Crimea

On the night of April 29, Russia attacked Ukraine with drones from various regions. The Armed Forces of Ukraine shot down 37 "Shahed" drones, but 47 imitators were lost. Kharkiv, Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Kyiv regions were affected.

Russia continues to integrate the temporarily occupied territories into its management system, redistributing electoral districts. In the 2026 State Duma elections, 7 deputies will be elected from the occupied regions.

Jake Sullivan said that the meeting between Trump and Zelenskyy gave him hope regarding the war in Ukraine. Trump noted that Zelenskyy has become "calmer" and wants to make a deal.

On April 28, explosions were heard in the Leningrad region. Governor Drozdenko stated that Russian air defense forces destroyed two drones over the districts, there were no destructions or casualties.

Russia refuses to make concessions regarding Crimea and the Zaporizhzhia NPP, insisting on conditions that are tantamount to Ukraine's capitulation. This undermines Trump's efforts to achieve peace.

The Russians are deploying a video surveillance system in Crimea that will collect data and transmit it to special services. The peninsula is becoming a concentration camp where fear and repression reign.

Ukraine has developed a counter-proposal to Trump's plan, which is criticized for concessions to Russia. Kyiv proposes a European security contingent and the use of frozen Russian assets.

Ukraine does not agree with the US proposal to recognize Russia's control over Crimea. Also, Kyiv insists on security guarantees from the US, and not only from Europe.

The President of Lithuania condemned the possible recognition of Crimea as Russian, calling it a "bomb". He stressed that the opinion of Ukraine, which has suffered aggression, should be taken into account first and foremost.

The President of Ukraine stated that Ukraine will not legally recognize any occupied territories, including Crimea. Most countries in the world, even those that balance between Ukraine and Russia, recognize its sovereignty.

Zelenskyy stated his agreement with Trump that Ukraine lacks the weapons to reclaim Crimea militarily. He emphasized the possibilities of sanctions and diplomatic pressure.

In the annexed Crimea, on April 29, the occupiers are planning mass raids to identify pro-Ukrainian activists under the guise of anti-terrorist exercises. Checkpoints and additional patrols will be established.

The SBU and border guards detained a foreign vessel in the Black Sea that was helping Russia export stolen Ukrainian grain. The dry cargo ship exported 5,000 tons of wheat from Sevastopol.

In occupied Crimea, a drone hit the house of the Deputy Head of Chechnya, Murad Saidov, in Saki, damaging the house and a car. The "ATESH" movement hints at the incompetence of the Russian air defense.

Donald Trump stated that Crimea will remain under Russian control, citing that Zelensky understands this. He added that the peninsula passed to the Russians during the Obama era.

The Ukrainian delegation передала США 5 ключових вимог до мирного плану, stressing the inadmissibility of surrender and the importance of international law. Security guarantees for Ukraine are also important.

Britain insists that Ukraine has the right to vote on the terms of the peace agreement with Russia, including the issue of Crimea. Prime Minister Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer also believes that a cease-fire in Ukraine by this summer could happen.

Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson criticized Trump's peace proposals, pointing to the US interest in Ukraine's resources. He questions what Ukraine will get after its heroic resistance.

U. S. allies are alarmed by the framework being promoted by the Trump administration to end the war. Ukraine is being offered to cede Crimea and large swathes of territory to Russia.

Overnight, occupied Crimea was subjected to a massive drone attack. Local residents report explosions in Yevpatoria, Yalta, Feodosia and other cities, preliminary, air defense shot down more than 10 targets.

The occupiers plan to send 2,500 residents of Crimea to the Russian army as part of the spring campaign. The CNS emphasizes that this is a politically motivated crime.

Donald Trump said that it would be difficult for Ukraine to return Crimea, as it was "given away" by the Obama administration. He evaded answering whether he was ready to recognize Crimea as Russian for the sake of peace.

The Mejlis of the Crimean Tatar people condemned any attempts to recognize Crimea as Russian, emphasizing that this is a gross violation of international law and an encroachment on the sovereignty of Ukraine. The only way to peace is de-occupation.

France recognized the court's decision regarding compensation to Oshchadbank for lost Crimean assets. The seizure of Russian assets is part of the bank's multi-year effort to recover damages.

Trump's actions regarding the possible recognition of Crimea as Russian put European leaders before a difficult choice. They must decide whether to support Ukraine or side with the United States.

Donald Trump believes that Russia is ready for a deal. Negotiations with the Ukrainian leader, according to him, turned out to be more difficult than expected.

Donald Trump did not answer whether the White House would recognize Crimea as Russian for a peace agreement between Ukraine and the Russian Federation. He stated that he wants an end to the war and has no favorites.

Trump believes that Zelensky is making mistakes in negotiations with Russia. He is disappointed and wants peace, but this requires both parties.

Ukraine is ready to negotiate peace, but will not accept any options for "surrendering" territories. A complete ceasefire and security guarantees are needed, strong enough to deter future aggression.

Negotiations between the US, Ukraine, and the EU to end the war in Ukraine have collapsed due to disagreements. Washington offered controversial concessions, causing concern.