Just after the signing of the mineral deal, Trump administration approves first $50M arms sale to Ukraine through direct commercial sales (DCS). The move signals continued U.S. support despite calls for a diplomatic solution to the conflict.

https://www.kyivpost.com/post/51800

Senator Lindsey Graham announces broad Senate support for new "bone-crushing" sanctions on Russia, with 72 colleagues backing a bill to impose tariffs up to 500% on nations buying Russian oil, gas, and key products.

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2025-05-01/graham-says-he-has-broad-senate-support-for-new-russia-sanctions

The new deal between the U.S. and Ukraine focuses on working together to develop natural resources and ramp up military support. The agreement lists 57 minerals, like aluminum, lithium, uranium, and natural gas, that will be part of this partnership. It lays out the rules for future licenses for new mineral deposits, but it doesn’t cover the extraction or profits from other resources that aren’t included.

Importantly, the deal doesn’t put Ukraine under U.S. law, but it creates a joint fund where Ukraine will invest money from mineral sales. The U.S. will also contribute to this fund, including military aid like weapons and training for Ukraine’s military.

The agreement doesn’t give U.S. companies exclusive rights to these minerals, but they will have equal access to auctions and negotiations as other buyers. If there’s any conflict with Ukraine’s EU deals, the agreement says it will be adjusted accordingly.

There’s still a technical agreement being worked out, and Ukraine plans to ratify the deal soon.

Trump shared details of his one-on-one chat with Zelensky at the Vatican. He suggested Ukraine sign a peace deal, given Russia’s strength and scale. Trump also criticized Biden for the Afghanistan pullout, calling it a major leadership failure.

The mineral resources deal includes no security guarantees for Ukraine, – Reuters. The U.S. also made no commitment to provide military aid — if it does, the value will count toward the joint mineral development fund.

https://www.reuters.com/world/kyiv-is-ready-sign-resources-deal-with-us-ukraine-government-source-says-2025-04-30/

Destruction of a Russian Buk-M3 air defense system by a HIMARS strike

In the sector held by the 60th Mechanized Brigade, Russian forces appear to be employing a new tactic — advancing in plastic coverings, seemingly under the impression that it offers concealment even during daylight.

Delayed-action cluster munitions from Shahed drones detonated in Kyiv, reports head of Shevchenkivskyi District. Explosions occurred in the Bortnychi area, likely from munitions dispersed during last night’s UAV attack.

Trump has been convinced that Putin is deceiving him. UK PM Starmer and France’s Macron spent months urging Trump to stop pressuring Zelensky and focus on Kremlin actions, warning that Putin is manipulating him.

https://www.pravda.com.ua/eng/news/2025/05/1/7510009/

SPEAR Group B of the 118th Territorial Defense Brigade destroyed 1 BMP-1, damaged another, eliminated 2 Russian soldiers, and wounded 5 during a repelled assault.

The Russian Ministry of Defense's TV channel Zvezda has reported, citing a diplomatic source, that U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio — or another high-ranking official from Washington — may attend the May 9 Victory Day parade in Moscow.

https://tvzvezda.ru/news/2025511028-diIWB.html

The moment a Ukrainian F-16 shot down a Shahed drone over Khmelnytskyi region.

Ukraine now has its own version of the Lancet drone and signal-independent guided drones, Vice PM Mykhailo Fedorov says. Interceptor drones, lasers, smart munitions, domestic “Mavics,” and short-range EW systems are already being used on the front line.

🇺🇦 Ukraine has launched mass production of fiber-optic coils for FPV drones with a range of up to 30 km. 3DTech CEO Oleksii Zhulynskyi says all winding and assembly is fully localized, ensuring better quality control than unreliable Chinese imports.

https://defence-ua.com/news/nove_serijne_optovolokno_dlja_fpv_droniv_na_30_km_gotujetsja_potrapiti_do_vijska-18699.html

For 50 days, Russia has ignored the U.S. offer of a full and unconditional ceasefire, President Zelensky said after another night of heavy Russian drone attacks. Despite Ukraine’s own proposals to halt strikes on civilian infrastructure and establish a sustained pause in hostilities on land, sea, and in the sky, Russia continues its assaults. Overnight, 170 drones were launched against Ukraine—more than 100 of them were Shaheds. Odesa was hit by 21 drones, causing fatalities and severe destruction.

🇵🇱 Grzegorz Braun — far-right Polish presidential candidate and sitting MEP — had his team remove a Ukrainian flag from Biała Podlaska’s city hall during a campaign rally, using a ladder. He admitted ordering it, claiming full responsibility. Police are now investigating the incident.

https://www.rmf24.pl/regiony/lublin/news-grzegorz-braun-i-jego-ekipa-znow-w-akcji-po-drabinie-po-ukra,nId,7958471

🚨 Steve Witkoff, with no diplomatic experience, has been leading high-level talks with Russia & other regimes. He met Putin alone, without advisors, relying on Kremlin translators. This, along with failed negotiations with Hamas & Iran, undermines US credibility, NYP writes.

https://nypost.com/2025/04/30/us-news/steve-witkoff-shouldnt-be-leading-iran-russia-negotiations-allies-and-insiders-say/

🇺🇸 Kellogg: Russia will not win the war. In the last 1.5 years, Russia hasn’t achieved serious victories—no capture of Kyiv, no progress west of the Dnipro, and no capture of Odesa. They’ve lost hundreds of thousands of soldiers with minimal progress.

Over 3,000 cars are stuck on the Russian side of the Kerch Bridge as tens of thousands of tourists rush to occupied Crimea for the May holidays—ignoring oil-covered beaches and the growing risk of Ukrainian strikes.

Direct hits from Ukraine’s 3rd Assault Brigade. FPV drones struck Russian infantry, vehicles, and equipment — BMP, gun, antenna, truck, UAZ, AGS, generator, golf cart, and a Niva.