London talks collapse, Kyiv's drones strike Shahed plant in Tatarstan, Russia - Wednesday brief
RBC-Ukraine collage
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio refused to participate in the Ukraine talks in London. Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones hit a plant in Tatarstan where Shaheds are manufactured.
Read more about what happened on Wednesday, April 23.
London talks collapse: What happens and why US Secretary of State skips Ukraine meeting
The ceasefire and overall war settlement talks that were to be held today in London at the level of foreign ministers were unexpectedly postponed. The level of delegations was downgraded amid media reports about Washington's peace plan, which involves recognizing Crimea as Russian and freezing the front line.
Read more about why the high-level meeting in London will not take place and what the American peace plan has to do with it in RBC-Ukraine's article.
Ukrainian forces strike attack drone factory in Russia's Tatarstan — General Staff
Ukraine's Defense Forces have struck a factory producing attack drones in the Yelabuga district of Russia’s Republic of Tatarstan, located over 1,000 km from Ukraine’s state border, according to the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
According to the General Staff, the facility has a production capacity of around 300 drones per day. It is located in the Yelabuga district, 1,054 km from Ukraine's border.
Ukraine sets tough condition for territory discussions, Reuters reports
Ukraine has prepared a document for Europe regarding peace negotiations. It specified a clear condition for discussing the issue of territories, Reuters reports.
An unnamed source revealed that on April 22, Ukraine handed over a document to Europe stating that no territorial discussions will take place until a full and unconditional ceasefire is achieved.
He can lose whole country - Trump slams Zelenskyy's remarks on Crimea
Statements by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy that Ukraine does not recognize the occupation of Crimea are harming peace talks with Russia, stated US President Donald Trump on Truth Social.
"Nobody is asking Zelenskyy to recognize Crimea as Russian Territory, but if he wants Crimea, why didn’t they fight for it eleven years ago when it was handed over to Russia without a shot being fired? The area also houses, for many years before "the Obama handover," major Russian submarine bases. It’s inflammatory statements like Zelenskyy’s that makes it so difficult to settle this War," Trump said.
Russia preparing new offensive in eastern Ukraine, scaling back assaults to amass forces
The Russians are preparing an offensive to reach the administrative border of the Dnipropetrovsk and Donetsk regions. To do this, the Russian occupiers are amassing forces, so they have reduced the number of assaults, according to the Vuhledar tactical group of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
Between April 16 and 22, Russia significantly reduced the number of assaults in the area of responsibility of the Vuhledar tactical group, from 106 attacks to 158 the previous week.
