Politics & Economics

A new meeting involving representatives from Germany, the United Kingdom, France, and the United States to discuss a full ceasefire in Ukraine is likely to take place next week, according to Andriy Yermak, the head of the Office of the President of Ukraine. Speaking on television, Yermak summarized the meeting in Paris with the “coalition of the willing” and the United States. He expressed optimism about the effectiveness of this format, stating, “The next meeting will take place very soon, I think next week. We will continue consultations.” Yermak clarified that a series of meetings took place in Paris, beginning…

US President Donald Trump has said he expects to hear from the Russian side “this week” on Washington's proposal for a ceasefire in Ukraine. He said this on Thursday during a meeting in the Oval Office with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “We’re going to be hearing from them this week, very shortly, actually, and we’ll see. But we want it to stop. We want the death and the killing to stop,” the president said. Prime Minister Meloni emphasized the collaborative efforts between Europe and the United States to support a just and lasting peace in…

US President Donald Trump said that a minerals deal with Ukraine could be signed as early as next Thursday. He announced this to journalists during a meeting in the Oval Office with the head of the Italian government, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. “We have a minerals deal, which I guess is going to be signed on Thursday,” he said. At the same time, he checked with US Treasury Secretary, and then clarified that he meant “next Thursday.” Read also: Zelensky, Macron coordinate further diplomatic contacts and meetings As Ukrinform reported, President Volodymyr Zelensky said that Ukraine and the US could…

President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed further diplomatic contacts and meetings aimed at establishing peace with French President Emmanuel Macron. The head of the Ukrainian state said this in a post on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. “I spoke for the second time today with the President of France Emmanuel Macron… We coordinated further contacts and meetings. The duration of peace will directly depend on the justice of positions in diplomacy and the effectiveness of the security architecture. Thank you to everyone who stands with us,” he wrote. Zelensky also expressed gratitude to Macron for his leadership and for today’s work in Paris by…

President Volodymyr Zelensky discussed with U.S. Congressman and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Brian Fitzpatrick efforts to establish a dignified and lasting peace and security guarantees for Ukraine. Congressman Fitzpatrick expressed his willingness to visit the frontline as part of these efforts. The president wrote this on Telegram, Ukrinform reports. “I had a meeting with U.S. Congressman and Co-Chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Brian Fitzpatrick. The key topics discussed were efforts to establish a dignified and lasting peace, the U.S. proposal for a full and unconditional ceasefire, and security guarantees for Ukraine,” he wrote. Zelensky expressed gratitude for…

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky has announced that new sanctions targeting Russian propagandists and missile manufacturers will be introduced tomorrow. The head of state informed about this at a briefing, a Ukrinform correspondent reports. “Two important sanctions packages will be introduced tomorrow — against Kremlin propagandists and manufacturers of Iskander missiles.” Read also: EU exploring ways to bypass Hungary’s decisions on sanctions against Russia – Bloomberg As Ukrinform previously reported, on April 11, President Zelensky imposed new sanctions on individuals and entities that justify Russia’s war against Ukraine, as well as against Russia’s so-called “shadow fleet.” The corresponding presidential decrees…

Ukraine and the United States may sign a memorandum of intent on minearls agreement on Thursday. This was announced by President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky during a briefing on April 17, a Ukrinform correspondent reports. "A few days ago, the American side suggested we take another step — that is, a memorandum of intent. And we have positive intentions. So, the memorandum could be signed online today. Our side said: 'Okay.' As I understand it, the Deputy Prime Minister is now working on the text. This memorandum is an important first step. So why shouldn't both countries agree to it?"…

On Thursday, the German government updated and expanded the list of military aid to be provided to Ukraine. This was reported by the German government press service, according to Ukrinform. Germany will supply Ukraine with, among other things: nine wheeled self-propelled howitzers Zuzana 2; 28 armored recovery vehicles Bergepanzer 2 with spare parts; 65 mine clearing tanks WISENT 1 with spare parts; 619 reconnaissance drones VECTOR with spare parts; 1,050 HF-1 strike drones; 454,000 rounds of 155 mm ammunition; 24,000 rounds of 122 mm ammunition; 330,000 rounds for GEPARD anti-aircraft systems; IRIS-T SLM missiles; 123 ground surveillance radar stations; 347…

The net hryvnia loans provided to businesses are growing at a rate of 26% per annum, and those issued to micro, small and medium-sized enterprises – 30%, which is one of the highest results in the past decade. The relevant statement was made by Governor of the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU) Andriy Pyshnyy, answering a question from Ukrinform during a monetary briefing about the risks of banks placing excessive funds in NBU certificates of deposit instead of lending to the real sector. “The loan portfolio has been growing at an increasingly rapid pace for two years in a row.…

Qatar's Emir Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al-Thani arrived in Moscow on Thursday for talks with President Vladimir Putin on Ukraine and Middle East issues. That's according to Reuters, Ukrinform reports. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the two leaders would have a "serious conversation" on a range of issues and sign various agreements. "It is difficult to overestimate the role of Qatar as a whole now in many regional and even world affairs. Qatar is our good partner, Russian-Qatari relations are developing very dynamically, contacts between the heads of state are quite frequent," Peskov told reporters. Qatar has made a series…