As Dmitriev Speaks of “Significant Progress” in Ceasefire Talks, Putin’s Forces Strike Zelensky’s Hometown, Killing Nine Children; Denmark and Norway Boost Ukraine Aid by Billions
Summary of the Day — April 4, 2025
The stunning contradiction between words and actions in Russia’s approach to peace came into stark relief on Thursday, as Kremlin negotiator Kirill Dmitriev’s Washington diplomatic mission was punctuated by a deadly Russian ballistic missile strike on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih. The attack killed at least 18 people—including nine children—and wounded 61 others, devastating a residential neighborhood and nearby playground. Meanwhile, in Washington, Dmitriev claimed “significant progress” toward a ceasefire following meetings with Trump administration officials, even as U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that America would “know soon enough” whether Russia is truly serious about peace. The violent juxtaposition occurred against a backdrop of renewed European support, with Denmark announcing €900 million in military aid and Norway tripling its assistance to €7.8 billion, even as Trump’s new global tariffs prompted fears about their impact on allied defense production.
Second Russian strike on Kryvyi Rih on April 4 set a fire in a residential area, killing a woman in her home and injuring at least five civilians. (State Emergency Service / Telegram)
Kremlin Courtship: Dmitriev Touts “Significant Progress” While Meeting Top U.S. Officials
Russian Direct Investment Fund CEO Kirill Dmitriev emerged from high-level discussions with Trump administration officials in Washington claiming “significant progress” toward a ceasefire in Ukraine. His April 2-3 visit, which came after the U.S. temporarily lifted sanctions to permit his travel, included meetings with Special Envoy Steve Witkoff and concluded with optimistic statements about renewed economic ties between Moscow and Washington.
U.S. President Donald Trump pumps his fist as he boards Air Force One before departing Miami International Airport in Miami, Florida, U.S. (Mandel Ngan / AFP via Getty Images)
“U.S. companies are ready to occupy the niches left by European companies that left the Russian Federation,” Dmitriev told Russian state media TASS, adding that talks included cooperation on rare earth metals, Arctic development, and potentially restoring direct flights between the countries.
Dmitriev, a Kyiv-born, Harvard-educated financier with close ties to Putin’s inner circle, has previously served as a backchannel between Moscow and Trump. His warm reception in Washington came just days after Trump expressed frustration with Putin’s reluctance to agree to a full ceasefire, but notably, Russia was exempted from Trump’s sweeping new tariffs announced this week.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio struck a more cautious tone following Dmitriev’s visit, saying the U.S. would know “in a matter of weeks, not months, whether Russia is serious about peace.” He warned that Trump would not engage in “endless negotiations about negotiations” if the process drags on unnecessarily.
Deadly Dissonance: Russian Strike Kills 18 in Zelensky’s Hometown While Peace Talks Progress
Hours after Dmitriev spoke of progress toward peace, a Russian Iskander-M ballistic missile slammed into a residential area of Kryvyi Rih, Zelensky’s hometown, killing at least 18 people—nine of them children—and injuring 61 others. The missile struck near a playground in the central Ukrainian city, setting buildings ablaze and causing extensive damage to civilian infrastructure.
The aftermath of a Russian attack against Kryvyi Rih in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, Ukraine. (President Volodymyr Zelensky / Telegram)
“Sixteen lives lost. Six of them children. There are no words. This is the kind of pain you wouldn’t wish on your worst enemy,” Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Governor Sergii Lysak initially reported, with the death toll later climbing. Zelensky condemned the attack, saying it demonstrated Russia’s true intentions regarding peace negotiations.
“There is only one reason why this continues—Russia does not want a ceasefire and we see it. The whole world sees it,” Zelensky said. “A ceasefire could have been reached by now and it is Putin who rejects it.”
Later that same evening, Russian forces launched a drone attack against the city, killing one woman and injuring five more civilians. The combined assaults underscored Moscow’s willingness to target civilian areas even as its representatives spoke of peace in Washington.
Russia’s Defense Ministry attempted to justify the deadly strike, falsely claiming it had targeted “the place where the commanders of the Ukrainian Armed Forces were meeting with Western instructors,” an assertion Ukraine’s General Staff categorically denied, calling it “a ‘high-precision’ lie.”
Washington’s Warning: U.S. Urges Trump to Hold Back on Putin Call Until Ceasefire Commitment
Top advisers to U.S. President Donald Trump have cautioned against scheduling another call with Vladimir Putin until Russia commits to a full ceasefire in Ukraine, NBC News reported. Despite Trump expressing his intent to speak with Putin “in the near future,” his inner circle remains opposed to such communication without concrete Russian concessions.
