Trump administration’s proposal to end the three-year conflictcnn.com/world/europe/u…

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The explosion of the Crimean Bridge on the morning of October 8, 2022 was a carefully calculated special operation by the Security Service of Ukraine .

Apparently, none of the eight defendants currently on trial by the occupiers actually consciously participated in the sabotage and did not know what it was all about.

obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics-n… 2/
The BBC ,
bbc.com/ukrainian/arti…
citing its own sources, in particular in the SBU, reported how a cargo containing explosives – construction film in rolls – ended up on the Kerch Bridge . The DAF truck transporting it flew into the air. The flames spread to the fuel tanks of a railway train passing along a parallel railway branch of the bridge.

As a result, two spans of the roadway collapsed, and the railway tracks were damaged over a section over a kilometer long

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Putin may "forget" about Kherson and Zaporizhia if he is given a "gift" on May 9. Intervie2w with Ivan Stupak

war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/putin-mozh… 2/
One of the main reasons for Russia's aggression against Ukraine 

since the very beginning of the war, since 2014, was an attempt to divert the attention of the world community from the annexation of Crimea.obozrevatel.com/topic/vojna-v-…

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#RussialsATerroristState rejects all US proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine: ISW ( @TheStudyofWar ) explained what is behind the latest statements
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Russia continues to pretend that it is open to talks with the United States on a ceasefire in Ukraine.
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However, recent statements by both a number of Russian officials and the Kremlin's main propagandists indicate that this is not the case:

- Moscow is not interested in any agreements that do not fully take into account all of the aggressor's ultimatums to Ukraine, from political to security and territorial.

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Trump has several "paths" with different outcomes for himself, Ukraine, and the world. The wrong decision will lead to global war.

- Interview with Bezsmertny ( Roman Bezsmertny, Ukrainian politician and diplomat )

obozrevatel.com/ukr/politics-n… 2/
Donald Trump promised to end the war in Ukraine "as soon as possible," but was faced with the fact that Russian dictator Vladimir Putin refused him even a ceasefire.

The Kremlin is technically stalling and is intensifying attacks against Ukraine.

For example, on April 13, two Russian missiles hit the city of Sumy, killing 34 people, many of whom were going to Palm Sunday services, and before that, there was a strike on Kryvyi Rih, which killed 20 people.

Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw @sikorskiradek noted that the Trump team must understand that the Kremlin is "mocking their goodwill

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Kenneth Gregg voulanteer in #Ukraine

16.04.2025 update which will be VERY positive.

Rarely have I woken up to so many messages and emails from my Ukrainian journalist colleagues, soldiers, officers and politicians.

- I have simply received a birthday present a day early. Let's get to the good news and I will start by quoting one of the journalists;

  ” This has been a tough week for Ukraine, but not because of the failing Ryzka spring offensive that parts of the media keep harping on. The recent pattern suggests that Moscow is struggling to maintain enough combat power to face the Ukrainian back-ups that are currently underway 2/
Even the Russians’ attempts to avenge the Kursk campaign by pressing and attacking in an attempt to break the border in the Sumy district mostly fail miserably.

At the same time, they lack the ability to bring in reinforcements on other front sections, which would be more important for Putin’s remaining hopes of partial victories.

In short, Moscow’s winter campaign never really ended, and it is unlikely that the fighting this spring will dramatically change its character.

To be honest, it no longer makes sense to describe Putin’s military efforts in classical terms, with relatively clearly defined campaigns trying to achieve a specific material goal.”

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The Kremlin is creating information conditions to demand from Ukraine territories that were not occupied: ISW ( @TheStudyofWar ) assessed what is behind the statements

war.obozrevatel.com/ukr/kreml-stvo… 2/
Two top Russian officials, members of the inner circle of Russian dictator Vladimir Putin ,
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recently made a series of statements regarding Russia's demands for

"any peace agreement." These demands include "neutrality," "demilitarization" and "denazification" of Ukraine, a change of Ukrainian government, and "an end to discrimination against Russian speakers."

They also demanded that Moscow recognize Russia's illegal annexation of several Ukrainian regions

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We’re Officially in a Constitutional Crisis

—Here Are 3 Ways to Fight Back

Trump just defied the Supreme Court.
If we don’t act now, we may lose democracy for good.

By: Don Knight
substack.com/@themidnightma…
Apr 15
----

It’s official—we are now in a constitutional crisis.

Today,
Trump crossed a line many of us feared was coming.

He openly defied the Supreme Court—not once, but twice.

First,
he refused to reinstate the Associated Press in the White House despite a Supreme Court ruling ordering their return.

Then,
in a meeting with El Salvador’s president Nayib Bukele, he signaled that he would not comply with another Supreme Court order:
the return of Mr. Garcia, a man with no criminal record who was wrongfully deported and is now being held in a brutal prison camp in El Salvador. 2/
These aren’t isolated incidents—they are stress tests on the rule of law.

Trump is clearly testing his ability to position himself above the courts, above the Constitution, and is effectively declaring himself the dictator of the United States.

