Trump’s 100 days, Ukraine-US minerals deal details, military contracts for over-60s: April 30 highlights
U.S. President Donald Trump delivered a speech marking 100 days of his presidency. Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal outlined details of a minerals deal with the U.S. Ukraine’s parliament proposed allowing people over 60 to sign military contracts. Here’s a roundup of the top news for April 30.
Minerals deal details
Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal expressed hope that a minerals deal with the U.S. would be signed within the next 24 hours, with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko traveling to Washington for the purpose.
Shmyhal said the deal includes creating an investment fund with contributions and management split 50/50 between Ukraine and the U.S. Contributions will be monetary, and the U.S. can count new aid to Ukraine as its share, according to a post by Ukrainian negotiator Taras Kachka.
Following the framework agreement, Shmyhal said two technical agreements—one on establishing the joint investment fund and another on its funding and operations—are expected to be signed.
However, the Financial Times reported that Washington wants Kyiv to sign both the framework and a technical document immediately, leading to last-minute obstacles in negotiations.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the U.S. is ready to sign but claimed Kyiv proposed “last-minute” changes, delaying the process.
In Kyiv, a Russian photographer strangled his model girlfriend
Kyiv police detained a 28-year-old man who strangled his 21-year-old girlfriend during an argument in a photo studio where the couple worked and celebrated their relationship anniversary.
Both were Russian citizens who arrived in Ukraine in 2022. The studio owner found the model’s body and the suspect nearby the next morning.
Contracts for individuals over 60
Ukraine’s parliament introduced a bill allowing citizens over 60 to voluntarily sign contracts with the Armed Forces.
The bill’s sponsor, Roman Kostenko, secretary of the National Security, Defense, and Intelligence Committee, said the proposal responds to public demand, as “many motivated and experienced people want to contribute during the war, but current laws restrict them.”
Axios: Zelenskyy's advisers were afraid of his meeting with Trump
Advisers to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy were unsure about meeting U.S. President Donald Trump after a heated February clash in the Oval Office, according to Axios.
During the meeting, Zelenskyy said he was open to concessions to end the war but needed strong security guarantees. Afterward, Zelenskyy reportedly felt he had, for the first time, shifted Trump’s view of Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Small publishing house gains popularity at book festival thanks to TikTok video
At the Knyzhkova Krayina festival, Yuriy, representing the small publisher Siton, gained widespread attention after a TikTok video highlighted that no one was buying his books.
The video, viewed over 400,000 times, led to Siton’s books selling out in hours, forcing Yuriy to bring additional copies to the festival.
Other news
- Drones attacked an instrument-making plant in Murom, Russia, which supports Russia’s navy and aviation.
- Trump’s 100-day presidency speech mocked Biden, focusing on migrants and tariffs.
- Ukraine’s parliament extended the deadline for voluntary return of AWOL soldiers.
- A prosecutor accused former deputy head of the Presidential Office Smyrnov of “veiled threats of karma.”
- Kyiv held a funeral for a woman killed in a Russian attack; her husband, a soldier, survived captivity.