Ukraine can win – Zelensky

A new batch of aid from the US would provide a boost, but only if delivered in time, the president has said.

It is still possible for Kiev to emerge victorious in the conflict with Moscow, now that the US House of Representatives has approved a new military aid package for Ukraine, President Vladimir Zelensky told NBC in an interview on Sunday.

His words came a day after passage of the bill authorizing an additional $61 billion in support for Kiev. The emergency spending had been stalled in Congress since last fall, with some Republican lawmakers concerned that Washington lacked a strategy either for victory or a peace settlement.

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Musk decries lack of ‘exit strategy’ in Ukraine conflict

The billionaire’s comments come in response to new funding for Kiev being approved by the House of Representatives.

The parties involved in the Ukraine conflict need to work on ways to bring it to a close, SpaceX and Tesla CEO Elon Musk proposed on Saturday.

Responding to an X (formerly Twitter) post by fellow billionaire David Sachs, in which the latter commented on the House of Representatives approving a spending bill that includes a fresh $61 billion for Kiev, Musk noted that the conflict was turning into “a forever war.”

“My biggest concern is that there is no exit strategy, just a forever war where kids die in trenches from artillery or charging machine guns and snipers through minefields,” Musk wrote.

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US aid to Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan to make crises worse — Russian diplomat

"The military aid to the Kiev regime is direct financial support of terrorist activity," Maria Zakharova said.

"The military aid earmarked by the United States for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan will exacerbate the global crises, as the military aid to the Kiev regime is direct financial support of terrorist activity, [the aid] to Taiwan is an interference in China’s domestic affairs and to Israel is a direct path to the unprecedented escalation in the region," she wrote on her Telegram channel.

The $95bln package of bills on military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, on the seizure of the frozen Russian sovereign assets in order to give them to Kiev, and on additional sanctions against China passed the US House of Representatives on Saturday. In particular, the package includes $60 billion for Kiev and $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in the conflict zones, including the Gaza Strip.

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New US military aid will not prevent end of Kiev regime — Russian mission to the UN

"That’s what happens when the head of state doesn’t care about his own people and sells out his country," Dmitry Polyansky said.

Calling Ukraine the anti-Russian "private military company," the diplomat said that now it "will function a little longer, more money will be pocketed, more weapons stolen, and tens of thousands of Ukrainians will go to meat grinder." "But the inglorious end of the Kiev regime is inevitable, regardless of this new package and all the futile efforts of its US and NATO backers to keep it alive," he stressed.

On Saturday, the US House of Representatives adopted the $95bln package of bills on military aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, on the seizure of the frozen Russian sovereign assets in order to give them to Kiev, and on additional sanctions against China. In particular, the package includes $60 billion for Kiev and $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid.

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Mobilization law condition for new supplies of arms to Kiev by NATO

Arms supplies are only reasonable if a large number of military personnel able to use those weapons in defense and assault operations is available.

"Passing of a new harsh bill on mobilization in Ukraine was a condition for new supplies of weapons by NATO countries. Arms supplies are only reasonable if a large number of military personnel able to use those weapons in defense and assault operations is available, and if losses are swiftly made up for, for doing which new soldiers should be actively drafted into the military," the diplomat said.

Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky signed the bill into law to tighten mobilization rules on April 16. The document tightens the mobilization procedure and penalties for draft evaders, and also refines the categories of those subject to mobilization. As a result, hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians are expected to be drafted.

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Moldovan opposition announces creation of Pobeda political bloc

Among representatives are Governor of the autonomous Gagauzia region of Moldova Evgenia Gutsul and parliamentary deputy Marina Tauber.

"Today here, in this hall, we announce the creation of the Pobeda bloc," he said.

The country’s citizens see the lack of prospects of the line pursued by the current Moldovan authorities, the politician stressed. "It seems to us that it is about time to win. No one harbors any illusions regarding the current authorities in Moldova. They have proved with their own actions that their policy leads to catastrophe. The insane Eurointegration line is the road to nowhere for Moldova," Shor said.

The politician’s supporters stand for good neighborhood relations with all countries, for cooperation and mutually beneficial partnership ties with Russia, for strong family values and Moldova’s prosperity, he noted.

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Head of Israeli military intelligence resigns over October 7 failures.

Surveys indicate most Israelis blame Netanyahu for failing to do enough to prevent or defend against the October 7 attack.

The head of Israeli military intelligence has resigned after accepting responsibility for the failures that allowed the devastating Hamas-led attack on Israel on October 7, the military said.

Major General Aharon Haliva, a 38-year veteran of the military, was one of a number of senior Israeli commanders who said they had failed to foresee and prevent the deadliest attack in Israel’s history.

