Air raid alerts for drone swarms are up for all of eastern and most of central Ukraine as of 8:35 PM EDT/3:30 AM local time in Ukraine.
President Zelenskyy traveled to Rome and Vatican City today for Pope Francis’s funeral. While there he had a few bilateral engagements on the sidelines.
“Applause broke out when Zelenskyy, dressed in the black military-style garb that has become his wartime staple, stepped into St Peter’s Square.”
on.ft.com/4jrVruR— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) April 26, 2025 at 7:41 AM
Some clearly important diplomacy happening in Rome/Vatican City this morning
— Mujtaba Rahman (@mijrahman.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 8:51 AM
“You did a horrible job” Vs. “Bonjour, mon ami!”
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 9:30 AM
Don’t just watch this from an American point of view and our handshaking culture.
The French shake EVERYONE’S hands. ALWAYS. In contexts where we don’t.
So for Macron to skip it is wow…
— Cathy Gellis (@cathygellis.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 11:21 AM
Zelenskyy and von der Leyen discussed Ukraine’s EU accession steps in Rome. “Europe will always stand by Ukraine in its pursuit of peace. You can count on our support for a just and lasting peace,” von der Leyen wrote on X. She added they reviewed Ukraine’s efforts to join the EU family of nations.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 12:47 PM
Zelenskyy on his Trump meeting to journalists: “We discussed very sensitive issues and the results of the London talks, but I’d prefer not to go into details.”
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 8:41 AM
Trump after meeting Zelensky in Rome:
“[T]here was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities… It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?””— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) April 26, 2025 at 9:51 AM
Obligatory:
Last night, way2blue asked:
Tonight’s sparked a couple questions about Trump’s ‘negotiating strategy’:
I will remind everyone that there is no deal to sign.
Is the purpose of Trump saying a deal is close—to simply set the narrative that his failure to end the war is Zelenskyy’s fault? And when Trump say Ukraine will never join NATO—how does he have any say—given the U.S. is slow walking away from it’s NATO commitments?
Let’s take these in order:
- Is the purpose of Trump saying a deal is close—to simply set the narrative that his failure to end the war is Zelenskyy’s fault? I think there’s two things going on here. The first is that Trump has been a lifelong adherent to Norman Vincent Peale’s power of positive thinking. That boils down to him believing he can simply conjure his successfully achieving his objectives out of thin air by willing them into being and relentlessly asserting he’s succeeding. Of course when he doesn’t succeed, he then places the blame on everyone but himself and/or asserts that he actually was successful. I would expect that he’s decided that Zelenskyy and all Ukrainians will be quite appropriate to blame.
- And when Trump say Ukraine will never join NATO—how does he have any say—given the U.S. is slow walking away from it’s NATO commitments? NATO ascension requires unanimous consent of all members. Which is why Orban has been stating he’ll block Ukrainian joining NATO for three years now. This is, of course, Russia’s position and part of Putin’s and Russia’s list of grievances against the US and NATO. Which is that the US expanded NATO into the states that had freed themselves from Russia’s control and orbit at the fall of the Soviet Union, thereby depriving Russia of its historic near abroad and sphere of influence as the successor state to both the Soviet Union and imperial Russia. Orban’s adopting this position is especially rich as Hungary is one of those states that Russia still claims it should hold sway over. I’ve written here before that once this war is over, NATO will need Ukraine as much, if not more than Ukraine needs NATO. Whether Trump is still president by then or even if he’s not he’s pulled the US out of NATO are things we’ll have to wait and see on.
As I’m sure you’ve surmised, President Zelenskyy did not make an address today because he was traveling for Pope Francis’s funeral.
Georgia:
🟥Day 150 – Tbilisi, #GeorgiaProtests
📢The “Freedom March” arrived at the Prosecutor’s Office, demanding the resignation of the “illegitimate government” of Georgian Dream and the release of political prisoners.
Police are mobilized in the area.
#Georgia— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) April 26, 2025 at 9:05 AM
Rustaveli is blocked again.
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 150📸Tako Tolordava
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Today’s “Step down, illegitimate regime!” march also focused on retribution against the corrupt judiciary, prosecution, false witnesses, etc., and asked for more targeted international sanctions against them.
We need systemic changes.
Day 150 of #GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 2:22 PM
🔴 On the 150th consecutive day of the #GeorgiaProtests, the “Freedom March” is heading to the General Prosecutor’s Office in Tbilisi with the call: “The illegitimate government must resign.”
