Russia in no rush to resume Ukraine peace talks - Lavrov
Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov made a statment that peace talks with Ukraine are not currently a priority for Moscow, signaling continued stagnation in U.S.-mediated negotiations. Speaking at the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, Lavrov stated that Russia is open to talks but will not push for them unless its counterparts are ready.
The most recent trilateral meeting between Ukraine, Russia, and the United States took place on February 16, while a planned follow-up was postponed ahead of escalating tensions in the Middle East. President Volodymyr Zelensky has urged all sides to resume negotiations, maintaining that the process has not reached a dead end despite major disagreements — particularly over Russia’s demand that Ukraine withdraw from parts of Donbas, which Kyiv firmly rejects.
The slowdown has also been influenced by the limited availability of U.S. envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, who are currently engaged in diplomacy related to Iran. While the U.S. proposed hosting talks, Russia has indicated a preference for venues such as Turkey or Switzerland. Kyiv hopes a potential visit by the envoys could help revive the stalled negotiations, though no timeline has been confirmed.
An unknown shooter opened fire in Kyiv, people killed and injured
Today an unknown shooter opened fire on people in Kyiv, killing at least 5 individuals and injuring several others, including a child. The shooting began in one districts of the Capital, where a man, reportedly around 60 years old, fired at pedestrians on the street. Among the injured were a child and a security guard. The attacker then moved to the Demiivskyi district and barricaded himself inside a Velmart supermarket, reportedly taking hostages. Kyiv police immediately launched a special operation, cordoning off the area and deploying units from the Special Rapid Response Corps.
Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko confirmed that a child was among those injured and was being transported to hospital, while other wounded adults were receiving treatment at the scene. As of the latest reports, at least 5 people were killed and 10 others were hospitalized. Shots were heard from inside the supermarket during the ongoing police operation. The shooter subsequently was shot dead.
Russian seaborne oil exports have reportedly fallen
Russian seaborne oil exports have declined following intensified Ukrainian long-range strikes on energy infrastructure and ports, according to Kommersant. Citing data from the Center for Price Indices, the outlet reported that exports dropped by 16.1% to 291,000 tons between April 6 and 12, reaching their lowest level since summer 2024, with the potential to fall further by the end of April.
The sharpest decrease was recorded at the port of Novorossiysk, where shipments fell by over 73% to just 19,000 tons. In contrast, Baltic ports such as Primorsk and Ust-Luga did not see comparable declines during the same period, suggesting uneven disruption across Russia’s export infrastructure.
Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War note that Russia’s oil export capacity depends heavily on its ability to transport supplies. Continued Ukrainian drone strikes targeting ports and logistics hubs are therefore likely to further constrain exports and reduce revenues critical to sustaining Russia’s war effort.