By ILLIA NOVIKOV, AAMER MADHANI and JILL LAWLESS, Associated Press

KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — A planned meeting Wednesday between top U.S., British, French and Ukrainian diplomats to push forward a peace deal between Russia and Ukraine was scrapped at the last minute, with U.S. Vice President JD Vance saying negotiations are reaching a moment of truth.

“We’ve issued a very explicit proposal to both the Russians and the Ukrainians, and it’s time for them to either say yes or for the United States to walk away from this process,” Vance told reporters during a visit Wednesday to Agra, India.

He said it was “a very fair proposal” that would “freeze the territorial lines at some level close to where they are today,” with both sides having to give up some territory they currently hold. He did not provide further details of the proposal.

U.S. Vice President JD Vance arrives to speak at the Rajasthan International Center in Jaipur, India, Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Manish Swarup)

Vance’s comments came a day after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy ruled out ceding territory to Russia as part of any potential peace agreement, calling it a nonstarter. The Ukrainian leader spoke Tuesday in response to reports the Trump administration was proposing a deal that would allow Russia to keep occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a potential peace agreement.

U.K. Foreign Secretary David Lammy announced the talks in London to find an end to the more than three-year war would involve only lower-ranking officials after the U.S. State Department said Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was unable to attend because of a scheduling issue.

Rubio’s abrupt cancelation raised doubts about the direction of the negotiations.

Commenting on those attending the London talks, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that “as far as we understand, they so far have failed to bring their positions closer on some issues.”

He said the Kremlin was still in consultations with American officials but wouldn’t publicly discuss details.

U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff is expected to visit Moscow again later this week, according to Russian officials.

Even achieving a limited, 30-day ceasefire has been beyond the reach of negotiators, as both sides have continued to attack each other in a grinding war of attrition along the 620-mile front line and launch long-range strikes.

A Russian drone struck a bus carrying workers in Marganets, in eastern Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region on Wednesday morning, killing eight women and one man, regional head Serhii Lysak wrote on his Telegram channel. More than 40 people were injured, he said.

Lysak published photos of a bus with its windows blown out and shards of glass mixed with blood spattered on the bus floor.

Ukrainian delegation arrives in London despite change in U.S. plans

President Donald Trump has pushed for an end to the war and said last week that negotiations were “coming to a head.” That comment came after Rubio suggested that the U.S. might soon back away from negotiations if they don’t progress.

Rubio had indicated that Wednesday’s meeting could be decisive in determining whether the Trump administration remains engaged.

Those still attending the meeting included retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, Trump’s envoy for Ukraine and Russia.

Andrii Yermak, the head of Ukraine’s presidential office, said on X that a delegation including him, Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov had arrived in London for the talks despite the alterations.

“The path to peace is not easy, but Ukraine has been and remains committed to peaceful efforts,” Yermak said. Officials would “discuss ways to achieve a full and unconditional ceasefire as the first step toward a comprehensive settlement and the achievement of a just and lasting peace.”

Zelenskyy rejects ceding territory to Moscow

During similar talks last week in Paris, U.S. officials presented a proposal that included allowing Russia to keep control of occupied Ukrainian territory as part of a deal, according to a European official familiar with the matter.

Zelenskyy pushed back against that during an appearance in Kyiv, saying: “There is nothing to talk about — it is our land, the land of the Ukrainian people.”

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy speaks during a press conference in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Evgeniy Maloletka)

Russia, meanwhile, has effectively rejected a U.S. proposal for an immediate and full 30-day halt in the fighting by imposing far-reaching conditions.

Trump said repeatedly during his election campaign last year that he would be able to end the war “in 24 hours” upon taking office. But he has expressed frustration with Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

Some European allies are wary of the American proposal for Ukraine to exchange land for peace. But an official said there’s also acknowledgment by some allies that Russia is firmly entrenched wholly or partially in five regions of Ukraine — Crimea, Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.

If the goal is to obtain a ceasefire immediately, “it should be based on the line of contact as it is,” said a senior French official. The official was not authorized to be publicly named and spoke on the condition of anonymity according to French presidential policy.

