US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said that he will know within weeks if Vladimir Putin is serious about peace and a ceasefire in Ukraine. This follows similar comments from British and French diplomats, who accused Putin of dragging his feet on making a decision. Meanwhile, Ukrainian authorities reported Russian strikes killing at least 17 people overnight, as the US attempts to bring Russia and Ukraine together for a ceasefire deal.

US-Russia relations have become unpredictable under President Trump, with ups and downs and twists. Initially, Trump sought to repair relations with Russia, but a recent rollercoaster ride began after Vladimir Putin proposed replacing Ukraine's government with "external governance" under UN auspices. Trump expressed anger at Putin's proposal, and the US threatened tariffs on Russian oil exports if Russia fails to make progress on a Ukraine peace deal. The US also drew up a bill imposing 500% secondary tariffs on countries buying Russian oil, gas, and resources.

Gary Fear, an estate agent from Nantwich, has traveled to Ukraine several times since 2022 to deliver food to those in need. He has raised over £100,000 for the project and is preparing for his next trip in May. To raise more funds, a concert called "Resilient Ukraine" will be held at Nantwich Civic Hall on May 3, featuring Ukrainian communities from across the North West of England and professional singers from Ukraine.

Kirill Dmitriev, a top Russian official and economic envoy for President Vladimir Putin, will meet with US special envoy Steve Witkoff at the White House amid ongoing talks to end the war in Ukraine. The meeting comes after President Trump threatened to hit Russia's economy if a deal isn't reached soon, including imposing a 50% tariff on countries buying Russian oil. Dmitriev is one of the most senior Russian officials to visit the US since the invasion started in 2022 and will meet with Witkoff at the White House, possibly on Wednesday.