Key Ukraine events (13-19 April): Easter ceasefire, security agreements with Gulf countries

Prefer on Google by KI Insights U.S. Special Envoy Steve Witkoff (L) and U.S. businessman Jared Kushner (C) in Davos on Jan. 19, 2026. (Fabrice Coffrini / AFP via Getty Images) Editor's note: This article is a shortened on-site version of KI Insights' public newsletter, The Week Ahead. Sign up here to start your week with an agenda of Ukraine-related events delivered directly to your inbox every Friday. The Week Ahead Podcast is available on Spotify , Apple Podcasts , and YouTube . The week ahead will be shaped by uncertainty around a proposed Easter ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine. Diplomatic activity may intensify, including a potential visit of U.S. envoys to Kyiv. At the same time, Ukraine is advancing security cooperation with Gulf states. The financial sector will observe the IMF and World Bank Spring Meetings. All eyes in the coming days will be on the possible ceasefire announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Orthodox Easter . The Kremlin said hostilities would fully cease from 16:00 on April 11 through the end of April 12. Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine will mirror Russia's actions. Kyiv had put forward a similar truce proposal the previous week, which was rejected by Moscow. Previous ceasefire arrangements during the full-scale war have consistently failed to hold, raising doubts as to whether this latest initiative will be fully observed. The United States' envoys, Steven Witkoff and Jared Kushner, may visit Kyiv in the near future . President Zelensky confirmed that such a visit has been discussed, though no specific date has been agreed upon. In addition, a new round of trilateral negotiations could take place at a different location. A tentative window for renewed diplomatic engagement with Russia appears to be opening amid reports of a two-week ceasefire agreement between the United States and Iran, which could temporarily ease broader geopolitical pressures. Meanwhile, Russian special envoy Kirill Dmitriev reportedly met with Donald Trump during his visit to the United States. The talks may have focused on potential sanctions relief on Russian oil , which is set to expire on 11 April. A meeting of Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council is scheduled for 13 April to discuss a second wave of security agreements with Middle Eastern states . Under discussion are deals with Oman, Kuwait, and Bahrain. Previously, Ukraine signed defense cooperation agreements with Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Volodymyr Zelensky stated that Ukraine is set to receive financial, energy, and technical assistance to help protect its infrastructure, in exchange for its support to Gulf nations in countering Iranian drone threats. The Annual and Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank Group will take place from April 13 to 18. Also next week, the IMF is scheduled to publish its World Economic Outlook on 14 April, followed by the Fiscal Monitor on 15 April. The 9th Ukraine Ministerial Roundtable is also scheduled for 15 April. Ukraine's parliament has only partially passed the legislation required by the IMF to unlock the next $3.35 billion tranche of financial assistance. A renewed attempt to approve the remaining measures is expected during the next plenary session, set to take place in a week. The final days are ticking down ahead of Hungary's parliamentary elections, whose outcome could significantly influence developments in Ukraine. The ruling party, Fidesz, led by Prime Minister Viktor Orbán, is trailing the opposition party Tisza Party by 13 percentage points in the latest polls. Hungary, under a prime minister widely seen as close to the Kremlin, continues to block key EU decisions important for Ukraine, including a €90 billion EU loan package and new sanctions against Russia . The war in Iran is reshaping the economics of the war in Ukraine. Rising oil prices are boosting Russia's revenues, but the long-term outlook is uncertain. In our latest Ukraine Insights episode, Economist Timothy Ash explains what this means for 2026 and beyond. Available on YouTube , Spotify , and Apple Podcasts .