Ex-Prosecutor General Kostin named Netherlands ambassador, Zelenskyy signs controversial property law: April 7 highlights

Former Prosecutor General Kostin became Ukraine's ambassador to the Netherlands

Former Ukrainian Prosecutor General Andriy Kostin was appointed ambassador to the Netherlands and permanent representative to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.

Additionally, Zelenskyy appointed ambassadors to several other countries, including Norway, China, and Finland.

Zelenskyy signed the law on alienated property

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed bill No. 12089, allowing illegally alienated property to remain with good-faith buyers. Activists say it paves the way for many “high-profile developments.”

Under the lawmakers’ proposal, the state or local community cannot reclaim property from a good-faith buyer if more than 10 years have passed since the property’s state registration, except for critical infrastructure assets.

Russians shelled Kostiantynivka: one person died, a child was among the wounded

On April 7, Russians shelled Kostiantynivka in Donetsk Oblast, killing at least one person.

Two others were injured, including a 9-year-old girl who suffered shrapnel wounds at home. The family had previously been evacuated from the danger zone but returned to Kostiantynivka in March.

A memorial service was held in a courtyard in Kryvyi Rih, where 20 people died in a Russian attack

In Kryvyi Rih, a memorial was held for residents killed in a Russian missile strike on April 4. Russia killed 20 people, nearly half of them children.

The service took place in the courtyard of a central residential area hit by the attack, with priests from the Orthodox Church of Ukraine bringing toys and flowers.

In Lviv, a minibus passenger insulted a war veteran

Ukrainian war veteran Olena Lubenska said a passenger on a Lviv minibus insulted her over her combat veteran ID. He threatened to call the SBU to verify its authenticity.

When she showed it to the driver, he nodded for her to board. Another passenger then asked, “Who are you, where did you get it, where did you buy it?”

Trump said that Washington continues to communicate with Russia about ending the war in Ukraine

U.S. President Donald Trump said Washington continues to communicate with Moscow about ending the war against Ukraine.

When asked about further talks with the Kremlin and steps toward peace, he said: "We are talking to Russia. We would like them to stop. I don't like the bombing. The bombing goes on and on, and every week thousands of young people are being killed."

The Russian Federation has justified the fact that Putin has not yet agreed to a ceasefire

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Vladimir Putin still supports a ceasefire in Ukraine. He claimed “a number of issues” need resolving first, but they remain “up in the air.”

EU prepares phased response plan to Trump tariffs

The European Union is preparing a phased response to tariffs imposed by U.S. President Donald Trump.

EU Trade Commissioner Maroš Šefčovič said the bloc will vote on a countermeasures plan on April 9, with a second phase set for May 15.

Europeans also proposed mutual zero tariffs on industrial goods to the U.S.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Europe is ready to negotiate.

Other news

• In Kherson, a pregnant woman shielded her young son during shelling.
• Russian drones attacked Nikopol, injuring three people.
• Oil prices dropped to a four-year low.
• A car exploded near Kyiv’s Olimpiyska metro station.