‘If It Wasn’t for Us, You’d Be Speaking French!’ – Ukraine Latest, April 29

The king’s speech in US Congress, social media diplomacy, and more deep strikes in Russia – updates from Ukraine and beyond Make us preferred on Google Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied US Vice President JD Vance and House Speaker Mike Johnson applaud after Britain's King Charles III arrives to address a Joint Meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. (Photo by Henry NICHOLLS / POOL / AFP) Content Share Facebook X (Twitter) LinkedIn Bluesky Email Copy Copied Flip Make us preferred on Google King Charles III just gave a speech on solidarity with Ukraine in the US Congress to a standing ovation – even US Vice President JD Vance, a long-time Ukraine skeptic, stood up and clapped. In what’s widely seen as a diplomatic trip to stabilize the transatlantic bond, the British monarch did not hold back in his support for Ukraine – like his son earlier – by calling for “unyielding resolve” in backing Kyiv. He also joked about the US’s colonial past at the state dinner, diplomatically poking fun at the trope that everyone would be speaking German if not for Uncle Sam in WWII. Follow our coverage of the war on the @Kyivpost_official . “Dare I say that, if it wasn’t for us, you’d be speaking French!” he said, adding, “Of course, we both love our French cousins greatly.” Britain's King Charles III is greeted by attendees after addressing a Joint Meeting of Congress in the House Chamber at the US Capitol in Washington, DC, on April 28, 2026. (Photo by KYLIE COOPER / POOL / AFP) The king’s backing is honestly great timing, as the acting US ambassador to Kyiv is reportedly stepping down amid stalled peace talks, and Belarus – which aided Russia in the invasion and is now barring Russian draft evaders from leaving – is getting ever closer to Washington after freeing prisoners it should never have imprisoned. Other Topics of Interest Local Mayor Rebuffs Claims on Hungarian Rights in Ukraine by Incoming Hungarian PM The mayor of Berehove, a border city near Hungary, has rejected claims made by soon-to-be Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar that the Hungarian population has been oppressed. Diplomatic tightrope for Ukraine Otherwise, the diplomatic spat between Ukraine and Israel on stolen grain has continued. Israel, calling Ukraine’s escalation “ Twitter diplomacy ,” has refused to budge, and Kyiv has refused to back down . Another diplomatic spat is also taking shape between Ukraine and Hungary (again), with the incoming Hungarian Prime Minister Peter Magyar criticizing Ukraine’s alleged lackluster protection of Hungarian rights – tacitly rebuffed by the very same Ukrainian-Hungarian official he just met. There are also concerns about the €90 billion ($105 billion) loan from the EU – reports now suggest that Europe is requiring Kyiv to implement major tax reforms. On the economic front, Ukraine’s largest cigarette distributor also filed for bankruptcy due to debts. Ireland is also phasing out housing support for Ukrainian refugees, an initiative questioned by some human rights groups. And on the war, Kyiv has just mobilized troops to reinforce the Sumy region in response to Russia’s move to create its so-called “buffer zone,” while Russian refineries continued to be hit hard, now reaching Perm in the Ural Mountains – maybe that’s why Russia is not showcasing any military hardware at its May 9 parade – the first time since 1945. Down from one tank in 2023 to no tank in 2026, it seems. Otherwise, the daily attacks on Ukraine persisted – over 170 drones were launched against Ukraine overnight, damaging houses and a hypermarket parking lot in eastern Ukraine’s Kharkiv . Rescuers battling a fire that resulted from a Russian drone strike on southern Ukraine's Odesa overnight between April 28 and April 29, 2026. (Photo via the State Emergency Service of Ukraine) Speaking of drones, our team also visited a volunteer defense unit that shoots down Shahed drones alongside the Dnipro River – with footage of a few judges, using M2 Brownings and vintage Maxim machine guns , shooting down a drone while off-duty from their main jobs. Politically, Kyiv is also hit with another major corruption scandal as more recordings on the Mindich case were leaked, this time implicating former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov. Finally, we now have Kim’s confirmation from North Korea – yes, troops were told to kill themselves to avoid capture . It is now a confirmed fact from Pyongyang itself. Interested in more updates like this? Subscribe to our daily newsletter here . Leo Chiu is a journalist and editor based in Eastern Europe since 2015. He has witnessed two presidential elections in Belarus and traveled widely to conflict zones and contested regions, producing reporting that bridges the gap between major developments and local realities.