Key developments on April 11:

• US envoy Witkoff proposes giving Russia 'possession' of Ukrainian areas, Reuters stories
• Trump urges Russia "to get shifting" to finish battle towards Ukraine
• Putin meets U.S. envoy Witkoff to debate Ukraine, Kremlin says
• "A number of hundred" Chinese language nationals combating for Russia, Zelensky says
• Allies pledge "file" $23.8 billion to Ukraine at Ramstein summit as U.Ok. warns 2025 might be "important"
• Russia has fired 70 missiles, 2,200 drones at Ukraine since March 11 ceasefire proposal, Kyiv says

U.S. Particular Envoy Steve Witkoff has informed President Donald Trump that giving Moscow "possession" of 4 occupied Ukrainian areas can be the quickest technique to obtain a ceasefire, Reuters reported on April 11, citing two unnamed U.S. officers and 5 different undisclosed sources.

Based on Reuters, Witkoff conveyed this proposal to U.S. President Donald Trump after assembly with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev in Washington in early April.

The information got here as Witkoff met Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to debate a attainable path towards a settlement in Ukraine.

Based on Reuters's sources, Trump administration officers are more and more divided on how one can break the impasse in Russia's battle towards Ukraine, with Witkoff and U.S. Particular Envoy Keith Kellogg disagreeing on the most effective course ahead.

Kellogg has argued that Ukraine would by no means conform to unilaterally cede whole possession of the territories to Russia, Reuters reported.

In a March interview with American far-right political commentator Tucker Carlson, Witkoff overtly parroted Russian propaganda relating to Ukraine's occupied territories.

Witkoff claimed that almost all of individuals in Ukraine's Russian-occupied territories had participated in referendums and "indicated that they wish to be beneath Russian rule."

"Witkoff should go, and (U.S. Secretary of State Marco) Rubio should take his place," in accordance with a March 26 letter from Eric Levine, a significant Republican donor, cited by Reuters. The letter, despatched to a gaggle together with Republican donors, was written after the Carlson interview and criticized Witkoff for praising Putin.

Some Republican lawmakers had been involved about Witkoff's pro-Russia stance within the Carlson interview and known as Rubio and Nationwide Safety Adviser Mike Waltz to complain, in accordance with one of many sources.

Within the interview, Witkoff referred to the Russian sham vote on the annexation of Ukraine's Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts held in September 2022.

The rapidly organized "referendums" had been held at gunpoint within the Russian-controlled elements of the areas, with widespread voter intimidation and troopers going door to door with poll containers.

The so-called "referendums" contradicted worldwide, Ukrainian and even Russian regulation and had been acknowledged solely by two nations — Russia and North Korea, each of which have little information of free elections.

Moscow illegally declared the annexation of Crimea in 2014, in addition to the partially occupied Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts eight years later.

The Trump administration has already signaled it expects Kyiv to make territorial concessions as a part of a attainable peace deal, calling a return to Ukraine's pre-2014 borders "unrealistic."

Russia’s sham ‘referendums’ at gunpoint are null and void, despite Steve Witkoff’s commentsU.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff recently claimed that the majority of people in Ukraine’s Russian-occupied territories had participated in referendums and “indicated that they want to be under Russian rule.” Witkoff’s claim is false in many ways. Witkoff referred to the Russian sham vote on the a…The Kyiv IndependentOleg Sukhov

Trump urges Russia 'to get shifting' to finish battle towards Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump wrote on the Reality Social platform on April 11 that Russia "has to get shifting" to finish its battle towards Ukraine.

"Russia has to get shifting. Too many individuals are dying, 1000’s per week, in a horrible and mindless battle — a battle that ought to have by no means occurred, and wouldn’t have occurred, if I had been president," Trump mentioned.

Regardless of repeated threats, the Trump administration has not but imposed any main sanctions on Russia. On the similar time, the White Home beforehand paused all army and intelligence help to Ukraine in March, pressuring Kyiv to conform to a mineral useful resource deal.

Trump's publish preceded a meetingbetween his particular envoy Steve Witkoff and Russian President Vladimir Putin in St. Petersburg to debate a possible path towards a settlement in Ukraine.

The assertion additionally got here a month after Ukraine agreed to a U.S. proposal for a full 30-dayceasefire throughout talks in Jeddah on March 11, supplied Russia abides by the circumstances. Moscow has rejected the deal except it consists of circumstances undermining Ukraine's defenses, particularly a full halt on international army help.

Trump may impose new Russia sanctions if ceasefire not reached by end of April, Axios reportsThe warning follows Ukraine’s agreement to a full 30-day ceasefire on March 11 during U.S.-mediated talks in Saudi Arabia.The Kyiv IndependentTim Zadorozhnyy

Putin meets U.S. envoy Witkoff to debate Ukraine, Kremlin says

Russian President Vladimir Putin and U.S. President Donald Trump's particular envoy Steve Witkoff met on April 11 to debate a attainable path towards a settlement in Ukraine, the Kremlin mentioned.

The Kremlin printed a video displaying a handshake between Witkoff and Putin.