— Batumelebi&Netgazeti (@netgazeti.org) April 26, 2025 at 8:37 AM
73-year-old Mzisa Gabeshia has been protesting the Georgian Dream’s pro-Russian decisions alone for 150 days in the small town of Martvili.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 1:50 PM
Day 150. Gathering for the routine protest after a big day.
We simply will not stop – because we cannot stop.
You can help us whatever costs can be avoided by targeted sanctions, regime non-cooperation, and calls for new, free and fair Parliamentary elections.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 2:21 PM
“Freedom for the regime’s prisoners” — protest in the Tbilisi metro
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 150📸 Rusudan Jakeli
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 11:31 AM
Day 150.
“The illegitimate regime must step down” march.
#GeorgiaProtests
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 1:07 PM
“Freedom March” — On the 150th day of continuous protests, citizens’ demand is clear: “The illegitimate government must resign.”
Photo: Nino Kikvadze/Publika
#GeorgiaProtests
Day 150— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 7:29 AM
And seem to be on the track of outright wanting the Georgian Dream gone rather than them even taking part in a new, free and fair elections.
But it’s a process, let’s see.
— Marika Mikiashvili 🇬🇪🇺🇦🇪🇺 (@marikamikiashvili.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 10:17 AM
The EU flag waves in front of the statue of King David the Builder — one of Georgia’s greatest leaders, known for uniting the country, defending its independence, and leading sweeping reforms that strengthened the state.
Day 150 of daily protests in Georgia. 🇬🇪🇪🇺
— Rusudan Djakeli (@rusudandjakeli.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 10:06 AM
The 5th President of Georgia, Salome Zourabichvili met with Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I. Both traveled to the Vatican to attend the funeral ceremony of Pope Francis.
Mikheil Kavelashvili, representing GD, is also in the Vatican; however, his photos have not been released yet.
— Publika.ge (@publikage.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 4:50 AM
Back to Ukraine:
The monthly production of the Ukrainian 155mm 2S22 Bohdana wheeled self-propelled howitzer has reached 36 units. militarnyi.com/uk/news/vyro…
— 🦋Special Kherson Cat🐈🇺🇦 (@specialkhersoncat.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 8:40 AM
Watch the story of an 18-year-old girl who escaped Russian occupation.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 26, 2025 at 1:52 PM
Chornobyl:
🙏 Today is April 26, the day of remembrance of the Chernobyl tragedy.
We bow before the heroic deeds of the liquidators. Bright memories to those who lost their lives and condolences to all whose lives have been changed forever.
Picture: Marina Sochenko – “Tears of Chernobyl”.— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 3:36 PM
HBO made Chornobyl’s tragedy known.
But it’s really the story of hundreds of thousands of lives — stories we must remember so history never repeats.
— UNITED24 Media (@united24media.com) April 26, 2025 at 2:08 PM
The Kursk cross border offensive:
Chief of the General Staff, Gerasimov, while reporting to Putin, said: “I would like to specifically highlight the participation of servicemen from the DPRK in the liberation of the border areas of the Kursk region.”
Something long known but often denied by pro-Russian shillsria.ru/20250426/kur…
— Tatarigami (@tatarigami.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 11:38 AM
Russia has for the first time admitted North Korean fighters are battling on their side. The Russian General Staff praised the “high professionalism” of North Korean assault meat in Kursk. Previously, the Kremlin dismissed reports of their involvement as fake.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 9:08 AM
The Kremlin today claimed that all Ukrainian troops had been pushed out of Russia’s Kursk region. Ukraine literally called “bullshit.”
Also, Russia confirmed for the first time the role of North Korean soldiers in the fighting.
Story w/ @maxseddon.bsky.social: www.ft.com/content/7107…
— Christopher Miller (@christopherjm.ft.com) April 26, 2025 at 9:17 AM
From The Financial Times:
The Kremlin has claimed that all Ukrainian troops have been pushed out of Russia’s Kursk region and for the first time confirmed the role of North Korean soldiers in the fighting, as Donald Trump questioned Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war.
Chief of General Staff Valery Gerasimov reported on Saturday to President Vladimir Putin that Ukraine’s forces inside Kursk had been repelled, nine months after their surprise incursion — which was the first by a foreign army into Russian territory since the second world war. Gerasimov claimed Ukraine had suffered “huge losses”.
“The Kyiv regime’s adventure has completely failed,” Putin said in a carefully orchestrated video meeting that aired on state television.
A senior Ukrainian official told the Financial Times that Putin’s claim was “bullshit”. The official insisted that Kyiv’s forces still held ground in the Kursk region, although the amount of territory it controlled had fallen to about 30 sq km from the roughly 1,300 sq km it captured in August.
