VLADIMIR Putin could be plotting a massive spring blitz in Ukraine within WEEKS as his top negotiator said he has no plans to reach a peace deal this year.
Ukrainian officials said Russia is preparing for a major push across the 625-mile frontline, with intelligence pointing to fresh attacks in Sumy, Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia regions.
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Tyrant Putin could be planning a fresh offensive in Ukraine this springCredit: Reuters
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Russian drones once again hit Ukrainian port city Odesa in defiance of Vladimir Putin saying he wants a truce on Black Sea attacksCredit: EPA
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Vlad’s forces also hit Dnipro overnightCredit: EPA
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Ukrainian Armed Forces taking part in military training in eastern UkraineCredit: EPA
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky previously warned the West of Putin’s twisted intentionsCredit: AFP
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Hetman said: “They are preparing offensive actions on the front that should last from six to nine months, almost all of 2025.
“The number of clashes on the front line is not decreasing.
“If they wanted to stop the war, their actions certainly don’t show it.”
It probably comes as no surprise to Volodymyr Zelensky, who warned world leaders in Paris this week: “They’re dragging out the talks and trying to get the U.S. stuck in endless and pointless discussions about fake ‘conditions’ just to buy time and then try to grab more land.
“Putin wants to negotiate over territory from a stronger position.”
Putin’s chief negotiator Grigory Karasin confirmed the Kremlin isn’t in a rush to end the bloodshed – directly snubbing Donald Trump’s demand for a speedy ceasefire.
Karasin told Rossiya-360 TV: “Maybe not this year or at the end of this year.
“It would be naive to expect any breakthrough results at the very first meeting.”
He also rejected Starmer and Macron’s plans to deploy troops in Ukraine after any peace deal, saying: “We are categorically against the deployment of any military units from foreign states on Ukrainian soil.”
Meanwhile, Russia’s war machine is rolling on.
Kremlin forces have recaptured 80 per cent of the Kursk region and are reportedly redeploying hardened troops to Donetsk.
In Donetsk’s key city of Pokrovsk, Ukrainian forces say the Russians have resumed attacks after a brief pause.
“This means the Russians have simply recovered,” said military spokesman Maj. Viktor Trehubov.
Russia is also stepping up reconnaissance missions to locate Ukrainian firing positions ahead of a wider strike.
The Rybar military blog reported a new push west of Orikhiv, describing it as “the first step toward the liberation of the Zaporizhzhia region.”
And in Dnipro, four civilians were killed and 21 injured after Russian drones torched a four-star hotel, restaurant, and 11 homes in the latest terror blitz.
“A large-scale fire occurred in a restaurant complex, a multi-storey building and private houses also caught fire,” said Serhiy Lysak, head of the regional military administration.
Putin doubled down on the battlefield, saying: “Our troops, our guys are moving forward and liberating one territory after another, one settlement after another, every day.”
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Putin also snubbed Donald Trump’s efforts to organise peace between Russia and UkraineCredit: Splash
Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has said that Ukraine expected a strong response from Western countries to the nearly daily Russian drone attacks on its territory.
Zelesnky added: “It is impossible to ignore nearly daily mass Russian attacks.
“Our partners must understand that these Russian strikes target not only our people but also all international efforts, diplomatic efforts aimed at ending this war.
“Russia is striking against everyone who seeks to end the war. It is impossible to ignore hundreds of [Iranian-designed] Shaheds every night.
“We expect a response, a serious response. We are working to ensure there is a strong reaction, especially from America, Europe and all those in the world who rely on diplomacy.”
He added: “Ukraine is maintaining active measures on the front line inside Russia to ensure no Russian troops enter Sumy, Kharkiv regions.”
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Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen will visit Greenland on April two to four for talks with the semi-autonomous territory’s new government, she said on Saturday.
It comes after Donald Trump’s number two JD Vance arrived in Greenland with his wife Usha for a controversial visit as the US plots to seize the strategic island from Denmark.
He blamed Denmark for not keeping Greenland safe from the looming threats from China and Russia.
