A sudden outbreak! Russia launches a large-scale attack!

Source: Securities Times Network

The situation between Russia and Ukraine is extremely complex and unpredictable.

Russia suddenly launched a fierce air strike, which has drawn the attention of all parties. According to the latest news, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has canceled part of his visit plan to South Africa and will return to Ukraine immediately after meeting with the South African president. The Ukrainian Air Force said that the Russian military launched a large-scale air strike on Ukraine, firing a large number of missiles and drones into Ukraine, with Kharkiv and Kyiv being the main targets of the air strikes. On April 24 local time, Zelensky posted on his official social media platform that, as of now, the attacks have killed 12 people and injured more than a hundred others.

According to the latest reports from media such as the Associated Press and Agence France-Presse, after the above-mentioned air strikes, US President Donald Trump posted on his social media platform on the 24th, rarely criticizing Russian President Vladimir Putin and urging him to "stop".

At the same time, Russia has put forward the latest ceasefire conditions. Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, said in an interview that as long as Kyiv withdraws its troops from the four regions that are incorporated into Russia's territory according to the Russian constitution, the conflict in Ukraine can be ended immediately.

Russia Launches Large-scale Attacks

On April 25, according to the CCTV News app, on April 24 local time, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky posted on his official social media platform that the clearance work of the ruins in the capital Kyiv after the missile attack by Russia is still ongoing. As of now, the attacks have killed 12 people and injured more than a hundred others.

Zelensky said that Ukraine needs to end this war fairly, and in order to truly ensure the safety of the people, Ukraine needs to strengthen its air defense.

Zelensky said that he had canceled part of his visit plan to South Africa and would return to Ukraine immediately after meeting with the South African president.

On the 24th local time, in the presidential palace in Pretoria, the administrative capital of South Africa, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held a closed-door meeting with the visiting Zelensky. On that day, Zelensky arrived in Pretoria for a visit, which was the first official visit by a Ukrainian head of state to South Africa.

At around 1 a.m. local time on the 24th, dense explosions were heard in Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine. The Kyiv City Military Administration posted on social media that Kyiv was attacked by a mixture of missiles and drones. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko posted on social media in the early morning of the 24th that Kyiv was attacked by the Russian military in the early morning of that day, resulting in many people being injured.

The Ukrainian Air Force posted on social media from late on the 23rd to the early morning of the 24th that the Russian military launched a large-scale air strike on Ukraine, firing a large number of missiles and drones into Ukraine, with Kharkiv and Kyiv being the main targets of the air strikes.

The real-time monitoring data released by Ukraine's air strike warning system in the early morning of the 24th showed that in addition to Kyiv, explosions were heard in many places such as Kharkiv Oblast, Sumy Oblast, Zhytomyr Oblast, and Dnipropetrovsk Oblast.

The Kyiv City Military Administration said that the Russian military launched attacks on Kyiv, the capital of Ukraine, with drones, guided and ballistic missiles.

Russia Proposes Ceasefire Conditions

According to a report by Reference News citing RIA Novosti on April 23, Dmitry Peskov, the press secretary of the Russian president, said in an interview with the French weekly magazine Le Point that as long as Kyiv withdraws its troops from the four regions that are incorporated into Russia's territory according to the Russian constitution, the conflict in Ukraine can be ended immediately.

Peskov's other main statements are as follows:

Russian President Vladimir Putin supports the idea of a comprehensive ceasefire, but before the ceasefire, its conditions must be clarified, including resolving the issue of Europe supplying weapons to Kyiv;

The removal of Zelensky from power is not among Moscow's demands, but any document signed by him may be questioned due to his illegal status;

Russia believes that it is inappropriate to set a time limit for reaching a ceasefire agreement;

Ukraine should become a neutral country, and its accession to NATO would pose a threat to Russia's security;

Putin has emphasized that Moscow has been cornered in the security field, but neither French President Emmanuel Macron nor other European leaders are willing to listen to Putin's view;

Zelensky cannot fully control the Ukrainian military, and some nationalist units do not obey his orders, which is a major problem.

When talking about the meeting between the Russian and US presidents, Peskov said that both Putin and Trump understand that it is absurd to refuse dialogue, and they are both willing to solve complex problems through discussion. He said, "Most importantly, both of them will safeguard the interests of their own countries."

Peskov revealed that preparations for the meeting are currently underway.

Peskov emphasized that the conflict in Ukraine cannot be resolved without restoring normal relations between Moscow and Washington.

Trump's Pressure

According to a report by CNN, on April 23 local time, US President Donald Trump said on his social media platform "Truth Social" that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's statement that "Ukraine will not recognize the occupied territories as belonging to Russia" is "very harmful to the peace negotiations with Russia."

Trump said that the situation in Ukraine is severe, and Zelensky "either chooses peace or fights for another three years until he loses the whole country."

According to a report by Huanqiu.com citing The Hill, White House Press Secretary Caroline Levitt told reporters on the 23rd local time that US President Donald Trump's "patience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is almost exhausted."

The Guardian in the UK added that Levitt said that Trump is "frustrated" with the current negotiation process to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict. "He wants to see the killing stop, but this requires both sides of the conflict to be willing to do so. Unfortunately, Zelensky seems to be moving in the wrong direction."

US Vice President Mike Pence said on the 23rd that the Russia-Ukraine negotiations have entered a critical moment, and the US has issued "a very clear proposal" to both Russia and Ukraine. Now it's their turn to make a choice. "Either they say 'yes', or the US withdraws from this (mediation) process."

According to a report by The New York Times, two European officials said that in the talks on the Ukraine issue held in Paris, France last week, the framework of the ceasefire agreement proposed by the US included Ukraine's recognition of Russia's occupation of Crimea, Ukraine's non-accession to NATO, and other contents. But this proposal was rejected by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky.

Zelensky told the media on the 22nd that after a ceasefire is reached, Ukraine is willing to sit at the negotiation table in "any form", but "will never recognize the occupied territories as belonging to Russia."

A spokesperson for the UK Foreign Office said in a statement on the 23rd that the Ukraine talks held in London have made "significant progress", but did not explain the content of the substantive achievements. The French presidential palace told the media on the same day that in the process of resolving the Ukraine crisis, the territorial integrity of Ukraine is a "strong demand" of the European side.

On April 24 local time, French government spokesperson Sophie Primas said that a ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine is still a distant goal. Although Zelensky has repeatedly expressed his hope to achieve a limited ceasefire within the next 30 days and use this to promote peace negotiations with Russia, Europe, and the United States, the actual situation is not optimistic.

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