Russia unleashes lethal aerial assault on Ukraine amid intensifying pressure for Kyiv to react to the American peace proposal
Layin' Down the Hammer: Russian air strikes slam into Ukraine as the Easter truce fizzles, leaving casualties in Kherson, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk.
In the southern Kherson region, three souls met their end and several more were injured following a brutal Russian attack, as per Oleksandr Prokudin, the head of the regional military administration. The nearby port city of Mykolaiv wasn't spared either, rocked by blasts early Monday with air alerts sounding across several eastern regions. Mayor Oleksandr Senkevych broke the news on Telegram, conceding that the extent of the damage and casualties were still unclear.
Meanwhile, Vadym Filashkin, the head of Donetsk's regional military administration, reported that at least four people were left wounded in the eastern Donetsk region.
The fierce attacks followed the expiration of a truce called by Russian President Vladimir Putin, with both sides finger-pointing blame for the violation of the peace deal.
The shock ceasefire was orchestrated after the U.S. offered its latest peace proposal in a not-so-fruitful effort to strike a deal between war-torn Ukraine and Mother Russia.
A insider sharing juicy details with CNN asserted that the U.S. is ready to acknowledge Russian control over Crimea, annexed by Moscow in 2014, a move that, if approved, would flip a decade of American policy on its head.
The proposal, submitted to both Kyiv and its European allies during high-level talks in Paris, would also enforce a ceasefire along the battlegrounds, according to the source. However, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has declared that the U.S. would cut ties on the Ukraine peace front if there's no positive movement within days.
In a contradictory tone, President Donald Trump has expressed optimism, posting on Truth Social that "hopefully, Russia and Ukraine would make a deal this week." Trump refused to comment on whether he'd step back from talks or offer military support to Ukraine if negotiations go south.
The insider informed CNN that the framework still requires polishing and that the U.S. plans to work with its European allies and Ukraine on these finer points in London this week. Simultaneously, the U.S. envoy for the Middle East is scheduled to meet with the Russians to convince them to hop on the peace train.
As of now, there's no official word from either Kyiv or Moscow on the U.S. proposal. Delegates from the U.S., Ukraine, and European countries convene in London later this week.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has maintained a flexed stance of willingness for peace with Moscow, but has drawn a line in the sand over occupied territories, labeling any recognition of them as Russian a major no-no.
CNN’s Ross Adkin, Victoria Butenko, and Kylie Atwood contributed reporting.
Chattin' Up the Tea:
- Recognition of Crimea: The U.S. proposal could officially recognize Russian rule over Crimea, a move that contradicts international law and a bipartisan consensus dating back a decade[1][3].
- NATO Membership: The proposal appears to exclude Ukraine joining NATO. U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg confirmed, "NATO isn't on the table"[1][4].
- Occupied Territories: The peace deal would leave the occupied Ukrainian territories under Russian rule, with the likelihood of easing sanctions against Russia in exchange for a ceasefire. However, it's uncertain if this includes de jure or de facto acknowledgement of these territories as Russian[4].
- European Position: While the U.S. is mulling over these measures, European allies remain steadfast in their refusal to recognize any occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian property[3][4].
- Ukrainian Position: Ukraine has been clear that it won't cede any land, especially Crimea, to Russia, making a peace deal based on these terms a tough sell[2][3].
- The U.S. proposal potentially acknowledges Russian control over Crimea, a move that contradicts international law and a bipartisan consensus spanning a decade.
- The peace proposal, in apparent exclusion, does not include Ukraine joining NATO, as confirmed by U.S. Special Envoy to Ukraine Keith Kellogg.
- The peace deal, if agreed upon, may leave the occupied Ukrainian territories under Russian rule, raising the possibility of sanctions being eased in exchange for a ceasefire, though the specifics regarding de jure or de facto acknowledgement remain uncertain.
- While the U.S. contemplates these measures, European allies have reiterated their refusal to recognize any occupied Ukrainian territories as Russian property.
- Ukraine's stance remains firm, with President Volodymyr Zelensky refusing to cede any land, especially Crimea, to Russia, making any peace deal based on such terms challenging to negotiate.
