Photo : Institute for the Study of War
Photo : Institute for the Study of War
By Padmashree Anandhan
WAR ON GROUND
On 22 April, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that Ukraine was open to negotiations with Russia only after a ceasefire. He said that talks could begin in any format, but resolving key issues such as territorial disputes, security assurances, and NATO membership would be a lengthy process. However, no new aid discussions with the US are planned.
On 22 April, a Russian guided bomb attack was reported on Zaporizhzhia city, resulting in death of a woman and injury to 24 others. According to Regional Governor Ivan Fedorov, a bomb struck an infrastructure site, while another hit a residential building directly. Graphic images shared by emergency services showed significant damage to the apartment block and injured civilians receiving medical attention. Additional strikes wounded six more in Kherson and seven in Kharkiv. The attacks involved retrofitted Soviet era glide bombs, which are difficult for Ukrainian air defences to intercept.
On 22 April, a large-scale Russian drone attack on the southwestern Ukrainian city of Odesa injured three and damaged apartments, vehicles, an educational institution, and other civilian infrastructure, local authorities reported. In the Kyiv region, drone strikes also damaged six houses, four cars, three garages, and three additional buildings. According to Ukraine’s Air Force, Russian forces had launched 54 drones in total, out of which 38 were shot down and 16 neutralized through electronic jamming before reaching the targets.
THE MOSCOW VIEW
Claims by Russia
On 22 April, Russian forces reported the recapture of the St Nicholas Belogorsky monastery in the border village of Gornal, Kursk region. This was earlier used by the Ukrainian troops as a military base. Russian state media TASS reported the monastery, located less than a kilometre from the Ukrainian border, was the site of intense fighting over the past ten days. A Russian military Telegram channel claimed Ukrainian forces had deployed troops, drones, and artillery at the site. The development suggests Russia may be nearing the removal of the last Ukrainian units from the territory occupied during Kyiv’s incursion last August. Separately, Russia’s Defense Ministry announced the capture of Sukha Balka, a rural settlement in Ukraine’s eastern Donetsk region.
On 22 April, the Kremlin said that there were currently no concrete plans for peace talks with Ukraine, though such negotiations could happen if Ukraine removed unspecified "obstacles." Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov highlighted the complexity of the issue, emphasizing that a viable settlement cannot be rushed or bound by strict timelines. His remarks comes after Russia’s President Vladimir Putin’s indication that Moscow would consider “bilateral” talks and review Zelenskyy’s proposal for a 30-day halt on airstrikes targeting civilian
THE WEST VIEW
Responses from the US and EuropeOn 22 April, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced withdrawing from upcoming Ukraine ceasefire talks in London, citing logistics. Despite this, he expressed support for the discussions and the US delegation will be led by White House Ukraine envoy General Keith Kellogg. State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce emphasized that Rubio’s decision does not reflect Washington's expectations of the talks.
On 22 April, US presidential envoy Steve Witkoff is expected in Moscow in the coming week, marking his fourth trip. Witkoff has become a prominent figure in the Trump administration's backchannel diplomacy with Russia. His previous visit in March sparked controversy by echoing Russian narratives in an interview. He claimed that residents in Russian-occupied parts of Ukraine wanted to be under Moscow's rule and dismissed Western fears of Russian expansionism as “preposterous.” His return to Moscow comes amid renewed ceasefire discussions and ahead of key peace talks in London.
On 22 April, European leaders made clear their conditions ahead of a key meeting in London on Wednesday, where Ukrainian, US, and European officials will push for an unconditional ceasefire in the war with Russia. France’s Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot, following a preparatory summit in Paris, emphasized the need to defend European security and assert France’s red lines as the US takes on a mediating role. Barrot also dismissed Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recent Easter truce as a "marketing operation" meant to appease Trump, noting ongoing Russian violations despite the declared pause. Meanwhile, Ukraine has accused Russia of breaching the truce over 2,000 times, though aerial strikes reportedly halted temporarily.