Moscow holds advantage on the battlefield

Still, Ukraine’s territorial integrity and aspirations to strengthen ties with the rest of the continent are a top priority for the Europeans, the European official said.

Britain had downplayed expectations of a breakthrough in London, but says this is an important week for diplomatic efforts to stop the fighting.

Western analysts say Moscow is in no rush to conclude peace talks, because it has battlefield momentum and wants to capture more Ukrainian land.

Zelenskyy said Tuesday that Ukraine’s delegation heading to the U.K. had a mandate to discuss only an unconditional or partial ceasefire with Russia. He said that “after a ceasefire, we’re prepared to sit down for talks in any format.”

Novikov reported from Kyiv and Madhani from Washington. Angela Charlton in Paris contributed.

By KELVIN CHAN, Associated Press Business Writer

LONDON (AP) — European Union watchdogs fined Apple and Meta hundreds of millions of euros Wednesday as they stepped up enforcement of the 27-nation bloc’s digital competition rules.

The European Commission imposed a 500 million euro ($571 million) fine on Apple for preventing app makers from pointing users to cheaper options outside its App Store.

The commission, which is the EU’s executive arm, also fined Meta Platforms 200 million euros because it forced Facebook and Instagram users to choose between seeing personalized ads or paying to avoid them.

The punishments were smaller than the blockbuster multibillion-euro fines that the commission has previously slapped on Big Tech companies in antitrustcases.

Apple and Meta have to comply with the decisions within 60 days or risk unspecified “periodic penalty payments,” the commission said.

The decisions were expected to come in March, but the self-imposed deadline slipped amid an escalating trans-Atlantic trade war with U.S. President Donald Trump, who has repeatedly complained about regulations from Brussels affecting American companies.

The penalties were issued under the EU’s Digital Markets Act, also known as the DMA. It’s a sweeping rulebook that amounts to a set of do’s and don’ts designed to give consumers and businesses more choice and prevent Big Tech “gatekeepers” from cornering digital markets.

The DMA seeks to ensure “that citizens have full control over when and how their data is used online, and businesses can freely communicate with their own customers,” Henna Virkkunen, the commission’s executive vice-president for tech sovereignty, said in a statement.

“The decisions adopted today find that both Apple and Meta have taken away this free choice from their users and are required to change their behavior,” Virkkunen said.

Both companies indicated they would appeal.

Apple accused the commission of “unfairly targeting” the iPhone maker, and said it “continues to move the goal posts” despite the company’s efforts to comply with the rules.

Meta Chief Global Affairs Officer Joel Kaplan said in a statement that the “Commission is attempting to handicap successful American businesses while allowing Chinese and European companies to operate under different standards.”

In a press briefing in Brussels, commission spokespeople sought to tamp down concerns that the penalties would inflame trade tensions.

“We don’t care who owns a company. We don’t care where the company is located,” commission spokesperson Thomas Regnier told reporters. “We are totally agnostic on that front from a European Union.”

“And be it a Chinese company, be an American company, or be it a European company, you will have to play by the rules in the European Union.”

In the App Store case, the Commission had accused the iPhone maker of imposing unfair rules preventing app developers from freely steering consumers to other channels.

Among the DMA’s provisions are requirements to let developers inform customers of cheaper purchasing options and direct them to those offers.

The commission said it ordered Apple to remove technical and commercial restrictions that prevent developers from steering users to other channels, and to end “non-compliant” conduct.

Apple said it has “spent hundreds of thousands of engineering hours and made dozens of changes to comply with this law, none of which our users have asked for.”

“Despite countless meetings, the Commission continues to move the goal posts every step of the way,” the company said.

The EU’s Meta investigation centered on the company’s strategy to comply with strict European data privacy rules by giving users the option of paying for ad-free versions of Facebook and Instagram.

Users could pay at least $11.40 a month to avoid being targeted by ads based on their personal data. The U.S. tech giant rolled out the option after the European Union’s top court ruled Meta must first get consent before showing ads to users.

