It's been described as a frozen conflict but Ukraine's civil war has suddenly heated up. So why now? Some point to the flare-up following the first phone call between Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin. Is Moscow testing the West's resolve, or - as pro-Kremlin media suggest - did Kiev trigger the fighting to rally support in Washington?

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US President Donald Trump reacts after signing executive orders imposing tariffs on imported goods in the Rose Garden at the White House on April 2, 2025, in Washington, DC. (Andrew Harnik via Getty Images)