Moscow seeks concessions from the White House, which compromises Kremlin will not accept?

The Russian Federation continues to show no willingness to compromise on territorial issues in Ukraine, even in the context of potential future negotiations, according to a recent report by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

The report highlights a recent statement by Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, in which he claimed that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy would ultimately be forced to make territorial concessions. Lavrov asserted that a return to Ukraine’s internationally recognized 1991 borders was “impossible,” and attempted to shift blame for the deadlock onto Kyiv, accusing Ukraine of mistreating Russian-speaking citizens.

However, the ISW notes that this rhetoric is consistent with the Kremlin’s continued refusal to consider any territorial compromises. Russian authorities have made it clear they intend to retain control over all currently occupied regions and have even expanded their demands. President Vladimir Putin has insisted that Ukraine should surrender additional territories in Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson oblasts that remain under Ukrainian control. He has also described the regions of Mykolaiv and Kharkiv as "historically Russian lands," signaling a broader claim beyond the current front lines.

The ISW concludes that Moscow is using ongoing U.S.-Russia negotiations to seek concessions from Washington while deliberately stalling any serious peace efforts in Ukraine.

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Russian attack on Kupiansk in Kharkiv Oblast injured four people, more are trapped under rubble

A Russian guided aerial bomb struck a residential building in Kupiansk, Kharkiv Oblast, on the evening of April 11, injuring four civilians and possibly trapping others beneath the debris.

According to Kharkiv Oblast Military Administration Head Oleh Syniehubov, the strike occurred at approximately 18:20. Among the injured are a 25-year-old woman, a 26-year-old man, a 52-year-old woman, and a 73-year-old woman.

Initial reports suggest that at least three more individuals may still be buried under the rubble, as rescue operations continue amid ongoing shelling. Kupiansk has been subject to repeated attacks, with Russian forces intensifying strikes on civilian areas in recent weeks.

Ukrainian F-16 pilot, killed in action

Pavlo Ivanov, a 26-year-old pilot with the Ukrainian Air Force, was killed in action on Saturday, April 12, while flying an F-16 fighter jet. His death has been confirmed by Ukraine's Air Force, though the specific circumstances of the incident have not yet been disclosed.

An interdepartmental commission has been formed to investigate the details surrounding the tragedy.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy addressed the loss, stating that the government expects a full report from the military and is actively investigating the combat situation that led to Ivanov’s death. Initially, official reports listed the pilot’s age as 21, but this was later corrected to 26.

Ivanov’s passing marks a significant loss for Ukraine’s air defense efforts as the country continues to rely on skilled aviators to counter Russia's ongoing aerial and missile assaults.

Ukraine shot down 56 Russian drones in an overnight attack

Overnight on April 12, Ukrainian forces successfully shot down 56 Russian attack drones during another wave of aerial assaults across the country, according to the Air Force of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. In total, Russia launched 88 unmanned aerial vehicles, including Shahed-type loitering munitions and various decoy drones, from the directions of Kursk, Millerovo, and Primorsko-Akhtarsk.

While 56 of the drones were confirmed destroyed in northern, southern, eastern, and central Ukraine, the remaining 24 – primarily decoy drones – were "locationally lost" and failed to reach any targets, causing no damage.

Ukraine’s air defense operation was a coordinated effort involving fighter jets, anti-aircraft missile units, electronic warfare systems, and mobile fire groups.

Despite the largely successful defense, some areas sustained damage. In Kharkiv, one person suffered minor injuries. In Kyiv, two people were reported injured, with emergency crews continuing to extinguish fires and assess the damage in several districts. In the Dnipropetrovsk region, drone strikes caused multiple fires and damaged residential buildings, though no casualties were reported there.

These attacks occurred amid ongoing tensions over ceasefire efforts. Although Ukraine has agreed to a U.S.-proposed 30-day ceasefire, Russia has rejected the deal, insisting on terms that undermine Ukrainian defenses. It has now been over a month since the Kremlin dismissed the proposal, during which time Russian aerial assaults on residential neighborhoods have continued unabated.