On April 3, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky met with journalists and made significant statements regarding the war, defense, international negotiations, and internal affairs.
Zelensky emphasized that Ukraine is strengthening the protection of railways, bridges, dams, and hydroelectric plants, considering the rising threat of Russian attacks. Ukraine has submitted to the US a request for an Easter ceasefire, but Moscow currently shows no intention to support this initiative.
The President invited the American negotiation group to Kyiv for talks in a tripartite format, suggesting the delegation could then travel to Moscow. Ukraine's key condition in negotiations remains the cessation of hostilities along the front line.
Zelensky warned of the need to prepare for a potential halt in American weapon supplies, even though there are no public signals yet. Intelligence from Ukraine and the UK report the best situation on the frontline in the last ten months. In March, confirmed Russian losses amounted to 35,000 personnel — the highest monthly figure since the start of the large-scale invasion.
The President also addressed air defense and requested US THAAD missile systems. Ukraine is ready to help unblock the Strait of Hormuz, using its Black Sea corridor experience, but no such international requests have been received.
Zelensky expressed satisfaction with the work of his Office's head, Kyrylo Budanov, but criticized some MPs for political maneuvering during the absence of elections.
The Kremlin repeated its demand for Ukraine to withdraw from Donbas to end the 'hot phase' of the war, publicly voicing this position for the first time. However, Russia does not set explicit deadlines and has achieved no major breakthroughs at the front despite its statements.
According to Jens Stoltenberg’s memoirs, in 2021 NATO and Russia considered creating a buffer zone in the Baltics, but the Kremlin refused, demanding full control of the region. Stoltenberg was willing to return European security to 1997 levels, but this proposal was not implemented.
Globally: Iran claimed to have shot down a US F-35; Russian attacks caused casualties and damaged civilian infrastructure in Zhytomyr and Kyiv regions of Ukraine. Residential buildings and businesses, including the cardboard factory in Obukhiv, were affected.
In Lviv, a customs officer was charged in the fatal attack on a serviceman from the Territorial Recruitment Center. Additional news includes the detention of an oil tanker by Sweden after a Baltic Sea spill, Macron’s call for a coalition independent of the US and China, proposed US record defense budget, and the Italian Prime Minister’s trip to Saudi Arabia and Gulf countries.
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