Regulators took issue with Meta’s model, saying it doesn’t allow users to exercise their right to “freely consent” to allowing their personal data from its various services, which also including Facebook Marketplace, WhatsApp, and Messenger, to be combined for personalized ads.

Meta rolled out a third option in November giving Facebook and Instagram users in Europe the option to see fewer personalized ads if they don’t want to pay for an ad-free subscription. The commission said it’s “currently assessing” this option and continues to hold talks with Meta, and has asked the company to provide evidence of the new option’s impact.

“This isn’t just about a fine; the Commission forcing us to change our business model effectively imposes a multi-billion-dollar tariff on Meta while requiring us to offer an inferior service,” Kaplan said. “And by unfairly restricting personalized advertising the European Commission is also hurting European businesses and economies.”

By COLLEEN BARRY and NICOLE WINFIELD, Associated Press

VATICAN CITY (AP) — Thousands of people filed through the central aisle of St. Peter’s Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis on Wednesday, the start of three days of public viewing ahead of the pontiff’s funeral.

Throngs of ordinary faithful made their way slowly to the 16th-century basilica’s main altar, where Francis’ simple wooden casket was perched on a slight ramp, as four Swiss Guards stood at attention. Over the coming days, tens of thousands of people are expected to pass through the basilica, which is staying open until midnight to accommodate them.

Cardinals, meanwhile, met in private to finalize preparations for Saturday’s funeral and plan the conclave to elect Francis’ successor.

Francis died on Monday at age 88, capping a 12-year pontificate characterized by his concern for the poor and message of inclusion, but also some criticism from conservatives who sometimes felt alienated by his progressive bent.

Wednesday opened with the bells of St. Peter’s tolling as pallbearers carried Francis’ body from the Vatican hotel where he lived into the basilica in a procession through the same piazza where he had delivered what became his final goodbye. Francis made a surprise popemobile tour through the faithful on Easter Sunday, after being assured by his nurse he could despite his continued frail health from a bout of pneumonia.

Cardinal Kevin Farrell, who is running the Vatican temporarily until a new pope is elected, led the procession down the central aisle to the altar, with clouds of incense preceding him and the choir chanting the Litany of Saints hymn. In pairs, cardinals in red cassocks approached the casket, bowed and made a sign of the cross, followed by small groups of purple-robbed bishops, black-clad ushers, priests and nuns — and then the doors were thrown open to the public.

Heads of state are expected for Francis’ funeral, but the three days of public viewing in the basilica allow ordinary Catholics to grieve the Argentine pope. The viewing ends Friday at 7 p.m., after which Francis’ casket will be closed and sealed.

Simplified rituals reflect Francis’ wishes

Francis’ death and funeral inaugurates a carefully orchestrated period of transition in the 1.4 billion-strong Catholic Church, with cardinals gathering over the coming days before entering into a conclave, the secretive ritual voting in the Sistine Chapel to elect a new pope. There are 135 cardinals under age 80 and eligible to vote, and the new pontiff will likely come from within their ranks. The conclave is not expected to begin before May 5.

South Korean Cardinal Lazarus You Heung-sik, who heads the Vatican’s office for priests, predicted a short conclave, but acknowledged the transition is full of uncertainties.

“We’ll see what the Holy Spirit says,” he said Wednesday. Asked if the next pope could come from Asia, where the Catholic Church is growing, he insisted: “For the Lord, there’s no East or West.”

Papua New Guinea’s first and only cardinal, John Ribat, prepared Wednesday to leave for Rome to participate in the vote, pleased to represent the poor South Pacific island nation of 12 million people and more than 800 languages in a College of Cardinals that Francis greatly diversified over 12 years.

“The important thing is that … Papua New Guinea is part of the church, the global church. And to be able to have a representative from here to be in the conclave, it is a big thing,” Ribart told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. He said he hoped the next pope would be someone who could lead the church in “a way that is truthful and binds everyone together.”

