**Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Meets with UK Counterparts in London Amid Ongoing Conflict**
In a bid to strengthen Ukraine and guarantee long-term peace and security, the country’s Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha met his counterparts from the UK, David Lammy and John Healey, in London on April 23. The meeting was scheduled after the expected attendance of U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio was canceled.
Sybiha took to social media to express gratitude towards the UK for its leadership and support, stating that they would discuss ways to strengthen Ukraine and guarantee long-term peace and security. However, the meeting is taking place at a lower level than planned due to reported disagreements on key points of the U.S. peace plan.
**Ukraine Seeks Ceasefire Amid Ongoing Violence**
The Ukrainian delegation, which also includes Presidential Office head Andriy Yermak, arrived in London after the expected ministerial meeting was postponed. The delegation hopes to discuss a potential ceasefire as part of broader peace efforts.
In other developments, President Volodymyr Zelensky publicly ruled out the possibility of recognizing Russia’s annexation of Crimea, a key point in Washington’s peace proposal handed over to Kyiv last week. Ukraine would not want the U.S. to withdraw from peace talks on ending Russia’s full-scale invasion, Zelensky said.
**Russian Attacks Continue Across Ukrainian Regions**
The conflict continues to escalate, with Russian attacks across Ukrainian regions killing at least four civilians and injuring at least 88, including children, over the past day. The number of casualties includes 1,210 Russian forces that suffered losses over the past day.
In a separate incident, a Russian drone attack against the town of Marhanets in Dnipropetrovsk Oblast on April 23 killed at least nine people and injured at least 30, according to Governor Serhii Lysak.
**U.S. Warns of Potential Withdrawal from Peace Efforts**
The U.S. has warned that it would abandon its peace efforts unless tangible progress is made soon. U.S. Vice President JD Vance said on April 23 that the U.S. presented a “very explicit proposal” to Russia and Ukraine on a peace deal, repeating warnings Washington might drop its peace effort if the belligerent sides refuse.
**Hungary’s Orban Votes Against Ukraine’s EU Accession**
In a separate development, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban voted against Ukraine’s accession to the EU in a national poll, publicly sharing photos of himself marking “against” on the ballot.
**Swiss Sanctions Against Russian Propaganda Outlets Come into Force**
The Swiss sanctions against eight Russian propaganda outlets will come into force on April 23, 2025. The move is seen as an effort to restrict Russia’s ability to spread misinformation and propaganda.
**Russian Court Sentences Residents for Alleged Treason**
A Russian court in occupied Zaporizhia sentenced two residents to 14 years in a general regime penal colony for alleged “treason” over fund transfers to the Ukrainian military, according to Russian state media TASS reported on April 22.
