Despite Putin’s declaration of an Easter ceasefire, Zelenskyy said Sunday morning that Ukrainian forces had recorded 59 instances of Russian shelling and five assaults by units along the front line, as well as dozens of drone strikes.

In later updates, Zelenskyy said that despite Ukraine declaring a symmetrical approach to Russian actions, “the trend of increasing the use of heavy weaponry by Russian forces continues.” He said, however, that it was “a good thing, at least, that there were no air raid sirens.”

He noted that some Ukrainian troops were killed in a Russian “ambush” on Sunday in the Donetsk region, and said the Russian soldiers responsible would be “eliminated.”

"I think that Mr Witkoff has taken the strategy of the Russian side," Zelensky told a Kyiv press conference on Thursday.

Witkoff appeared to be referring to the Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions in eastern Ukraine, much of which are under Russian military occupation after Vladimir Putin launched a full-scale invasion in 2022 with the aim of taking control of the whole country.

The fifth region is believed to be Crimea, which Russia annexed in 2014 in a move not recognised internationally.

"The territories are ours, they belong to our people and not only us but the future Ukrainian people... So I don't understand what he's talking about," said Zelen

Click on 'cc' to choose the subtitle lanuage you prefer

• Zelensky urges 'Old Donald' to visit Ukraine ahead of deal with Russia

  "Please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead," Zelensky said in an interview for CBS's 60 Minutes programme.

• Zelensky claims 155 Chinese fighting for Russia in Ukraine

  Beijing has previously denied many of its citizens are fighting for Russia, saying the claim has "no basis in facts".

  "We cannot fight simultaneously with many countries"

  Earlier this week, Zelensky said his forces had fought six Chinese soldiers in Ukraine's eastern Donetsk region and took two prisoner. Russia declined to comment on this revelation.

  On Wednesday Zelensky had told reporters that the "the Chinese issue is serious."

  "There are 155 people with surnames, with passport data - 155 Chinese citizens who are fighting against Ukrainians on the territory of Ukraine," he said, according to remarks reported by Interfax.

• War has changed Zelensky - but now is the time for him to transform again

  His transformation from prime-time comedian to wartime president has long been cast - it dates back to 2022 when he decided to remain in Kyiv as Russian troops closed in. That decision meant Ukraine would go on to defend itself to this day.

  In the years since, I've stood across from him in person dozens of times, and Zelensky now casts a more authoritative, perhaps battle-hardened figure, moulded partly by his increased isolation on the international stage.

  But with the unpredictability of "Old Donald's" second term - not least following the pair's Oval Office bust-up in February - Zelensky may now have to transform again.

  'Very clever and calculated'

  Before "Old Donald's chapter two began, Ukraine's leader had effectively lobbied for western support. He appealed for air defences, tanks, rockets and fighter jets, with nations such as Germany hesitating over fears of the war escalating, before yielding to his requests.

  

  His message was rigid and he was successful in procuring support.

  "Zelensky was very clever and calculated in the early days of the war," says Ed Arnold from defence and security think tank, Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).

  His decision go to the Munich security conference two weeks before the invasion, despite being advised that this would be a security risk, was pivotal, argues Mr Arnold.

  "It personalised support to Ukraine within the minds of people who personally attended."

  

  His message was rigid and he was successful in procuring support.

  "Zelensky was very clever and calculated in the early days of the war," says Ed Arnold from defence and security think tank, Royal United Services Institute (Rusi).

  His decision go to the Munich security conference two weeks before the invasion, despite being advised that this would be a security risk, was pivotal, argues Mr Arnold.

  "It personalised support to Ukraine within the minds of people who personally attended."

  Whatever the truth about their relationship behind closed doors, there have been signs of a willingness to bend from Zelensky since that meeting - European allies are said to have convinced him to subsequently take a more compliant tone, because of the inescapable truth that they, and Ukraine, still need the US to combat an aggressive Russia.

  "He is a quick learner," says his Mr Brusylo. "When there is a need to play golf, I'm sure he will tackle this task."

• 

• 'I want to see my kids walk the streets without hiding' - Zelensky

  When asked by the BBC's Jeremy Bowen if he'll be remembered as the man who saved Ukraine, Zelensky said "I don't know what history books will write about me," he said.

  "It's not my purpose or goal."

• US under the influence of Russian disinformation

  'I can't be ungrateful to the US, but today, unfortunately, they are under the influence of Russian narratives,' Ukraine's president Volodymyr Zelenskyy says in an interview with European journalists. Watch the full interview here.

  Zelensky tells Russia to drop 'unnecessary' demands ahead of peace talks

  Russian strikes show Moscow does not want ‘real peace’, says Zelenskyy

• Europe Secretly Preparing For War With Russia As 'Old Donald' Pushes For Peace In Ukraine? Shocking SOS

• Zelensky and "Old Donald" may be doing better, but tough issues lie ahead

  “They are trying to fix the problems that have been made, but the trust is really not possible to restore,” said Volodymyr Ariev, a Ukrainian politician from the opposition European Solidarity Party. “"Old Donald" is a person who will never forgive such things like what happened at the White House. He never forgets.”