Francis first lay in state in the Domus Santa Marta hotel in a private viewing for Vatican residents and the papal household. Images released by the Vatican on Tuesday showed the pope in an open casket, wearing the traditional pointed headdress of bishops and red robes, his hands folded over a rosary. The Vatican’s No. 2, Cardinal Pietro Parolin, was pictured praying by Francis.

Once inside the basilica, Francis’ casket wasn’t put on an elevated bier — as was the case with past popes — but placed on a ramp, facing the pews. It was in keeping with Francis’ wishes for all the rituals surrounding a papal funeral to be simplified to reflect his belief that the pope’s role is that of simple pastor, not world leader.

“For me, Pope Francis represents a great pastor, as well as a great friend to all of us,’’ said Micale Sales, visiting St. Peter’s Basilica from Brazil.

Italian police have tightened security for the viewing and the funeral, carrying out foot and horse patrols around the Vatican, where pilgrims continued to arrive for the Holy Year celebrations that Francis opened in December. The faithful who walk through St. Peter’s Holy Door during such years are granted indulgences, a way to help atone for sins.

“I think he spread a positive message around the world, saying there shouldn’t be any violence, there should be peace around the world,’’ said Amit Kukreja, from Australia.

Planning for the conclave is now underway

The funeral has been set for Saturday at 10 a.m. in St. Peter’s Square, and will be attended by leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskyy.

Cardinals are continuing their meetings this week to plan the conclave and make other decisions about running the Catholic Church.

History’s first Latin American pontiff charmed the world with his humble style and concern for the poor but alienated many conservatives with critiques of capitalism and climate change.

Francis had some reservations about his final popemobile tour through St. Peter’s Square on Easter, Vatican News reported on Tuesday. But he overcame them, the news agency said, and was thankful that he had greeted the crowd. He died the next morning.

“The death of a pope is not a small thing, because we’ve lost our leader,’’ Julio Henrique from Brazil said just outside the basilica. “But still, in a few days, we will have a new leader. So … the thing of hope remains. Who will assume Peter’s throne?”

Associated Press reporters Silvia Stellacci and Trisha Thomas contributed to this report.

Some places across the country are still getting frost in the morning; other climes are sunny and warm already. No matter. Let’s move on to springtime in the kitchen.

We need renewal and the green promises. And if it means cheating a little — asparagus from elsewhere, peas from the freezer — so be it. It’s been a long winter.

Asparagus absolutely qualifies as a signal of spring, and what better way to celebrate the season than a salad of them. A platter of green spears, bathed in a mustard-tinged vinaigrette, would be perfectly fine. But for a celebratory dinner, it’s nice to dress things up a bit, with finely slivered raw beets, a shower of dill, parsley and mint leaves, and chopped (or quartered) soft-cooked egg. A few thin slices of prosciutto complete the colorful assembly.

For the best flavor, look for the freshest firm, shiny asparagus available, whether pencil thin, medium or hefty, then give them a few minutes in simmering salty water before letting them cool to room temperature on a clean towel.

For carnivores, springtime and lamb are synonymous, so in honor of the season, I braised a succulent lamb shoulder with white wine and aromatics. A braise is practical too, since it can be prepared well in advance of serving, even a day ahead.

Though boneless roasts can be found at most butchers, you could also braise thick-cut, bone-in shoulder chops, tied together. But could you roast a leg of lamb or a couple of lamb racks instead? Yes, or you could cook chops on the grill or under the broiler, especially since the real star of this main is a mélange of greens (chard, kale or large spinach) and beans, punched up with rosemary, hot pepper and orange zest.

It’s thrilling if you can find fresh fava beans. If not, frozen, peeled favas are available at Middle Eastern groceries. Or use frozen edamame, baby limas, green peas or a combination. If none of those are options where you are, toss the cooked greens with lentils or small white beans for an extremely pleasing combination.

For dessert, a bowl of strawberries and cream is always a winner. But consider a lemony spongecake, topped with strawberries and cream, which may well generate applause. It’s worth seeking out smaller strawberries, which tend to be riper and sweeter than the large, white-shouldered type.

