Peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine remain at a standstill, with no significant progress expected in the near future, according to Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov.

Recent talks in Istanbul saw Ukraine call for a full and unconditional ceasefire, a demand Moscow rejected. Both sides did, however, agree on prisoner exchanges and exchanged peace proposals. Peskov emphasized the complexity of the situation and dismissed hopes for a quick resolution. He also said a summit involving the presidents of Russia, Ukraine, and the U.S. is unlikely unless negotiators reach a substantial agreement. Moscow is demanding a troop withdrawal from four Ukrainian regions as a precondition for ceasefire, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky insists on a full and unconditional truce.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has laid out conditions to end the Ukraine war, demanding a written commitment from NATO to halt further expansion and a rollback of certain sanctions. According to Reuters, Putin wants assurances that countries like Ukraine, Georgia, and Moldova will not be granted NATO membership. Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized Putin for being dismissive of ceasefire talks, accusing him of “playing with fire.” Meanwhile, Moscow rejected a proposed trilateral meeting involving Trump, Zelensky, and Putin.

During peace talks held in Istanbul, head of the Russian delegation Vladimir Medinsky stated, “We do not want war, but we are prepared to continue fighting—one year, two years, even 21 years. We fought Sweden for that long before.”

Ukraine reportedly rejected Russia’s demand to withdraw its forces from four regions. In response to Ukraine’s strong objection, Russian negotiators warned, “Next time, the demand will include five regions.” Despite these tensions, both sides agreed to a prisoner exchange involving 1,000 individuals.

Russia and Ukraine have agreed to a mutual exchange of 1,000 prisoners of war each, following talks held in Turkey. Russian envoy Vladimir Medinsky stated that Ukraine has requested a direct meeting between the two presidents, which is under consideration. Both sides have reportedly agreed to present a framework for a possible ceasefire. Ukrainian Defense Minister Rustem Umerov confirmed that discussions also included a potential summit between Presidents Zelensky and Putin. Notably, former U.S. President Donald Trump had expressed interest in joining the talks, but Russian President Vladimir Putin did not respond.

For the second consecutive night, Moscow has come under heavy drone assault from Ukraine. In response, four major airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, Sheremetyevo, and Zhukovsky—have been temporarily shut down for security reasons. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin reported that at least 19 Ukrainian drones were intercepted and shot down across the city. Debris from some drones landed on a major highway, but no casualties have been reported. Meanwhile, in Russia’s Kursk region, a Ukrainian attack damaged a power substation in the town of Rylsk, injuring two people.

Russia has offered to help de-escalate tensions between India and Pakistan following the recent terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, on April 22. In a phone conversation with Pakistan’s Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov reiterated Moscow’s readiness to support a political resolution. Lavrov had earlier held similar discussions with Indian Foreign Minister S. Jaishankar, urging both sides to resolve their differences through dialogue.

Russian President Vladimir Putin stated on Sunday that Russia has enough power and resources to bring the war in Ukraine to a "logical conclusion" without the use of nuclear weapons. Reflecting on his 25 years in power, Putin said, "I do not consider myself a politician. I still breathe the same air as millions of Russians." Meanwhile, former U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration over the lack of progress in peace talks to end the war.

Ukraine launched a large-scale overnight attack using 183 drones and two ballistic missiles on various Russian targets, including Novorossiysk port in the Black Sea. The attack damaged a grain terminal and several residential buildings, injuring at least five people, including two children. Novorossiysk’s mayor declared a state of emergency following the assault.

In a humanitarian gesture marking Easter Sunday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in Ukraine from Saturday 6 PM to Sunday 6 PM local time. His forces were instructed to suspend all military operations during this period. While Ukraine has yet to respond officially, Putin stated, “We hope Ukraine will reciprocate. However, our forces must remain ready to respond to any provocations or violations.”

Russian President Vladimir Putin met with recently freed hostage Alexander Trufanov and his family in the Kremlin. He attributed Trufanov’s release to Russia’s longstanding relationship with the Palestinian people and expressed hope for more such humanitarian successes. Putin publicly thanked Hamas’ political leadership for heeding Russia’s request and facilitating the release.

Despite ongoing wartime turbulence, the Russian ruble has outperformed all global currencies, becoming the best-performing currency against the US dollar in 2025. According to Bloomberg data, the ruble has appreciated by 38% since the start of the year. This surge is largely attributed to declining confidence in the US dollar, exacerbated by former President Trump’s global trade conflicts.

Investment returns on the ruble have surpassed those of the Swedish krona and Swiss franc, which appreciated by 13% and 11% respectively. The British pound also recorded a modest gain of around 6%. Meanwhile, gold and silver prices have risen by 23% and 12%, respectively. The ruble’s remarkable performance has been bolstered by Russia’s high interest rates—currently set at 21% by the central bank—and restrictions on capital outflow for foreign companies.

Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov stated in an interview that Moscow has thoroughly reviewed the US ceasefire proposal but cannot accept it in its current form. According to Russia, the proposal fails to address key concerns that led to the conflict. Russia invaded Ukraine in February 2022, following its annexation of Crimea in 2014. Former US President Donald Trump had previously threatened severe sanctions on Russian oil if Moscow violated agreements.

Russia’s Supreme Court has confirmed receiving a request from the Prosecutor General’s Office to lift sanctions on the Taliban, who were designated a terrorist organization in 2003. The court will review the request.

Meanwhile, Taliban representatives have been participating in various forums hosted in Moscow. Under Russian law, any contact with terrorist organizations is a punishable offense. However, Russian officials have emphasized the need to engage with the Taliban for Afghanistan’s stability, sidestepping concerns about potential contradictions in their policy.

U.S. President Donald Trump expressed frustration over Vladimir Putin’s stance on the Ukraine war, hinting at imposing a 25% to 50% tariff on Russian oil. In an interview with NBC News, he also threatened airstrikes on Iran and dismissed any plans to militarily control Greenland. Before finalizing any agreements, he urged the Russian President to support a UN-led government in Ukraine. Trump criticized Putin’s comments about Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s credibility, stating that a lack of new leadership would mean no long-term peace deal.

Russian President Vladimir Putin extended Eid-ul-Fitr greetings to the Muslim community in Russia. In a statement, he described Eid as an ancient and significant festival symbolizing spiritual growth, kindness, and compassion. He also acknowledged the Muslim community’s contributions to charitable, educational, and national projects. Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin also extended his best wishes to Russian Muslims on this occasion.