**German and Lithuanian Foreign Ministers Arrive in Kyiv**
On April 1, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and her Lithuanian counterpart Kestutis Budrys arrived in Kyiv on an official visit. This is Baerbock’s 11th visit to Ukraine.
Baerbock emphasized the importance of supporting Ukraine during this difficult time. She said that due to the deadlock between the US and Russia, it is crucial to show support for Ukraine now more than ever. Germany has been a staunch supporter of Ukraine since the start of Russia’s war in 2022.
During her visit, Baerbock announced an additional 130 million euros ($140 million) in humanitarian aid for Ukraine. She was welcomed at the train station by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha.
Budrys also expressed Lithuania’s support for Ukraine on social media. He said that his country will continue to stand by Ukraine in its fight for freedom and sovereignty.
**US National Security Advisor Creates Secure Communication Channels**
The US National Security Advisor, Mike Waltz, has been hosting sensitive national-security conversations on Signal with cabinet members. However, officials are downplaying the significance of these communications.
Meanwhile, Armenia has refused to pay its contributions to the budget of the Moscow-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) for the past year. The country suspended its participation in the military alliance in August 2024.
**US President Trump Threatens Tariffs on Russian Oil**
US President Donald Trump threatened to impose secondary tariffs on Russian oil exports if President Putin does not make a deal to end the war in Ukraine. Military representatives from the “coalition of the willing” will meet in Ukraine later this week to discuss peacekeeping troops and security guarantees.
**Russia’s War Efforts Continue**
Russian forces suffered 1,540 casualties just over the past day. Although Russian conscripts are typically not deployed in active combat, Moscow has relied on financial incentives and pardons to recruit civilians for the war in Ukraine.
Three men were detained, including a Russian sleeper agent, by Ukrainian security services. The Moscow metro website became unavailable due to a technical failure, displaying only a banner with a message from the recently hacked Ukrainian Railways (Ukrzaliznytsia).
Read More @ kyivindependent.com