The mask came off completely in the Oval Office today.

In addition to outright defying the Supreme Court, the level of gaslighting was staggering.

Stephen Miller told Trump—on camera— that the Supreme Court had unanimously ruled in his favor, falsely claiming that Mr. Garcia does not need to return to the United States.
newsweek.com/trump-defiant-…

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russians are using the entire range of equipment:
the Defense Forces spoke about the "stablely difficult" situation in the Pokrov direction

The situation on this section of the front remains consistently difficult, the Russians are currently not making any advances there, but they are trying very hard to carry out assault operations.

"Everything is being used there: heavy equipment, light equipment, small infantry groups, a large number of drones, attempts to protect the transportation of ammunition using anti-drone nets, and fiber-optic FPV - in short, there is absolutely a lot of stuff there," said Viktor Tregubov, spokesman for the Khortytsia operational-strategic grouping of troops.

For example, for comparison, in the Limansk direction the enemy uses more light equipment, but in Pokrovsk, "everything that is there, everything goes," the military man noted.
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According to Tregubov, near #Pokrovsk, the Russian army is trying very hard to launch an offensive, at least in the main directions.

This is the territory west of the city and to the east (the Pokrovsk-Konstantynivka highway) - there the Russians have resumed high intensity.

"It is not as high as it was in February, but it is still very high and the highest, in principle, than anywhere," the spokesman noted, adding that the Pokrovsky direction remains one of the key ones for Russians

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Kenneth Gregg voulanteer in #Ukraine
----
14.04.2025 update.

"I think the bombing of Sumy was a mistake" says Trumpet.(@realDonaldTrump

- Strange statement from a person who has the world's best intelligence organization at his disposal.

Listen here,
Trumpet, the bombing took place 40 km from the border in a war zone.

The Ryz have 24/7 surveillance drones over the city of Sumy at high altitude so they knew EXACTLY what they were doing. 2/
- You don't have to be an intelligence agent to be able to realize this, so Trumpet, remove your blinders and come out yourself with what the Kremlin has on you.

That way you can save a little of your self-esteem.

You should know that your actions have now made no Ukrainian believe you anymore, except for those who are pro-Ryz.

No one trusts you anymore to keep the sanctions up even though you signed a decree to extend them by 1 year.

This is because you withdraw most of the decrees you sign or move the deadline.

Now you have also demanded the right to use the gas pipeline that runs from Sudzha through Ukraine.

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"Sanctions without surprises": Russia comments on Trump's extension of restrictions

Donald Trump extended sanctions
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against Russia for another year, maintaining pressure within the course set under Biden.

Moscow reacted calmly to Trump's extension of sanctions, calling it a political gesture without novelty.

They emphasized that Russia has long lived under restrictions and is not going to change its course.

Details 2/
This was announced by the press secretary of the Russian President Dmitry Peskov, and the deputy of the Russian State Duma Alexey Chepa emphasized that such a decision by Donald Trump was quite expected.

According to Chepa,
the United States has been systematically applying sanctions pressure on Russia for years.

He emphasized that the history of economic and political restrictions imposed by Washington dates back to the 1970s, and that sanctions have never been completely lifted during any period of relations.

Moreover,

according to him, with each new president, the general line of policy of deterring "mighty Russia" remains.

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Update by Kenneth Gregg voulanteer in #Ukraine
250412
----

Let me start with Syrskyi's claim that the Russians have started their massive offensive.

It depends on what you mean by offensive, if you mean the previous definition which is a massive fast advancing attack then no Russian offensive has probably started.

If you define it as a slow and steady 24/7 attack and in many places then YES then the Russian spring offensive has started. 2/
What the ryzka propaganda wants to achieve with this type of offensive is to be able to continuously report on newly occupied areas (even if it is only a small forest belt or field) and in this way influence public opinion, for example Donald Trump and his administration.

The ryzka propaganda has previously engaged in this tactic so if we are to believe everything they say they should now be in #Lviv.

Another thing that has been very problematic is the placement of the mobilized.

We have used only 30% of those who have received mobilization documents.

When you are mobilized you have to wait for the actual call-up order, until it comes you are just in the reserve.

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Have things reached the point where it’s time to leave the U.S.?

By David Kirp
April 12, 2025

sfchronicle.com/opinion/openfo…

(The Statue of Liberty, seen at sunrise in February, symbolically welcomed millions of immigrants to America since it was dedicated in 1886.
Currently, thousands of Americans are contemplating leaving the country because of President Donald Trump.)

Gary Hershorn/Getty Images 2/
Ever since the voters handed Donald Trump the keys to 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in November,
- I’ve thought a lot about leaving the United States.

Until the election,
I took it for granted that this was my permanent home.

But since a plurality of the electorate voted for Trump, I have been asking myself whether I should stay or I should go.

I’m not alone.

The possibility of decamping, at least until the 2026 midterm election, is on many people’s minds.

By some accounts, online searches related to emigration skyrocketed by 1,514% after Trump’s victory
visaguide.world/news/1514-surg…