Witkoff, who has led Trump's effort to dealer a ceasefire between Moscow and Kyiv, had beforehand arrived in Russia for his third assembly with the Russian chief.

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov tempered expectations of the upcoming talks, calling them a continuation of diplomatic efforts that’s unlikely to convey a significant breakthrough.

A attainable assembly between Trump and Putin may very well be on the agenda, Peskov mentioned.

Hockey celebrates Ovechkin, but Putin is the real winnerAlexander Ovechkin has become the greatest goal scorer in National Hockey League (NHL) history — an extraordinary accomplishment that cements his legacy as one of hockey’s most influential figures. For fans around the world, the Washington Capitals’ No. 8 stands as a symbol of perseverance, dedicati…The Kyiv IndependentAdam Sybera

"A number of hundred" Chinese language nationals combating for Russia, Zelensky says

At the least "a number of hundred" Chinese language residents are combating on Russia's facet within the battle towards Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelensky mentioned on April 11.

The alleged variety of Chinese language nationals becoming a member of Russian forces has elevated since Zelensky’s earlier assertion. On April 9, he mentioned that 155 Chinese language residents had been combating for Moscow on Ukrainian territory.

Earlier this week, Kyiv captured two Chinese language nationals combating for Russia in Donetsk Oblast.

"As of now, there’s data indicating that not less than a number of hundred Chinese language nationals are combating as a part of Russia’s occupation forces. This implies Russia is clearly attempting to extend the battle even by utilizing Chinese language lives," Zelensky mentioned, addressing Western companions at a Ramstein-format summit in Brussels.

"Putin was not glad with troopers from North Korea. Now he’s attempting to cowl his shortages by pulling in one more nation — the Chinese language," the president added.

‘Don’t come, there’s nothing good here’ — Chinese soldiers warn against following Russian propaganda to fight in UkraineThe Ukrainian military recently captured two Chinese soldiers fighting for Russia. Kyiv subsequently released data on a total of 163 Chinese nationals identified by Ukrainian intelligence as fighting for Moscow. “We are collecting information, we believe that there are many more,” President Volodym…The Kyiv IndependentKollen Post

Allies pledge "file" $23.8 billion to Ukraine at Ramstein summit as U.Ok. warns 2025 might be "important"

NATO allies dedicated greater than 21 billion euros ($23.8 billion) in long-term army help to Ukraine in the course of the April 11 assembly of the Ukraine Protection Contact Group (UDCG), British Protection Secretary John Healey mentioned.

"That is file assist in army help to Ukraine," Healey mentioned.

"2025 is the important yr for this battle," Healey mentioned. "Now’s the important second… for protection industries, militaries and governments to step up."

The protection secretary careworn that the pledges weren’t solely about firepower however about sending a transparent message: "We stand with you within the combat and within the peace."

London has allotted 4.5 billion kilos ($5.8 billion) for Ukraine in 2025 — its largest annual contribution thus far. The U.Ok. and Norway earlier pledged a further 450 million kilos ($585 million) in mixed army assist.

Germany introduced it will ship 4 IRIS-T air protection methods, tanks, armored autos, missiles, shells, and extra, with the contribution of 11 billion euros (almost $14.4 billion) by way of 2029.

The newly unveiled sum reveals that "the message was understood very clearly, that the assist for Ukraine can’t diminish," Lithuania's Protection Minister Dovile Sakaliene informed journalists on the sidelines of the summit, in accordance with a Kyiv Impartial reporter.

"Lithuania particularly pledged moreover nearly 30 million euros ($34 million), and that signifies that this yr, we’ve already pledged 110 million euros ($125 million), and we’ll, in fact, attain 200 million ($280 million), and doubtless go greater," she added.

The Netherlands has additionally allotted 150 million euros ($170 million) to spice up Ukraine's air defenses, Dutch Protection Minister Ruben Brekelmans introduced.

Allies launch electronic warfare coalition to back Ukraine“The coalition is designed not only to meet the current needs of the Ukrainian army in electronic warfare, but also to lay the foundation for the long-term development of these capabilities,” Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said.The Kyiv IndependentKateryna Denisova

Russia has fired 70 missiles, 2,200 drones at Ukraine since March 11 ceasefire proposal, Kyiv says

Russia has launched 70 missiles, 2,200 Shahed-type drones, and 6,000 guided aerial bombs towards Ukraine since Kyiv and Washington agreed on a brief truce on March 11, International Minister Andrii Sybiha mentioned on April 11.

Ukrainian officers agreed to a U.S. proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire throughout their talks in Jeddah, supplied Russia abides by the circumstances. Moscow has rejected the deal except it consists of circumstances undermining Ukraine's defenses, particularly a full halt on international army help.

"From March 11 to April 11, Russia shot at Ukraine nearly 70 missiles of assorted sorts, over 2,200 Shahed drones, and greater than 6,000 guided aerial bombs," Sybiha mentioned on X.

"These had been Russian responses to peace proposals. That is typical of Russia: mendacity, manipulating, and persevering with terror."

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