The VP then added that America needs to lead in the Arctic region security and protect its interests.
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UKRAINE’S deputy foreign minister has warned “liar” Vladimir Putin cannot be trusted and does not want a ceasefire.
Mariana Betsa told The Sun the tyrant has no real interest in brokering lasting peace in the region.
But she warned Ukraine will not accept any territorial compromises in a deal, insisting Kyiv does not want “peace at any price”.
Daria Zarivna, an adviser to the Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, also told The Sun that the thousands of children abducted by Russia must be returned as a condition of any agreement.
Donald Trump said he “trusted” that Putin wants to end the war – but Kyiv and its Western allies have accused the Kremlin of stonewalling negotiations.
Washington has been trying to hash out terms of a deal between Ukraine and Russia in a bid to end Putin‘s three-year invasion.
But the Kremlin has been insisting on a list of conditions and demands – delaying the process.
Kyiv quickly agreed on an initial proposal for a full 30-ceasefire earlier this month – but this was quickly rejected by Putin.
Ukrainian official Mariana rubbished suggestions Putin wants the war to end and said “no one should be fooled by Russia”.
She lambasted Moscow as she warned: “We cannot trust Russia. Russia lies and they know how to lie.”
Read the full exclusive story here
Ukraine’s deputy foreign affairs minister Mariana Betsa spoke to The Sun about a potential peace dealCredit: Simon Jones
Europe is preparing for World War Three – equipping citizens with survival guides, nuclear bunkers, and conscription plans to survive a Russian invasion.
The continent is re-arming amid fears Vladimir Putin is just years away from a war to push Nato out of Eastern Europe and rebuild the Russian empire.
Countries are preparing their citizens for a terrifying fight – with calls for Britain to join in with the European nations already conscripting people into growing armies.
As civilians are readying for Russian tanks rolling into cities, The Sun has what you need to survive 72 hours into nuclear Armageddon – on a budget.
We hit the high street to pack a survival kit as the EU announces it is ready to order all citizens to prepare an emergency pack of supplies.
Click here to find out what you need on your kit
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Russia says its forces have seized two more villages in eastern Ukraine as fighting intensifies along the frontline.
Putin’s troops have allegedly captured the settlement of Panteleimonivka in the Donetsk region and Scherbaky in Zaporizhzhia, according to a statement from the Russian defence ministry.
Ukraine has not commented on the claims, which have not been independently verified.
British and French military top brass are heading to Ukraine next week as plans to ramp up for a new “reassurance force” to deter future Russian aggression.
Downing Street confirmed the visit, saying military planners from both nations will hold high-level discussions in Kyiv as part of the so-called “coalition of the willing”.
The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: “Any peace agreement can only be achieved if it’s backed by real, credible security assurances that deter Putin from coming back for Ukraine again.”
The talks mark the latest step in ongoing military planning sessions aimed at securing Ukraine’s long-term future – even if a ceasefire is reached.
“That’s what the focus of the coalition of the willing meetings have been so far, supported by the ongoing military planning meetings, which have been taking place in the last few weeks, and we continue the operational phase of our planning,” the spokesman added.
“British and French military leaders will go to Ukraine next week to discuss the Ukrainian military, how a reassurance force will work in practice.”
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Donald Trump is demanding Ukraine hands over half its oil, gas and metals in return for America’s support, leaked documents claim.
His draft minerals deal would hand the US control of Ukraine’s natural resources and major infrastructure until Kyiv repays an £81billion war debt — with four per cent interest.
Under the proposed terms, revealed by The Telegraph, the US could even block Ukraine from selling its resources to Europe or China.
Alan Riley, an energy law expert at the Atlantic Council, said: “It is an expropriation document.
“There are no guarantees, no defence clauses, the US puts up nothing.
“The Americans can walk away, the Ukrainians can’t.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Click here to read the full story
Credit: EPA
Donald Trump is demanding Ukraine hands over half its oil, gas and metals in return for America’s support, leaked documents claim.