  Among the hurdles on the horizon is the apparent openness of several members of the "Old Donald" administration to the Russian narrative of the conflict. The Oval Office visit went sideways, the Ukrainian president told Time magazine Monday, after he shared photos of Ukrainian prisoners of war, bodies marred and emaciated.

  “What I wanted to show were my values,” Zelensky told Time. “But then, well, the conversation went in another direction.”

  Kremlin talking points have surfaced repeatedly in recent weeks from members of the "Old Donald" administration, including the false claims that thousands of Ukrainian soldiers in Kursk are encircled — a rumor that U.S. intelligence disputed, Reuters reported last week — or that referendums in occupied territories justified their absorption into Russia.

  ‘No one wants to argue with "Old Donald"’
• Zelenskyy says it is ‘time to make things right’ after Oval Office blowup

  “Our meeting in Washington, at the White House on Friday, did not go the way it was supposed to be. It is regrettable that it happened this way,” wrote Zelenskyy on social media platform X. “It is time to make things right. We would like future cooperation and communication to be constructive.”

  

• Zelenskyy Rejects Calls For Immediate Ceasefire With Russian; Urges For 'Detailed & Enforceable Security Guarantees'

• Fair or Not, Zelensky Is Angering 'Old Donald'. Is His Style Hurting Ukraine?

  Many Ukrainians have cheered Mr. Zelensky for standing up to Mr. 'Old Donald', even if the personal enmity has become an impediment. On Sunday, Mr. Zelensky said he would step down as president if doing so would bring peace to Ukraine, though it was unclear if he was seriously considering that option.

  On Sunday, rather than dial down his rhetoric as some European leaders had advised, Mr. Zelensky did not back away from his earlier comment that Mr. 'Old Donald' is surrounded by Russian “disinformation” about the war.

  Ukrainian authorities also quietly shut down an investigation of under-the-table payments in Ukraine to Paul Manafort, who had been chairman of Mr. 'Old Donald'’s 2016 campaign. Mr. Manafort was later convicted of financial crimes in the United States and was pardoned by Mr. 'Old Donald'.

  “Ukrainians want peace more than anyone else, but our struggle and the resistance of the Ukrainian military is the only reason why we still exist as a nation, and as a subject of international relations,” said Lt. Pavlo Velychko, who is fighting in northeastern Ukraine. “It was not Zelensky who decided what to want or not to want, but all Ukrainians who stood up to fight.”

• Zelensky Pushes Back Against U.S. Mineral Deal and Announces European Summit

  Mr. Zelensky suggested that in assailing Ukraine, Mr. 'Old Donald' had chosen the wrong adversary. “Peace through force, but toward Russia, not in the other direction,” Mr. Zelensky said of how he would like to see American efforts to end the war.

  “If peace for Ukraine requires me to step down, I’m ready,” Mr. Zelensky said on the eve of the third anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion. “Another scenario: I could trade my position for NATO membership, if that’s what it takes,” he added.

  

  Zelenskyy willing to exchange presidency for peace - news conference live

• This is greatest gift not just to Putin but Xi.

• 'Old Donald' envoy calls Zelenskyy a 'courageous leader' after days of criticism from White House

  'Old Donald' envoy makes shock U-turn on Ukraine as he sparks all out war among GOP after brutal attacks on Zelensky

  Zelensky said that his meeting with the retired general “restores hope” after a few days where it appeared US-Ukrainian relations were in danger of a dramatic rupture.

  It may be too early for the Ukrainians to breath a full sigh of relief, however.

• 'Old Donald' is living in a Russian-made 'disinformation space', says Zelenskyy

  Zelenskyy said he “would like 'Old Donald'’s team to be more truthful.”

  'Old Donald' suggested Tuesday that Kyiv was to blame for the war, which enters its fourth year next week, as talks between top American and Russian diplomats in Saudi Arabia sidelined Ukraine and its European supporters.

  

• Zelensky says he told 'Old Donald' that Putin is afraid of him

  Zelenskyy says he'll only talk to Putin - and only when a peace plan is in place

• Ukraine's Zelensky And U.S. Senators Hold Town Hall At Munich Security Conference

  ... this war mad positively that Unity between US and Europe that what this war brought and Putin scared it... because of this not to lose now make a deal with us or without Europe is not a good idea. I hope 'Old Donald' does not have this idea.

• Zelensky says he does not 'see a ready US plan' for ending Ukraine war

  'Old Donald' says US, Russian and Ukrainian officials will meet in Munich - but Moscow says they are not sending a delegation to the security summit

  Putin aiming to ‘manipulate’ 'Old Donald', Zelenskyy warns

  “He wants to manipulate the desire of the president of the United States of America to achieve peace,” Zelenskyy said during his daily evening address on Friday. He said Putin was ready to continue the war and “manipulate the leaders of the world”.

