Russia-Ukraine conflict: Chronology of significant occurrences, day 1,159

title: Ukraine-Russia Conflict and Diplomatic Movements (April 28 Update)

In the thick of things on Monday, April 28:

Battlefront

A whopping 150 drones and missiles were launched by Russia against Ukraine on Sunday. Tragically, at least four lives were claimed, and the Ukrainian Air Force reported success in intercepting 57 of these drones and scrambling another 67.
Marking a significant shift, North Korea admitted on Monday to dispatching troops to join Russian forces in a bid to retake parts occupied by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region.
Russia's President, Vladimir Putin, expressed his gratitude to North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, stating, "Our Korean allies took action driven by solidarity, justice, and camaraderie."
Unsurprisingly, the US State Department raised the alarm over this admission and pressed Pyongyang to promptly cease military support for Russia.

Diplomacy and Politics

For the first time, US President Donald Trump seemed to be distancing himself from his past trust in Putin. Trump expressed his disappointment over Russia's continued missile attacks on Ukraine, stating, "I wish he'd stop, negotiate, and seal the deal."
However, Trump also hinted at a possible shift in Ukraine's stance towards Crimea, suggesting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might consider ceding the territory to Russia, despite previous denials.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the administration may withdraw from ceasefire negotiations if progress isn't forthcoming. Rubio emphasized that a ceasefire agreement needs to be reached soon, or the US may divert its resources elsewhere.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressed a readiness for negotiations but highlighted outstanding issues. "We are prepared to broker a deal," he said, adding that certain aspects needed to be refined.
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced that previously received US aid would not factor into an upcoming minerals agreement with Washington. Shmyhal reported "good progress" on the agreement after a meeting with US Secretary of the Treasury, Scott Bessent.
German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius cautioned Ukraine against accepting Trump's ceasefire proposal involving land concessions to Russia, deeming it a "surrender."

Enrichment Data:- North Korea has officiated its military support to Russia in the Ukraine conflict, marking the first explicit acknowledgment of troop deployments. Estimates suggest between 10,000-12,000 North Korean troops were sent to Russia in late 2024, with an additional 3,000 deployment earlier in 2025. Casualty reports vary significantly, with South Korea estimating around 4,000 killed or injured, while US figures are lower, citing approximately 1,200.- International responses have been critical: - The US condemned the deployment, urging an immediate end to North Korea’s involvement and warning that third-party support only perpetuates the war. - South Korea's military closely monitored troop movements and casualties, underscoring the extent of North Korea’s engagement. - Ukraine publicized casualties among North Korean soldiers, highlighting the direct battlefield impact of Pyongyang’s involvement.

Pyongyang's estimated 10,000-12,000 troops, deployed to Russia in late 2024, and an additional 3,000 early in 2025, have reportedly been part of the ongoing Ukraine conflict, according to enrichment data.
The admission by North Korea of its military assistance to Russia in the Ukraine conflict has faced international criticism, with the US urging an immediate cessation of Pyongyang's military involvement, arguing that third-party support only fuels the war.
Diplomatic efforts to resolve the Ukraine-Russia conflict have been underway, with Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov expressing readiness for negotiations, but highlighting the presence of unresolved issues.
On the political front, US President Donald Trump has indicated a possible shift in Ukraine's stance towards Crimea, suggesting that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy might reconsider ceding the territory to Russia, despite previous denials.
Despite the ongoing war-and-conflicts in Ukraine, general news reports indicate nearly 4,000 casualties among North Korean troops, according to South Korea, while US figures suggest approximately 1,200.