The cake is doused with a syrupy lemon glaze made from lemon juice, limoncello and powdered sugar. Lacking limoncello, use triple sec or an orange liqueur. Get the cake good and soggy, and take care when whipping the cream. As with so many of life’s instances, leaving it on the looser side keeps it luxurious.

Herby Asparagus Salad With Beets and Prosciutto

Asparagus is absolutely a symbol of spring, so what better way to celebrate the season than by centering them in a salad. A platter of green spears, bathed in a mustard-tinged vinaigrette, would be perfectly fine, but for something more celebratory, it’s nice to dress things up, with finely slivered raw beets, a shower of dill, parsley and mint leaves, and chopped (or quartered) soft-cooked egg. A few slices of prosciutto complete the colorful assembly. For the best flavor, look for the freshest firm, shiny asparagus available, whether pencil thin, medium or hefty.

By David Tanis

Yield: 4 servings

Total time: 45 minutes

INGREDIENTS

For the vinaigrette:

2 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon white wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Dijon mustard
Salt and black pepper
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil

For the salad:

1 bunch medium asparagus (about 16 to 20 spears)
1 medium red beet, raw, peeled and julienned
3 tablespoons tarragon leaves (from 3 sprigs)
3 tablespoons dill sprigs (from 3 stems)
About 3 tablespoons parsley leaves (from 6 or so stems)
About 3 tablespoons mint leaves (from 1 to 2 large sprigs)
2 (8-minute) boiled eggs, peeled and roughly chopped
8 thin slices of prosciutto

DIRECTIONS

1. Make the vinaigrette: Put lemon juice and vinegar in a small bowl. Stir in mustard to dissolve. Add a good pinch of salt and some freshly ground pepper. Slowly whisk in the olive oil.

2. Prepare the salad: Snap off the tough ends of the asparagus. In a large pot, bring abundantly salted water to a low boil. Add asparagus and cook until just tender, 2 to 4 minutes, depending on their width. Remove and spread out on a kitchen towel to cool. Set aside.

3. Divide cooked asparagus spears among 4 plates. Put beets in a small bowl, season with a pinch of salt and 1 tablespoon vinaigrette. Top asparagus with dressed beet. Scatter herbs over each plate, then sprinkle with chopped egg. Drizzle vinaigrette over everything.

4. Tear prosciutto into wide ribbons; drape ribbons over each plate. Serve.

Lamb Shoulder With Greens and Beans

Lamb Shoulder with Greens and Beans. This lamb braise is a great option for hosts, since it can be prepared up to a day ahead. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich. (David Malosh/The New York Times)

Spring and lamb are synonymous, so in honor of the season, make this succulent lamb shoulder braised with white wine and aromatics. While the lamb is, of course, a showstopper, the real star is a mélange of greens (chard, kale or large spinach) and beans, punched up with rosemary, hot pepper and orange zest. Look for fresh favas, or substitute the peeled frozen variety (found at Middle Eastern grocery stores), frozen edamame, baby limas, green peas or a combination. An ideal dinner party main, every part of this dish can be prepared hours (or a day) ahead and reheated just before serving.

By David Tanis

Yield: 4 to 6 servings

Total time: 3 hours

INGREDIENTS

1 (4-pound) boneless lamb shoulder roast or 4 to 6 thick bone-in lamb shoulder chops (3 to 4 pounds)
Salt and black pepper
1 teaspoon ground fennel
1/4 cup extra-virgin olive oil, plus more as needed
1 medium onion, diced
4 garlic cloves, roughly chopped
1 bay leaf, fresh or dried
1 tablespoon tomato paste
1 cup dry white or red wine
4 cups chicken or lamb broth
1 pound sturdy leafy greens, such as chard, kale or spinach, ribs removed, leaves cut into wide ribbons
1 tablespoon grated orange zest
2 teaspoons roughly chopped rosemary
Pinch of red-pepper flakes
2 cups fava beans, shucked, blanched and peeled, or use a mix of edamame and peas

DIRECTIONS

1. Generously season lamb all over with salt and pepper and rub with ground fennel. (If using chops, stack them, and tie together tightly with twine into the shape of a roast.)