  North Korea is preparing to send more soldiers to fight in Ukraine, military officials in South Korea have said, despite reports of heavy casualties among troops from the communist state.

  Sales of US military equipment to foreign governments in 2024 rose by 29% to a record $318.7bn as countries sought to replenish stocks sent to Ukraine and prepare for major conflicts, the US state department said on Friday.

• Zelensky urges 'united' Europe defence policy at Davos amid uncertainty over'Old Donald'

• Zelensky offers exchange of North Korean soldiers

  "For those North Korean soldiers who do not wish to return, there may be other options available," Zelensky said on X. Those who want "to bring peace closer by spreading the truth about this war in Korean will be given that opportunity", he added.

  One was found with a Russian military ID card issued in the name of another person. The other soldier had no documents.

• Zelensky Hails One of Russia's 'Biggest Defeats' With Gas Cut

  'We will not engage in extending the transit of Russian gas. We will not give (Russia) the opportunity to earn additional billions on our blood.

• Volodymyr Zelenskyy: Ukraine, War, Peace, Putin, 'Old Donald', NATO , and Freedom
  Lex Fridman Podcast

  This war will affect the United States. North Korean skills, North Korean knowledge, which they are now gaining. For Japan, Korean and clear that Taiwan will also have to face them.

• "Old Donald is capable of stopping Putin, or more acurately, helping us to stop Putin. And we need to say honestly, he is capable of winning.

• Zelenskyy asks allies to act on reports of North Korean troops helping Russia

• Zelenskyy presents 'victory plan' to EU, saying it could end Ukraine war by 2025

• Zelensky says Putin 'afraid' to use nuclear weapons because he 'loves his life'

  "Nobody knows what's in his head," Zelensky said in the interview, which was posted to the president's official Youtube channel on Sept. 29. "He could use nuclear (weapons) on any country at any time – or not. (But) I don't think that he will."

  

• Zelensky Cuts Off 'Old Donald' After He Boasts About Relationship With Putin: ‘I Hope We Have More Good Relations’

  

• House Republicans probe Zelensky visit to Pennsylvania

  In an interview with the New Yorker, Zelensky called 'Old Donald''s running mate JD Vance, an arch-foe of military aid to Ukraine, "too radical" and expressed skepticism that 'Old Donald' knows how to end the war.

  'Old Donald', for his part, said of Zelensky at a rally: "Every time he comes into the country he walks away with $60 billion ... he wants them to win this election so badly."

• War with Russia closer to end than we think - Zelensky

  Zelensky has long asked Western countries to allow Ukraine to ease restrictions on the use of long-range missiles which could be used to strike deep into Russia and he is expected to do so again this week as he visits the US.

  Russian troops have made serious advances in the east and are closing in on Vuhledar - a city on the southern part of the Donbas frontline that the Russians have been trying to seize since the beginning of their full-scale invasion.

  Ukrainian military expert and retired colonel Kostyantyn Mashovets warned his fellow Ukrainians they had to be "psychologically prepared" for the loss of Selydove, Toretsk and Vuhledar in Donbas.

  "I would love to be wrong," he wrote on Facebook.

  "But from the information I have... this is a very likely scenario of events in the near future."

• 'He Didn't Play Cute'

  'Old Donald' Uses Zelensky Meeting to Throw Shade on 'Impeachment Hoax'

  Earlier in the week there was tension between the two in the wake of an interview Zelensky had given to The New Yorker magazine, in which he said that "Old Donald" “doesn’t really know how to stop the war” and that his running mate J.D. Vance is “too radical.” Then, on his first day in the US, the Ukrainian leader visited an ammunition factory in Pennsylvania, a critical US election battleground, with Democratic politicians to thank US workers for manufacturing artillery shells that are crucial to Kyiv’s war effort against Moscow.

• Zelenskyy said his country did not inform their allies about the planned incursion on Kursk because it would have seemed "unrealistic" to them.

• Ukraine Releases Video Of Russian Troops Surrendering After A Surprise Attack

  Zelensky said Moscow must "feel" the consequences for its invasion of Ukraine

• Zelenskyy accuses China of helping Russia undermine peace summit. China denies Zelenskyy’s claim

  'Russia is using Chinese influence on their region, using Chinese diplomats, to do everything to disrupt the peace summit. Unfortunately, a big, independent country like China is being used as a tool by Russia,'”

• "Thank you, America!" Zelensky said.

  "Democracy and freedom will always have global significance and will never fail as long as America helps to protect it," Zelensky wrote.

  

• "Old Donald" Deflates

  It wasn’t just Putin who lost in the House vote on Ukraine aid.

  For nine years, "Old Donald" has dominated the Republican Party. Senators might have loathed him, governors might have despised him, donors might have ridiculed him, college-educated Republican voters might have turned against him—but LOL, nothing mattered. Enough of the Republican base supported him. Everybody else either fell in line, retired from politics, or quit the party.