Russia's invasion of Ukraine four years ago launched Europe's biggest conflict since World War II. It has caused immense suffering for civilians and harrowing ordeals for soldiers while rewriting the post-Cold War security order. The fighting enters its fifth year on Tuesday. A U.S.-based think tank says that as many as 1.8 million soldiers may have been killed, injured or missing on both sides. Another think tank says Russia controls nearly 20% of Ukrainian land. The U.N. says at least 14,999 civilians have been killed in Ukraine.
Four years into its full-scale invasion, Russia controls about 20% of Ukrainian territory, where an estimated 3 million to 5 million people live. Life in shattered cities and villages alike remains difficult, with residents facing problems with housing, water, power, heat and health care. Across the illegally annexed regions of Donetsk, Luhansk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, Russian citizenship, language and culture has been forced upon residents, including in school lesson plans and textbooks. Some say they live in fear of being accused of sympathizing with Ukraine. Many have been imprisoned, beaten and killed, according to human rights activists.
By KAMILA HRABCHUK and KOSTYA MANENKOV Associated Press
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says the future of Ukraine's eastern Donbas region is a key focus as negotiators from Ukraine, Russia, and the United States meet in Abu Dhabi. Friday's talks are the latest aiming to end Russia's nearly four-year full-scale invasion. It's the first known time officials from Trump's administration simultaneously meet with Ukrainian and Russian negotiators. The Kremlin insists Kyiv must withdraw its troops from areas in the east that Russia illegally annexed. Zelenskyy reiterated his openness to a free trade zone under Ukraine's control in the east.
Russian President Vladimir Putin praised U.S. President Donald Trump's efforts to end the war in Ukraine, more than three years after Moscow launched its invasion, as the two leaders prepared for a pivotal U.S.–Russia summit Friday in Alaska. Putin made the remarks Thursday following a meeting with top government officials on the summit. He said in a short video released by the Kremlin that the Trump administration was making "energetic and sincere efforts" to stop the war. Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other European leaders worked to ensure their interests are taken into account when Trump and Putin meet in Anchorage.
The head of Ukraine's southern Kherson region says that Russian attacks during the 30-hour Easter ceasefire unilaterally declared by President Vladimir Putin over the weekend killed three people in the region. Kherson's administration head also reported Monday that three others were wounded. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in a Telegram statement that Russia violated the ceasefire overall more than 2,900 times. Putin announced a temporary Easter truce on Saturday. Ukraine said it would reciprocate any genuine ceasefire by Moscow but voiced skepticism over the Kremlin's intentions. Both sides traded accusations of violations shortly after. Russia said that its forces "strictly observed the ceasefire" and accused Ukraine of violating it 4,900 times.
Russia has fired dozens of missiles and drones across Ukraine for a second day. Ukraine's president says some were shot down by Western-supplied F-16 fighter jets before they reached their targets. It's the apparent first use by Ukraine of the F-16s to shoot down a missile. The Russian onslaught killed five people and destroyed some critical infrastructure in multiple regions. That has prolonged power outages in sweltering heat. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed calls for the U.S. to lift restrictions and let Ukraine strike deep inside Russia. Ukraine's military chief says troops now control nearly 500 square miles of Russia's Kursk region.
