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Lithuanian FM on Europe's role in ending Russia's war

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The Kyiv Independent’s Francis Farrell sat down with Lithuanian Foreign Minister Kestutis Budrys during his visit to Kyiv on April 1 to discuss the future of Europe during U.S. President Donald Trump's administration, whether European sanctions remain an effective instrument to stop Russia’s war against Ukraine, and Lithuania's contribution to the "coalition of the willing."

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Lithuanian FM on Europe's role in ending Russia's war.

5:00 PM

EU transfers $37 billion to Ukraine under Ukraine Facility program, PM Shmyhal says.

Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said the funds would support Ukraine's macroeconomic stability, adding that total financial assistance under the Ukraine Facility has now reached 19.6 billion euros ($21.1 billion).

4:13 PM

India looking for new oil suppliers amid Trump's threats to tighten sanctions on Russia, Bloomberg reports.

Donald Trump previously threatened to impose additional tariffs against Russia, threatening a "25% tariff on all oil, a 25- to 50-point tariff on all oil."

3:39 PM

4 Ukrainians killed, 4 injured in car accident in Austria.

The accident occurred at about 6:20 a.m. local time near the town of Seebenstein on the way to Vienna.

3:34 PM

Trump's Ukraine ceasefire proposals don't address 'root causes' of war, Moscow claims.

Russia takes U.S. proposals for a ceasefire in Ukraine "seriously" but cannot accept them "as they are now," Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov said in an interview with Russian outlet International Affairs Journal published on April 1.

3:27 PM

Some Russians celebrated Ukrainian drone strikes on Moscow, intercepted calls suggest.

"Let them bomb the Kremlin," one man from Belgorod Oblast said in an intercepted call released by HUR on March 31.

2:53 PM

Ukrainian Railways cyberattack resembles Russian tactics, cybersecurity official says.

The cybercriminals used malware developed considering the specifics of the Ukrainian Railways' infrastructure, a Ukrainian cybersecurity official said.

2:30 PM

Russian Railways hit by major cyberattack.

The state-owned Russian railway operator described the incident as a "massive DDoS (distributed denial-of-service) attack," saying that efforts to restore operations are underway.

1:49 PM

Poland detains Ukrainian suspected of spying for Russia.

The Ukrainian admitted to the charges, saying he worked for Russia for ideological reasons.

1:28 PM

Russia again violates partial ceasefire by attacking Kherson energy facility, Kyiv says.

Some 45,000 residents of Kherson were left without electricity after a morning Russian attack on one of the city's power facilities.

1:14 PM

World Press Photo apologizes for combining photos of pro-Russian militant, Ukrainian child in 'visual pair.'

The World Press Photo is an annual contest for professional photographers in photojournalism and documentary photography.

12:51 PM

Ukraine received new minerals deal draft on March 28, talks with US ongoing, FM confirms.

"Ukraine was ready to sign the previously developed framework agreement. Now we have received a proposal for development and a new text of the agreement," Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said on April 1.

12:20 PM

73% of Ukrainians say Trump is bad for Ukraine, poll shows.

Last December, 54% of Ukrainians believed that the new U.S. president would have a positive impact on Ukraine.

4:57 AM (Updated: April 1, 2025 11:50 am)

'Not appreciated' — Trump unhappy with Russia's calls for transitional Ukrainian government, State Department says.

"There was an idea from Russia about a temporary administration that was not appreciated by the president," State Department Spokeswoman Tammy Bruce told reporters during a press briefing on March 31. "Ukraine is... a constitutional democracy. Governance in Ukraine is determined by its constitution and the Ukrainian people."

11:29 AM

No ongoing preparations for elections, Zelensky's party's parliamentary leader says.

Davyd Arakhamia's statement comes after the Economist reported that Ukraine's elections could be held in July 2025.

11:07 AM

Rubio to discuss Ukraine, NATO in Brussels this week.

"In Brussels, Secretary Rubio will attend the NATO Foreign Ministers Meeting to discuss security priorities for the Alliance, including increased Allied defense investment and securing lasting peace in Ukraine," State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce said in a statement.

8:17 PM (Updated: April 1, 2025 10:27 am)

US Army confirms deaths of 3 missing servicemen in Lithuania, 1 still missing.

The soldiers and their tracked vehicle disappeared on March 25 during an exercise at a training ground near the Lithuanian city of Pabrade, located about 10 kilometers (six miles) from the border with Belarus. Pabrade hosts Camp Herkus, a U.S. military facility.

10:26 AM

Belgian film festival cancels screening of 'Russians at War' documentary after Ukraine's appeal.

The Docville Film Festival in Leuven canceled the screening of the controversial "Russians at War" documentary after an intervention of the Ukrainian Embassy, Ukraine's Foreign Ministry reported on March 31.

10:14 AM

2 killed, 21 injured in Russian attacks against Ukraine over past day.

Ukrainian air defenses shot down two Kh-59/69 guided aerial missiles launched by Russia against Zaporizhzhia Oblast, the Air Force repored. Russian forces did not carry out a mass drone strike against Ukrainian civilian infrastructure overnight, marking first such instance in 2025.

9:49 AM

German, Lithuanian foreign ministers arrive in Kyiv.

Upon her arrival, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced additional humanitarian support for Ukraine amounting to 130 million euros ($140 million).

9:31 AM

Waltz held sensitive talks on Russia, Ukraine on Signal, WSJ reports.

U.S. National Security Advisor Mike Waltz has created and hosted multiple sensitive national-security conversations on Signal with cabinet members, including those on peace between Russia and Ukraine, the WSJ reported.

9:18 AM

'So far, it doesn't mean anything' — Russia launches no mass drone strike against Ukraine overnight.

"We'll keep monitoring; so far, it doesn't mean anything," National Security and Defense Council official Andrii Kovalenko said.

8:13 AM

General Staff: Russia has lost 916,770 troops in Ukraine since Feb. 24, 2022.

This number includes 1,540 casualties Russian forces suffered just over the past day.

6:13 AM

Armenia refuses to finance Russian-led CSTO security alliance budget.

Armenia has refused to pay its contributions to the budget of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for the past year, the country's Foreign Ministry said on March 31, after suspending its participation in the military alliance in August 2024.

3:48 AM

Trump again threatens oil tariffs against Russia if peace deal not reached.

U.S. President Donald Trump threatened on March 31 to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports if Russian President Vladimir Putin does not "make a deal" to end the war in Ukraine.