The reported advice follows Trump’s March 30 admission that he was “very angry” at Putin over the lack of progress in peace negotiations. Trump and Putin last spoke on March 18, a conversation that led to an apparent agreement on energy infrastructure strikes that both sides have since accused each other of violating.
Politico had reported that a call between the leaders was imminent “before or after the weekend,” though Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov denied any such plans, saying, “There’s nothing on the schedule yet.”
The cautious approach by Trump’s advisers reflects growing frustration with Russia’s maximalist demands and continued battlefield aggression despite diplomatic overtures from Washington. U.S. officials are reportedly preparing new pressure tactics for both Moscow and Kyiv, recognizing that a comprehensive peace deal remains distant.
Trump Tariffs Threaten Allied Defense Production, US Military Experts Warn
The sweeping tariffs announced by President Donald Trump this week could severely impact the U.S. defense industry and complicate international military cooperation, defense experts warned on Thursday. The 10% baseline duty on imports from nearly all countries—notably excluding Russia—threatens to disrupt the global network of suppliers that the Pentagon has spent decades building.
“There’s going to be shortages of supplies, tit-for-tats, and our allies and other partners are going to retaliate,” said Bill Greenwalt, a former Pentagon acquisition official. “Some potentially vital supplies are either going to cost a whole heck of a lot more than what they did, or they’re just not going to be available.”
Without defense exemptions, the tariffs could negatively impact critical joint military projects, including production of the F-16 fighter jet, air defense systems, and nuclear submarines. Senator Mark Kelly, whose state won over $14.5 billion in Defense Department contracts last year, warned that “the prices that DOD has to pay are going to go up,” potentially requiring a larger defense budget to maintain the same force level.
European officials expressed concern that the tariffs might push them to reduce dependence on American military equipment. “We count on the U.S. for the best equipment,” one European official said. “European industrial capacity has greatly improved, and we want to be security providers, not just consumers.”
Nordic Support Surge: Denmark and Norway Commit Billions to Ukraine’s Defense
Denmark announced a military aid package for Ukraine worth 6.7 billion kroner (€900 million) that will extend support until 2027. The package allocates €188 million for artillery capabilities, including shell transfers through allied initiatives, and commits €268 million in 2026 and 2027 to strengthen Ukraine’s defense industry. Additional funds will support air defense systems, drone development, and IT infrastructure improvements.
“It was essential for Denmark to maintain its massive support for Ukraine,” Defense Minister Troels Lund Poulsen said. This marks Denmark’s 25th military aid package since Russia’s full-scale invasion began in 2022.
Norway’s government, meanwhile, approved a dramatic increase in assistance to Ukraine, bringing total aid to 85 billion Norwegian kroner (€7.8 billion) for 2025. “We are tripling our military support,” Norwegian Finance Minister Jens Stoltenberg said, adding that the funds would be spent abroad to avoid putting pressure on Norway’s economy.
The Nordic nations’ commitments follow Sweden’s recent decision to provide its largest-ever military aid package, worth approximately €1.5 billion, and Germany’s €3 billion military assistance pledge. The series of European aid announcements comes as Trump has pushed allies to take greater responsibility for Ukraine’s defense.
Satellite Alternative: Germany Funds Ukraine’s Use of Eutelsat to Reduce Starlink Dependence
Germany is financing Ukraine’s access to a satellite internet network operated by French company Eutelsat as an alternative to Elon Musk’s Starlink system, Reuters reported. The service, which has been available in Ukraine through a German distributor for about a year, provides crucial backup connectivity for the Ukrainian military.
Ukraine currently has fewer than 1,000 terminals connecting to Eutelsat’s network, but company CEO Eva Berneke said they aim to increase this to between 5,000 and 10,000 “relatively fast.” Discussions are ongoing regarding further funding from Germany and the EU, according to company spokesperson Joanna Darlington.
The move addresses concerns about Ukraine’s dependence on Starlink, which currently provides service to over 50,000 Ukrainian military, medical, and civilian users. Uncertainty over continued Starlink access emerged in February when Reuters reported that the U.S. had threatened to cut the service unless Kyiv agreed to a critical minerals deal—claims that Musk denied.
Eutelsat’s OneWeb network operates using a dual-constellation approach, combining low Earth orbit and geostationary satellites, and could provide essential connectivity for Ukraine’s military operations, including drone warfare. Bloomberg reported in March that Eutelsat is in advanced talks with the EU to potentially replace Starlink in Ukraine.
Dual-Track Strategy: Ukraine Signs Rail Contracts with China as Beijing Poses as Neutral Mediator
Ukrainian railway operator Ukrzaliznytsia has signed two contracts with Chinese rail producers to support the development and repair of Ukrainian rail infrastructure, the company announced on Thursday. The agreements, concluded in January 2025, will provide Ukraine with 32,000 tons of rail—enough to build or repair about 245 kilometers of railway across Ukraine’s 19,772-kilometer network.
