The BLUF - April 15th

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This is Atlas, and you’re reading the Bottom Line Up Front, where we cover the top geopolitical stories from around the world every Tuesday!

Today’s topics:

• Zelensky Urges Trump To Visit Ukraine Amidst Spat with VP Vance

• The Bukele Refusal

• Ecuadorian President Re-Elected For Second Term

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Zelensky Urges Trump To Visit Ukraine Amidst Spat with VP Vance

_{By: Atlas}

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has extended a formal invitation to President Donald Trump to visit Ukraine and witness the war's devastation firsthand before proceeding with peace negotiations with Russia. The invitation comes amid growing tensions between Zelensky and Vice President JD Vance over the administration's approach to ending the conflict.

In an interview with CBS's "60 Minutes" that aired Sunday, Zelensky appealed directly to Trump, saying, "We want you to come. You think you understand what's going on here. Okay, we respect your position. But, please, before any kind of decisions, any kind of forms of negotiations, come to see people, civilians, warriors, hospitals, churches, children destroyed or dead."

The Ukrainian leader emphasized that such a visit would provide Trump with a clearer understanding of the situation on the ground and of Russian President Vladimir Putin's actions. "You will understand with whom you have a deal. You will understand what Putin did," Zelensky stated, assuring that any visit would not be staged. "We will not prepare anything. It will not be theater. We don't do this. We don't need it. You can go exactly where you want, in any city which been under attacks."

Tensions with Vice President Vance Escalate

Zelensky's interview also highlighted growing friction with Vice President Vance, whom he accused of "somehow justifying Putin's actions." The Ukrainian president challenged what he described as an "altered reality" being presented by the Trump administration regarding the war's origins.

"First and foremost, we did not launch an attack to start the war. It seems to me that the vice president is somehow justifying Putin's actions," Zelensky told CBS's Scott Pelley. "I tried to explain, 'You can't look for something in the middle. There is an aggressor and there is a victim. The Russians are the aggressor, and we are the victim.'"

These comments follow a contentious February meeting in the Oval Office where Trump, Vance, and Zelensky clashed over U.S. support for Ukraine. During that encounter, Vance criticized Zelensky for his approach, stating, "I think it's disrespectful for you to come into the Oval Office and try to litigate this in front of the American media." Vance also accused the Ukrainian president of bringing dignitaries on "propaganda tours" of the war zone.

Administration Response to Recent Attacks

The interview aired the same day that Russian missiles struck the northeastern Ukrainian city of Sumy, killing at least 34 people, including two children, and injuring approximately 84 others. The attack, which targeted civilians attending Palm Sunday services, has been described as the deadliest on civilians so far this year.

Trump's special envoy to Ukraine, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, condemned the attack, stating it "crosses any line of decency" and noting, "As a former military leader, I understand targeting and this is wrong." However, Trump's personal response was more measured, reportedly describing the attack as "terrible" while indicating he had "been told they made a mistake."

The attack occurred as the Trump administration continues diplomatic efforts to end the war. Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, traveled to Russia on Friday to advance peace talks that have stalled in recent weeks. Witkoff has already held three meetings with Putin, prompting concerns from Kyiv that Moscow might exploit these discussions to its advantage.

Diplomatic Divergence

The dispute underscores fundamental differences in how the Trump administration and Zelensky view the path to resolving the conflict. While Trump has repeatedly asserted his determination to end the war quickly through diplomatic means, Zelensky has expressed concern about the terms of any potential settlement.

In a Truth Social post Monday, Trump placed blame for the conflict squarely on the previous administration, writing, "This is Biden's war. I just got here, and for four years during my term, had no problem in preventing it from happening."

Vance's press secretary, Taylor Van Kirk, responded to Zelensky's comments in a statement, saying the vice president "has repeatedly said that this war was not justified to begin with and is the product of Joe Biden's weakness and incompetence." The statement added, "Instead of mischaracterizing Vice President Vance's rhetoric, President Zelensky should be focused on bringing this conflict to a peaceful conclusion."

European leaders have meanwhile condemned Russia's recent attack on Sumy, with German Chancellor-designate Friedrich Merz calling it "a serious war crime" and French President Emmanuel Macron accusing Russia of "blatant disregard of human lives, international law, and the diplomatic efforts of President Trump."

As the administration continues its push for a negotiated settlement, Zelensky's invitation for Trump to visit Ukraine represents a direct challenge to the president to engage more deeply with the realities of the conflict before finalizing any agreements with Moscow that could shape Ukraine's future.

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