The Kremlin made the claim as Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met briefly at the Vatican before the funeral of Pope Francis. It was the first time they had seen each other in person since their explosive meeting in the Oval Office in February.
Trump said that Russia and Ukraine were “very close” to agreeing a deal after his special envoy Steve Witkoff met Putin in Moscow on Friday for a fourth round of talks.
But on Saturday in a post on Truth Social after meeting Zelenskyy, the US president questioned Putin’s willingness to end the war. “There was no reason for Putin to be shooting missiles into civilian areas, cities and towns over the last few days,” he wrote.
“It makes me think that maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war, he’s just tapping me along, and has to be dealt with differently, through “Banking” or “Secondary Sanctions?” Too many people are dying!!!”
Putin struck a defiant note on Saturday. “The complete defeat of the enemy in the Kursk border area creates conditions for further successful actions by our troops in other important areas of the front,” he told Gerasimov.
Gerasimov praised the North Korean troops for their bravery, saying they fought “shoulder to shoulder” with their Russian comrades. More than 12,000 North Korean troops were deployed to the region, according to the Ukrainian, South Korean and American governments. Moscow had not previously officially acknowledged their presence.
Ukraine’s General Staff said Russia’s claims “do not correspond to reality”, calling them “a propaganda ploy” and “wishful thinking”.
It said its “defensive operation . . . in certain areas in the Kursk region continues”. “The operational situation is difficult, but our units continue to hold certain positions and carry out assigned tasks, while inflicting effective fire damage on the enemy from all types of weapons, including active defence tactics.”
It said that five enemy assaults had been repelled and that another battle was under way, adding that there was no threat of encirclement of its units, which also remain present in Russia’s neighbouring Belgorod region. That operation is small in comparison to Kursk, however; Zelenskyy has said the goal is to create a “buffer zone” to prevent future Russian assaults from the region.
More at the link.
Derhachi, Kharkiv Oblast:
An enterprise in Derhachi, Kharkiv region was attacked by russian drones.
As a result of the strikes, two employees were injured and hospitalized. 4 drones struck it in 20 minutes.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 7:04 AM
Bila Tserkva, Kyiv Oblast:
Video of russian drone hitting a house in Bila Tserkva.
— Kate from Kharkiv (@kateinkharkiv.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 6:20 AM
The Donetsk front:
Looks like the anti-drone accessory didn’t help the Russians with their assault. Ukrainian forces destroyed this engineering gimmick faster than it could spread online. Donetsk front.
— WarTranslated (Dmitri) (@wartranslated.bsky.social) April 26, 2025 at 12:19 PM
That’s enough for tonight.
Your daily Patron!
There are no new Patron skeets or videos today. Here is some adjacent material:
He is the mascot of his brothers, bringing good luck: he warms the warriors on cold nights, purrs during lulls, and is the first to hear the hum of enemy drones, signaling action. Indestructible, like the spirit of the AFU, and loyal, like the heart of Ukraine 💙💛
— Vitalis Viva (@vitalisviva.bsky.social) April 19, 2025 at 5:51 PM
Open thread!
A Bit of Perspective on a Saturday Evening
Chief Oshkosh
Adam, thank you again for finding, documenting, and commenting on and presenting all of this.
Gin & Tonic
You really think Putin doesn’t want to stop the war? Huh.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: Could go either way.
🤷🏻♂️
Adam L Silverman
@Chief Oshkosh: You are most welcome.
Jay
Thank you, Adam.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: You’re also welcome.
Jay
Jackie
I LOVE that Zelensky shook Macron’s hand and snubbed FFOTUS! That made my heart sing!
I also love the love, respect, encouragement and support Zelensky received from multiple nations, while shunning or minimizing their greetings to FFOTUS.
Nukular Biskits
Adam, as always, I’m in awe of the info and the analysis you put into these posts.
And, as always, I know I sound like a broken record, but I honestly don’t know where or how you find the time to do it.
Appreciated.
Frank Wilhoit
How good is Zelenskiy’s English? The photos showing him speaking with Trump without interpreters could of course be staged. I am having trouble imagining anyone who learned English out of a book being able to follow Trump’s grammar-free digressions, hints, and threats.
Gin & Tonic
@Jay: From what I’ve read, a) she isn’t very important at CIA and b) she started her employment after the son was already in russia. Personally I’d be interested in her heritage – a name like “Gallina” is likely to be russian.
But, you know, with Tulsi Gabbard as DNI, they don’t have to bother with compromising Deputy Directors.
Gloria DryGarden
Beautiful, stunning regal cat.
love the handshake video, how macron is showing his support for Z. Charmed by his evasion of contact w USA man.
So mr trump is just putting it together that Putin doesn’t want to end the war? What took so long?