The first 16,000 tons are expected to ship from China in April and arrive within three months. These contracts resulted from Ukrzaliznytsia’s first open-bid competition since 2021 and signal Chinese interest in direct economic cooperation with Ukraine despite Beijing’s close strategic partnership with Moscow.
The development came days after Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi reiterated on April 1 that China is willing to play a “constructive role” in ending the war, consistent with previous Chinese efforts to position itself as a neutral mediator despite growing ties with Russia.
A Russian military blogger expressed frustration with the arrangement, claiming Ukraine was flaunting its cooperation with “Russia’s partner” and noting that the deal reflects China’s “real” attitude toward Russia as being of a “nothing personal, just business” nature. The blogger warned that Moscow should not expect “self-sacrifice” from Beijing.
Deadly Disinformation: Russian Commander Admits to War Crime Tactics in Kursk Oblast
The Russian Ministry of Defense’s Main Military-Political Directorate Deputy Head and Akhmat Spetsnaz Commander, Major General Apti Alaudinov, described deception tactics that may constitute perfidy—a war crime under the Geneva Convention. Alaudinov claimed that Russian forces recently used blue electrical tape identification marks during an operation in Kursk Oblast, knowing that Ukrainian forces also use blue tape for identification.
“We were supposed to have blue tape for the first 24 hours of the operation and then change it to red [tape],” Alaudinov told TASS, explaining that the tactic was designed to “prevent the Ukrainian military from understanding what was happening” and to make them “think that their own units were advancing.”
The Geneva Convention defines perfidy as “acts inviting the confidence of an adversary to lead him to believe that he is entitled to, or is obliged to accord, protection under the rules of international law applicable in armed conflict, with intent to betray that confidence.”
The Russian commander’s public admission of such tactics raises serious concerns about Russia’s compliance with international humanitarian law and demonstrates Moscow’s willingness to openly violate the rules of warfare.
Border Battles: Russian Forces Continue Offensive Operations in Sumy and Belgorod Regions
Russian forces maintained offensive operations along the Sumy-Kursk Oblast border on Thursday but did not make confirmed advances. Russian military bloggers claimed advances near Guyevo and Oleshnya in Kursk Oblast, and reiterated claims of capturing Basivka in Sumy Oblast, though these assertions could not be independently verified.
In northwestern Belgorod Oblast, Russian milbloggers reported ongoing fighting near Demidovka and Popovka, northwest of Belgorod City. The assistant chief of a Ukrainian border detachment operating in the area warned that Russian forces may launch a large-scale offensive across the entire international border between Russia and Ukraine, including Sumy Oblast, though Ukrainian forces have not observed a significant buildup of Russian personnel or equipment.
“From our side, there will definitely be military officials, engineers, and people who understand port infrastructure,” the border official noted, adding that Russian forces remain active near the Ukrainian border, with squads of up to 15 personnel attempting to enter Ukrainian territory unsuccessfully.
Elements of the Russian 40th Naval Infantry Brigade (Pacific Fleet) reportedly continue operating near the Kursk Oblast border, while the “Aida” Akhmat Spetsnaz Detachment is reportedly active in Belgorod Oblast.
Front Line Friction: Ukrainian and Russian Forces Exchange Blows Across Eastern Ukraine
Ukrainian forces recently advanced in the Chasiv Yar direction, with geolocated footage published on April 3 indicating Ukrainian troops had reached Dniprovska Street in southern Chasiv Yar. Meanwhile, Russian forces made gains across the Oskil River northeast of Kupyansk, reaching southeastern Kamyanka as confirmed by geolocated footage.
In the Toretsk direction, Russian forces advanced along Sormivska Street in southwestern Toretsk, according to verified footage. Russian military bloggers claimed to have seized Oleksandropil, a claim that had been independently assessed as accurate since April 2.
Both sides saw measured progress in the Pokrovsk direction. Ukrainian forces reportedly advanced marginally in northwestern Kotlyne and southeastern Udachne, while Russian forces made limited gains in northern Shevchenko. The Russian Ministry of Defense claimed to have captured Uspenivka southwest of Pokrovsk, though this could not be verified.
Ukraine’s Khortytsia Group of Forces reported repelling a platoon-sized mechanized Russian assault in the Toretsk direction, consisting of at least five armored vehicles and an unspecified number of motorcycles. A Ukrainian officer noted that Russian forces in the area are increasingly attacking in small assault groups rather than conducting mechanized assaults with tanks, attempting to bypass Ukrainian positions while avoiding direct combat.