2. Set a rack in the middle of the oven and heat to 350 degrees. Place a Dutch oven over medium-high heat, and add 2 tablespoons oil. When it shimmers, add diced onion and a pinch of salt. Cook, stirring until softened and lightly browned, about 8 minutes. Add garlic, bay leaf and tomato paste, and cook for 1 minute, stirring continuously, then add wine and simmer briskly for 1 minute. Add broth and bring to a hard boil. Set lamb in the pot, cover and bake on the middle rack until quite tender, 1 1/2 to 2 hours.

3. As the lamb bakes, add 2 tablespoons olive oil to a large skillet over medium-high. Add the greens, working in batches if necessary and stirring as they cook down, then season with salt and cook, stirring, until wilted, about 3 minutes. Add orange zest, rosemary and red-pepper flakes, and stir to incorporate. Turn off heat. Taste and adjust seasoning, then set greens aside. When cool, squeeze out excess water.

4. When lamb is done, remove from the Dutch oven. (If using chops, place the bundle on a cutting board and remove twine.) Bring cooking liquid to a boil and reduce by half, spooning off any fat that rises to the surface. Turn off heat. Put lamb back in reduced cooking liquid, cover and keep warm.

5. Return greens and fava beans to the skillet over medium-high heat for a few minutes to heat through, then transfer to plates. Cut lamb into thick slices or chunks and set on top of vegetables. (If using a chop, set a single chop on each plate.) Spoon cooking liquid over each dish and serve.

Lemon Cake With Strawberries and Cream

Lemon Cake with Strawberries and Cream. A lemony spongecake topped with strawberries is a joyous way to end the meal. Food Stylist: Rebecca Jurkevich. (David Malosh/The New York Times)

For dessert, a bowl of strawberries and cream is always a winner. But instead, consider this lemony spongecake topped with strawberries and cream, which may well generate applause. It’s worth seeking out smaller strawberries, which tend to be riper and sweeter than the large, white-shouldered type. The spongecake may be baked in advance, up to 2 days ahead. It’s fun to hide the strawberries under a thick layer of whipped cream, but you can serve the cream on the side if preferred.

By David Tanis

Yield: 8 servings

Total time: 1 hour 15 minutes, plus cooling time

INGREDIENTS

For the cake:

1 tablespoon unsalted butter
1 1/3 cups/140 grams sifted cake flour, plus more for the pan
6 large eggs
3/4 cup/150 grams granulated sugar
1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
Pinch of salt

For the glaze:

3/4 cup/92 grams powdered sugar
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons limoncello or triple sec
1 cup/240 milliliters heavy cream
1/2 pound/225 grams ripe strawberries, hulled, rinsed and thickly sliced, quartered or halved

DIRECTIONS

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Butter and flour a 9-inch springform pan and set aside.

2. Prepare the cake: Place the flour in a large bowl and set aside. In a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat eggs at medium speed. Add granulated sugar, lemon zest, vanilla extract and salt. Beat until mixture is quite thick and nearly holds peaks, about 10 minutes. Quickly fold into the flour.

3. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, smoothing the top. Bake until a skewer emerges cleanly when inserted into the middle of the cake, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool on a rack in the pan. (It’s fine to make the cake a day or two in advance.)

4. Flip the cake onto a platter, leaving the flat surface on top.

5. Make the glaze: Stir together 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1 tablespoon of the lemon juice and the limoncello until all the sugar has dissolved. Brush all of the glaze over the cake.

6. Whip cream and 2 tablespoons of the remaining powdered sugar to form very soft peaks — don’t overwhip.

7. In a medium bowl, toss strawberries with remaining tablespoon lemon juice and the remaining 2 tablespoons powdered sugar.

8. Spoon strawberries on the cake and top with whipped cream to cover the berries. Refrigerate for 2 to 3 hours, if desired. Cut into wedges to serve.

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