Zelensky confirms Ukrainian troops active in Russia’s Belgorod
Volodymyr Zelensky has confirmed for the first time that Ukrainian troops are active in Russia’s Belgorod region.
In his nightly video address, Mr Zelensky said Ukraine’s top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi had presented a report “on the front line, our presence in the Kursk region and our presence in the Belgorod region.”
“We continue active operations in the enemy’s border areas and this is absolutely justified. The war must return to where it came from,” Mr Zelensky said.
“Our main objective remains the same: to protect our land and our communities in the Sumy and Kharkiv regions from Russian occupiers.”
Mr Zelensky later referred to operations in the area by Ukraine’s 225th Assault Regiment and congratulated the unit for its performance.
Russian military bloggers have reported a number of battles in the Belgorod region between Russian and Ukrainian troops.
Arpan Rai8 April 2025 04:03
Macron urges ‘strong action’ against Russia if it continues to ‘refuse peace’
Days after a Russian ballistic missile killed 20 people in Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelensky’s home town, French president Emmanuel Macron called for “strong action” if Russia continued to “refuse peace”.
He wrote on X on Sunday: “My thoughts are with the children and all civilian victims of the bloody attacks carried out by Russia, including on 4 April in Kryvyi Rih.
“A ceasefire is needed as soon as possible. And strong action if Russia continues to try to buy time and refuse peace.”
Mr Macron said that although Ukraine accepted US president Donald Trump’s proposal for a full ceasefire, and European nations were also working to broker peace, “Russia is continuing the war with renewed intensity, with no regard for civilians”.
Arpan Rai 8 April 2025 03:42
Trump asks Russia to stop the war: ‘I don’t like the bombing’
US president Donald Trump renewed his call for a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war on Sunday, urging Russian president Vladimir Putin to stop the violence.
“We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop,” Trump told reporters onboard Air Force One.
“I don’t like the bombing, the bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people being killed.”
His comments come after president Volodymyr Zelensky called on the West to amp up pressure on Russia after it launched its latest deadly air raid on Kyiv.
“Putin does not want to end the war, he is looking for ways to preserve the option of reigniting it at any moment, with even greater force,” Zelensky said in his evening address yesterday.
“That’s exactly why all forms of pressure on Russia must continue: strengthening our ability to defend ourselves, maintaining sanctions, and ensuring that diplomacy – any conversation with Moscow – leaves them no opportunity to kill.”
Stuti Shukla Mistry8 April 2025 03:41
Russia showing ‘complete disrespect’ towards peace talks, says EU
Russia is showing “complete disrespect” for the peace talks regarding Ukraine, a European Commission spokesperson has said.
After Moscow’s forces continue to launch attacks on Ukraine – killing dozens of civilians in the past few days – spokesperson Anitta Hipper condemned Russia’s apparent lack of interest in peace.
“Now, when it comes to the actions that Russia is showing every day, including with the recent attacks that have killed at least 20 civilians, and as you said, 9 children included, Russia is showing a total disrespect for the talks. And it shows every day that it has zero interest to pursue this,” Mr Hipper said according to European Pravda.
She said it is important “to ensure that we have a ceasefire, that we have just a long-lasting and comprehensive peace”.
“But we cannot be naïve when we deal with Putin and when we see his murderous attacks on a daily basis,” she added.
Arpan Rai 8 April 2025 03:39
