Vladimir Putin, presenting himself as a confident wartime leader, held a four-hour news conference where he maintained his stance on the 'demilitarization' and 'denazification' of Ukraine, showing no signs of compromise. He suggested that Western support for Ukraine might be waning, as evidenced by the impasse in Washington over additional funding for Kyiv. Putin also addressed the arrest of Wall Street Journal correspondent Evan Gershkovich, who is detained in Moscow on espionage charges, which have been denied by him, his employer, and the U.S. government.

Vladimir Putin, speaking from a position of strength, suggested that peace in Ukraine will come when Russia achieves its goals, amidst Western military aid to Ukraine potentially running out. Putin also commented on the arrest of Evan Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal correspondent, and Paul Whelan, expressing willingness to negotiate their release. Despite Western sanctions, Russian military production is increasing, and Ukraine is facing challenges, having failed to secure a substantial aid package from Congress. The EU has opened talks for Ukraine's accession, which historically irritates Putin. Putin's year-end news conference and annual call-in show were combined into a single event, where he appeared confident and dismissed various domestic issues. The event emphasized the war in Ukraine, which Russia still calls 'the special military operation,' and featured questions from Russian and occupied Ukrainian territories.

The Wagner Group, a private military company with ties to Russia, faces an uncertain future after posing a significant threat to President Vladimir Putin's tenure. Despite its contributions to Russia's geopolitical and business interests, the group's strained relationship with the Russian Defense Ministry and its legal ambiguity under Russian law challenge its continued existence. Putin has offered mixed messages about Wagner's future, and Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov has suggested the group may not continue in its current form. Experts like Catrina Doxsee from the Center for Strategic and International Studies anticipate that Russia may still employ similar models to Wagner's but in a more fragmented manner, avoiding conflicts with military leadership.

Belarusian officials conducted a tour of an empty military base in Tsel', Belarus, to demonstrate the absence of Wagner Group fighters, following speculation about the group's presence after a mutiny against Russian military leadership. President Alexander Lukashenko claimed to have brokered the mutiny's resolution and suggested the base could house Wagner fighters. However, the base's purpose remains unclear, with Major General Leonid Kasinsky stating it will be used for military training. Lukashenko's actions appear to maintain his subordination to Russian President Vladimir Putin, while also fostering strategic ambiguity. Journalist Igor Ilyash commented on the benefits of this uncertainty for Lukashenko, Putin, and Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. The future of Wagner and its potential impact on Belarusian politics, given the country's stance on private military companies, adds to the complexity of the situation.

Belarus is increasingly following Russia's orders in social, military, and economic spheres, raising concerns about its sovereignty. Schools are teaching patriotism and assembling rifles, factories are producing uniforms for soldiers fighting against Ukraine, and state-owned summer camps are hosting children from occupied Ukrainian territories. Belarus's decision to allow Moscow to place tactical nuclear weapons on its territory is seen as a step towards Russian absorption of Belarus, a long-term goal of President Vladimir Putin. Despite historically balancing loyalty to Moscow with independence to maintain power, Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko's control is now threatened by Russia's growing influence.

Aleksandr G. Lukashenko, the Belarusian leader, emerged with a public relations victory after brokering an agreement between Vladimir V. Putin and Yevgeny V. Prigozhin of the Wagner military group, averting a potential clash. Lukashenko is leveraging this success to enhance his image as a credible statesman and loyal ally to Putin.

Belarus is increasingly aligning with Russia, socially, militarily, and economically, with recent developments including the country's decision to host Russian tactical nuclear weapons and nuclear-armed bombers. This move is seen as a step towards Russia's potential absorption of Belarus, diminishing Belarusian sovereignty, according to Pavel Slunkin, a former Belarusian diplomat and fellow at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

Residents of the Russian border region of Belgorod, particularly the town of Shebekino, are experiencing the horrors of war firsthand as Ukraine intensifies attacks inside Russia. The escalation has led to the largest military evacuation effort in Russia in decades, with thousands fleeing and the regional governor reporting deaths from shelling. The violence has sparked a reevaluation of the war among locals and resentment towards authorities. The situation has also revived a grass-roots civic spirit as citizens organize to help each other, contrasting with the government's response. Historical ties to Ukraine add complexity to the residents' sentiments, with some expressing a change in attitude towards the Ukrainian armed forces.

Maria, a 13-year-old Russian girl, was taken from her father Aleksei Moskalyov after drawing an antiwar picture, and her custody remains undecided. Moskalyov, charged with discrediting the Russian military, escaped house arrest but was later detained in Belarus. Maria's mother, Olga Sitchikhina, has now taken her from the orphanage. Russia's children's rights commissioner, Maria Lvova-Belova, indicated Maria's initial reluctance to live with her mother has changed. A custody hearing was inconclusive, with another scheduled for April 20. An activist was fined for a drawing discrediting the Russian armed forces at the hearing.

Maria, a 13-year-old Russian girl, was removed from her father Aleksei Moskalyov's care after drawing an antiwar picture, attracting international attention. Over a month later, her custody remains undecided. Moskalyov, charged with discrediting the Russian military, escaped house arrest and was sentenced to two years in prison in absentia. He was later detained in Minsk, Belarus, and is currently in a pretrial detention center in Zhodino, awaiting a deportation hearing. With no close relatives for Masha, her long-term custody is uncertain.

Valerie Hopkins is a journalist currently serving as the Moscow Correspondent for the New York Times. She has been recognized for her reporting on Russia's invasion of Ukraine with awards such as the Newswomen’s Club of New York’s Marie Colvin Award for Foreign Correspondence and the FASPE Distinguished Fellow Award. Prior to her current role, she was the South-East Europe Correspondent for the Financial Times. Valerie has over a decade of experience in journalism, particularly in South-Eastern Europe, and her work has been featured in several prestigious publications.