His draft minerals deal would hand the US control of Ukraine’s natural resources and major infrastructure until Kyiv repays an £81billion war debt — with four per cent interest.
Under the proposed terms, revealed by The Telegraph, the US could even block Ukraine from selling its resources to Europe or China.
Alan Riley, an energy law expert at the Atlantic Council, said: “It is an expropriation document.
“There are no guarantees, no defence clauses, the US puts up nothing.
“The Americans can walk away, the Ukrainians can’t.
“I’ve never seen anything like it before.”
Click here to read the full story
Credit: EPA
Vladimir Putin’s ‘Hero of Russia’ has been killed in Kursk just weeks after receiving the top military medal from Vlad.
Marat Tibilov, the commander of the Nation Guard of Russia, was reportedly killed by Ukrainian forces during a combat mission in Kursk.
Tibilov – a celebrated figure within Russia’s army – was personally awarded the country’s highest honour by Putin last month alongside ten others.
He received the award for repelling Ukrainian attacks in the Kursk region between February 5 and February 8 this year.
At the time, he told pro-Kremlin media: “This is the merit of my entire unit.
“Our unit carried out tasks from the 5th to the 8th in repelling counterattacks on the settlements of Berdino, Rozgrebli, Novosotnitskoye.”
Click here to read the full story
Credit: X/@denisvanvliet
Vladimir Putin’s ‘Hero of Russia’ has been killed in Kursk just weeks after receiving the top military medal from Vlad.
Marat Tibilov, the commander of the Nation Guard of Russia, was reportedly killed by Ukrainian forces during a combat mission in Kursk.
Tibilov – a celebrated figure within Russia’s army – was personally awarded the country’s highest honour by Putin last month alongside ten others.
He received the award for repelling Ukrainian attacks in the Kursk region between February 5 and February 8 this year.
At the time, he told pro-Kremlin media: “This is the merit of my entire unit.
“Our unit carried out tasks from the 5th to the 8th in repelling counterattacks on the settlements of Berdino, Rozgrebli, Novosotnitskoye.”
Click here to read the full story
Credit: X/@denisvanvliet
Scheming Vladimir Putin yesterday said Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky must quit to speed up peace.
The tyrant also insisted Russia has the “strategic initiative” all along the front line.
And he warned: “Not long ago I said we’d grind them down.
“Now it looks like we’ll finish them off.”
Putin used a visit to launch a nuclear submarine to suggest the UN take control in Kyiv to elect a more “competent” government.
He claimed Zelensky, who has stayed in power beyond the end of his term, lacks legitimacy to sign any peace agreement.
But Ukraine’s constitution forbids elections while it is under martial law — and Zelensky still has the backing of his people.
Click here to read the full story
One of Vladimir Putin’s limousines exploded and caught fire in Moscow as the tyrant orders sewers to be searched and the pat down of his own guards.
An Aurus limousine from Putin’s “official car fleet” blew up in a huge blast on a street just north of Moscow’s FSB secret service headquarters in Lubyanka.
Footage showed that the fire which started in the engine of the £275,000 Aurus Senat had spread to the interior of the vehicle.
Watch the video below:
As spring approaches, signs are mounting that Vladimir Putin is gearing up for a major new offensive in Ukraine — and it could change the course of the war in 2025.
Ukrainian military officials and analysts say Russia is preparing a large-scale, multi-front assault in the coming weeks to gain the upper hand before any real peace talks take shape.
Intelligence reports suggest fresh attacks are likely in the northeast — including Sumy, Kharkiv, and Zaporizhzhia.
According to analysts, the Kremlin wants to grind down Ukrainian defenses over the next six to nine months.
Russian troops are already ramping up attacks in key areas, including Donetsk and Pokrovsk, while reconnaissance missions are being launched to pinpoint Ukrainian positions for strikes.
Ukrainian military analyst Oleksii Hetman said: “They are preparing offensive actions on the front that should last from six to nine months, almost all of 2025.
“The number of clashes on the front line is not decreasing.
“If they wanted to stop the war, their actions certainly don’t show it.”