Thanks, Adam.
Gin & Tonic
@Frank Wilhoit: His English is quite good. I’d bet at this point it’s better than Trump’s.
Andrya
Adam, as always, thanks for doing this. I suspect it spreads information far more than the number of views: I share your info with everyone in my social network and I suspect others do as well.
You posted a photo of Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew (the closest the Eastern Orthodox have to a pope- “first among equals”) along with the legitimate Georgian president, Salome Zourabichvili. This is a good opportunity to remind our community that in 2019, Bartholomew declared the Ukrainian Orthodox Church “autocephalous” (self-governing)- setting the Ukrainian Orthodox Church free from the governance of the Russian Orthodox Church in Russia- which is 100% in putin’s pocket. I think this is a fair indicator of what Patriarch Bartholomew thinks of putin’s imperialistic schemes.
Jackie
@Gin & Tonic: Absolutely! FFOTUS doesn’t speak English; he speaks a language scholars are trying to interpret. Thus far they’re at a loss.
Gloria DryGarden
I love that Zelensky was applauded as he entered the square.
I notice Z doesn’t shake trump’s hand, either. But trump feels free to touch his arm. I don’t trust his power dynamics or ability to respect others’ bodily sovereignty. Subtle, possibly belittling.
Andrya
@Frank Wilhoit: Based on video I’ve seen, Zelenskyy is fluent in English.
ETA: Sorry, G&T, you beat me to it!
Adam L Silverman
@Nukular Biskits: You’re most welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@Jay: @Gin & Tonic: The young man had a long history of mental health problems, so while this looks bad, it is more likely just sad.
Adam L Silverman
@Gloria DryGarden: You’re welcome.
Gin & Tonic
@Adam L Silverman: What’s sad is the family referring to him as a hero.
Adam L Silverman
@Andrya: You’re most welcome. Thanks for the kind words.
Adam L Silverman
@Gin & Tonic: The whole thing is weird. I’d expect this would’ve generated full CI checks on both his parents, but given that our CI capabilities were already degraded before this administration, I’m not holding my breath.
Jay
@Adam L Silverman: dead wannabe ruZZian = better world.
Not sad.
Gary K
So you led off with scenes from Three Men and a Baby…
AlaskaReader
Thanks Adam
PT&S
Is there any use at all in the theme of this email I sent to my red-state senator today? I can easily believe not, but it feels worth saying anyway.
“I believe it is of immense importance globally, morally, and in American national interest for Ukraine to be defended against the Russian invasion and intent to subjugate them under the profoundly unfree Russian social system. I desire that our government pursues that agenda across a broad range of measures that are open to us.
Today, let me mention something I think important that seems to have been neglected in our societal discussion on this topic.
There seems to be an ongoing international back-and-forth about what forms of economic, military, and moral aid can provided to Ukraine and what threats Russian makes about retaliation to various aid options against NATO partners and other allies. Anything involving actual presence or intervention of allied military forces seems to be considered an especially bright red line.
But on the occasion of Russia having confirmed previous reports that the armed forces of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, (i.e., North Korea) are present and participating in the war on Russia’s behalf (see, e.g., https://kyivindependent.com/moscow-claims-to-retake-kursk-oblast-confirms-north-korean-troop-deployment-for-first-time/), is this Russian argument not weaker than ever before?
I think the already-meager legitimacy of Russian threats against allied military support ought now to be considered even shabbier and more pathetic than before. If they can bring a foreign military into combat, why should Ukraine be limited in allied support? What new options does this present to to the decent side of the conflict in military action (in blunt or subtle ways) or diplomatic and moral leverage?
Please consider this idea and act on it if possible.”
Adam L Silverman
@AlaskaReader: You’re welcome.
Adam L Silverman
@PT&S: It can’t hurt. Good on you for doing it.
Parfigliano
@Jay: Me either. The best Russian sympathizer is a dead one.
way2blue
@Gloria DryGarden: Hmm. As has been observed before—Trump tends to spout whatever the last person he talked to said to him. Wish there were a way to continue to feed him ‘Putin is the warmonger’ daily. Hourly?
way2blue
Thanks Adam—for responding to last night’s questions. (I am always looking for hints that the EU, UK and other western allies are seriously focused on filling the void that Trump is foreshadowing.)
Zelenskyy’s continued civility toward Trump in the service of Ukraine is beyond remarkable. May his endurance yield the outcome he seeks.
Doug
The art of the cut direct lives on in France.
SOinCO
If tRump is such a good deal maker, why hasn’t he responded to putin’s aggressions by resuming arms deliveries to Ukraine?