Kyiv Struck: Russian Drone Barrage Hits Multiple Regions Across Ukraine
The Ukrainian Air Force reported that Russian forces launched 78 Shahed and decoy drones from Bryansk and Kursk oblasts, Millerovo in Rostov Oblast, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk in Krasnodar Krai overnight on April 3-4. Ukrainian forces downed 42 drones over northern, eastern, and central parts of the country, while 22 drones were “lost,” likely due to electronic warfare interference.
The attacks damaged civilian infrastructure in Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kyiv, and Zaporizhzhia oblasts. In Kharkiv, five people were killed and 32 injured as drones targeted the regional center. Three people were wounded in drone strikes against Dnipro, while in Kyiv Oblast, two men were injured when drones hit the Brovary district, damaging administrative buildings, gas stations, and service stations.
Russian forces attacked with drones the Brovary district in Kyiv Oblast, Ukraine, overnight. (Kyiv Oblast Military Administration)
President Zelensky reported that Russian drones also struck the Kherson Thermal Energy Station in Kherson City, another apparent violation of the partial ceasefire on energy infrastructure strikes that Russia had agreed to during negotiations with the United States.
“Such attacks cannot be an accident,” Zelensky noted in his evening address, pointing out that Russia is fully aware of the target’s critical energy role. “All Russian assurances end in missiles, drones, bombs, or artillery.”
Terror Target: Senior Dnipro Official Killed in Car Bombing
Yuriy Fedko, Head of the Left Bank Administration of the Dnipro City Council, was killed when his car exploded on the morning of April 4, with his wife injured in the blast. Ukrainian National Police announced they are investigating the incident as a possible terrorist attack.
The scene of the explosion which killed Yuriy Fedko in Dnipro. (National Police)
The explosion occurred around 7:40 a.m. local time in Dnipro, Ukraine’s fourth-largest city. Residents initially mistook the explosion for the sound of Russian drones, as the city is frequently targeted by Russian aerial attacks.
“It was very loud, I was outside and thought the air defense system was working. I heard that some official was blown up,” a local resident told Ukrainian media. Another resident claimed Fedko may have been warned of a possible attack “more than once.”
Police investigators, the National Police, the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), and the Prosecutor’s Office are examining multiple scenarios, including an attack ordered by Russia to destabilize the situation in Ukraine or a grievance stemming from Fedko’s political activities.
Dnipro Mayor Borys Filatov said the attack “is being investigated by the best professionals,” paying tribute to “my friend from back in student days.” Criminal proceedings have been opened under Article 258 of the Ukrainian Criminal Code, which covers terrorist acts.
African Ambitions: Russia Strengthens Ties with Alliance of Sahel States to Expand Influence
Russia is reinforcing its strategic partnership with the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) juntas in a concerted effort to enhance Russian influence in Africa. Russia, Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso agreed on April 3 at an AES summit in Moscow to establish a strategic partnership and strengthen the recently established AES joint armed forces, making Russia the first country to recognize the trilateral joint forces established in July 2024.
Russia and AES member states expressed willingness to jointly combat regional instability and enhance ongoing counterterrorism efforts, with Russia agreeing to provide modern weapons and military training for a planned 5,000-strong joint force that will deploy to the central Sahel region. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov stated that Russia will utilize military instructors already in the area to conduct such training—likely referring to the Russian Ministry of Defense Africa Corps, which transported large convoys of equipment into Mali via Guinea in 2025.
The collaboration also extends to infrastructure, trade, economics, investment, and banking. Analysts suggest Russia’s support for the AES is a long-term strategic endeavor aimed at advancing the Kremlin’s geopolitical goals of undermining Western influence in Africa and threatening NATO’s southern flank. The arrangement may yield additional benefits through resource concession agreements, potentially granting Moscow access to the region’s vast gold, uranium, and other valuable natural resources.
Looking Ahead: The Widening Gap Between Peace Talk and War Reality
As diplomatic efforts continue to gain momentum, the gulf between words and actions remains vast. The contradiction between Dmitriev’s optimistic statements in Washington and the brutal reality of Russian missiles killing children in Kryvyi Rih underscores the fundamental challenge in reaching any lasting peace agreement.
Secretary of State Rubio’s “weeks, not months” timeline for determining Russia’s seriousness about peace negotiations points to a growing impatience in Washington. Meanwhile, the continued flow of European military aid signals NATO allies’ recognition that peace may remain elusive despite Trump’s push for a swift resolution.
With technical teams from various nations expected to continue talks and Trump expressing optimism about progress, the coming days will be critical in determining whether diplomatic overtures can translate into meaningful steps on the ground. For now, the path to peace remains obscured by the smoke of continued Russian strikes, even as negotiators speak of progress behind closed doors.