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The International Monetary Fund said its board has reviewed the decision to give a further $400million to Ukraine for budget support.
This will bring the total disbursements under the IMF-supported program to $10.1billion.
The UN rights chief called Friday for an end to the “horrific suffering” caused by attacks on civilians in Ukraine while the United States attempts to broker a ceasefire more than three years into Russia’s invasion.
“Recent weeks have seen intense activity around a possible ceasefire in Ukraine, which would be very welcome,” Volker Turk told the United Nations Human Rights Council.
“Limited ceasefires that protect shipping lanes and infrastructure are a welcome step forward. What is most needed now is an end to the horrific suffering being inflicted daily in Ukraine.”
Putin’s drone attack in Dnipro, Ukraine sparked a huge explosion on Friday night.
At least four people were killed and 15 others injured.
President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Ukraine would not accept any mineral rights deal that threatened its integration with the EU but said it was too early to pass judgment on a dramatically expanded minerals deal proposed by Washington.
The Ukrainian leader told reporters that Kyiv’s lawyers needed to review the draft before he could say more about the US offer, a summary of which suggested the U.S. was demanding all of Ukraine’s natural resources income for years.
Zelensky met with the Prime Minister of Belize on Friday to discuss the organisation of the Ukraine-Latin America Summit.
The Ukrainian president said he was grateful for Belize’s support and thanked Briceño for voting in favour of Ukraine’s resolution at the UN.
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At least four people have reportedly been killed and 15 others injured so far in a mass drone attack that rocked Dnipro late on Friday night.
Vladimir Putin’s shahed suicide drones blitzed a hotel resort and a restaurant, sparking a massive explosion.
Horror footage showed flames and large plumes of smoke wafting skyward in the city.
Other pictures shared on social media showed the shattered interior of a building, the badly damaged upper floors of a high-rise apartment block and streets strewn with smashed glass and building materials.
Firefighters rushed to the scene to bring the blaze under control.
Serhiy Lysak, governor of the surrounding Dnipropetrovsk region, said the casualty toll was likely to rise, with three of the injured in serious condition.
He wrote in a post on Telegram: “It is also now known that the enemy directed more than 20 drones toward the city. Most of them were downed.
The strike comes just hours after a menacing Putin defied Donald Trump and declared he can “finish off” Ukraine despite an impending ceasefire.
The brutal tyrant has also unleashed a wave of fresh strikes on civilian targets and retaken a border village in Kursk.
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President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the country’s military has taken “certain steps” in Russia outside the Kursk region.
He said this was done to ease pressure on Ukrainian troops in the area.
It comes after reports emerged suggesting Ukrainian troops were inside the adjacent Belgorod region and were fighting the Russians.
Ukraine’s military said on Friday its air force had struck a border post in Russia’s Bryansk region, destroying military infrastructure in an area it had identified as the site of drone launches.
“As a result of the strike, military equipment at the post was destroyed along with communications equipment…,” the General Staff said in an online statement, adding the strike was in response to “dozens of daily strikes by attack drones”.
“It is known that many launches of Russian attack drones were identified at this location.”
Vance told soldiers at the base that Greenland’s security is under threat from Russia and China and “we must wake up to that”.
And he blasted Denmark for failing to keep the strategic Arctic island – which he said was America’s first line of defence – safe in a blistering attack during a heated press conference.
The VP then added that America needs to lead in the Arctic region security and protect its interests.
But he failed to rule out military force to take over Greenland – and seemed to have downplayed the potential move, saying it would “not be necessary”.
He suggested that the White House plans to wait for the people of the territory to vote for self-determination before acting.
Vance added: “Our message to Denmark is very simple: You have not been able to keep it up.
“People in Greenland have an incredible opportunity here. It is far better to come under the US security umbrella than the Danish security umbrella.
“What we think is going to happen is that the Greenlanders are going to choose – through self-determination – to become independent of Denmark.
“And then we’re going to have conversations with the people of Greenland from there. We do not think military force is ever going to be necessary.”
Credit: AP