“The intelligence division under my command did not live up to the task we were entrusted with. I have carried that black day with me ever since,” he said in a resignation letter released by the military.

He will remain in post until a successor is named. Israeli media and commentators expect further resignations once the main military campaign in Gaza wraps up.

The October 7 attack badly tarnished the reputation of the Israeli military and intelligence services, previously seen as virtually unbeatable by armed Palestinian groups like Hamas.

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Britain to announce its largest ever aid package to Ukraine.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will announce the largest-ever military aid package to Ukraine from the UK on his visit to Poland today.
He is expected to announce a £500m boost for Ukraine and largest-ever provision of vital munitions, including some 400 vehicles, 1,600 munitions and 4 million rounds of ammunition

The £500 million additional funding announced today – which takes us to £3 billion in UK military aid for Ukraine this financial year – will be used to rapidly deliver urgently-needed ammunition, air defence, drones and engineering support. The drones will be procured in the UK and the funds will support a scale-up in domestic defence supply chains.

The Ministry of Defence will also send our largest-ever single package of equipment from the UK, designed to help push back the Russian invasion on land, sea and air.

It includes, according to a press release, the following:

- 60 boats including offshore raiding craft, rigid raiding craft and dive boats as well as maritime guns
- More than 1,600 strike and air defence missiles, as well as additional Storm Shadow long-range precision-guided missiles.
- More than 400 vehicles, including 160 protected mobility ‘Husky’ vehicles, 162 armoured vehicles and 78 all-terrain vehicles.
- Nearly 4 million rounds of small arms ammunition.

Defence Secretary Grant Shapps said:

“This record package of military aid will give President Zelenskyy and his brave nation more of the kit they need to kick Putin out and restore peace and stability in Europe. The UK was the first to provide NLAW missiles, the first to give modern tanks and the first to send long-range missiles. Now, we are going even further. We will never let the world forget the existential battle Ukraine is fighting, and with our enduring support, they will win.”

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A Ukrainian who was preparing an assassination attempt on the President of Slovakia was detained in the Czech Republic.

The Czech Security and Information Service (counterintelligence) prevented an assassination attempt on the elected President of Slovakia, Peter Pellegrini, which was planned to be carried out by 24-year-old Ukrainian citizen Marunich V. This was reported by the CTK news agency .

According to him, counterintelligence prevented an assassination attempt on April 22. The attacker, who is described as mentally unstable and nationalist-minded, was detained in the city of Brno in the south-east of the republic when he took weapons from a cache.

As CTK notes, V. Marunich is a native of Vinnitsa and has been in the Czech Republic since 2021. In 2021, he was detained in Ukraine for distributing child pornography and fraud. The attacker came to the attention of Czech counterintelligence in December last year, the agency notes.

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The Prosecutor General's Office of Moldova considers the creation of the "Pobeda" bloc as treason.

According to him, the prosecutor's office and criminal investigation and state security authorities are monitoring the actions that occur in connection with the participation of Moldovan politicians in the congress of opposition deputies in Moscow.

“The treason component of the crime is also being considered in connection with the events that we are all witnessing,” Munteanu said.

On April 21, a congress of opposition deputies from Moldova was held in Moscow, advocating good neighborly relations with Russia and joining the EAEU.

On the evening of April 22, it was reported that members of the Moldovan opposition association, who had flown in from Moscow, were being held at the Chisinau airport for more than three hours .

Moldovan oppositionists are being searched . Security forces came to the home of several representatives and seized money and phones.

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Putin’s inauguration to take place on May 7

According to the law, the president-elect takes office for six years.

"The inauguration will be held on May 7. There will be additional information about the PCR tests for senators attending the inauguration. This is a standard procedure, it will take place once, on May 6," Klishas said at a committee meeting.

The senator also said that the State Duma could consider the candidacy of Russia's new prime minister as early as May 8 if the president "sees fit."

"The State Duma will return to work on May 6. Accordingly, there will be a session on May 8. Perhaps, if the president sees fit, they will consider the candidacy of the new Russian prime minister," he said.

According to the law, the president-elect takes office for six years. In 2018, Putin's inauguration took place on May 7.

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Modern weapons make up 82% in Russian air defense troops

"The Kiev regime has failed to achieve the goals of its counteroffensive prepared by NATO instructors."

This year, the Russian air defense troops will receive the first S-500 air defense systems in two modifications, S-400, S-300V4, Buk-M3 and Tor-M2U surface-to-air missile complexes and next-generation radars, the defense chief specified.

"Outfitting air defense and anti-ballistic missile defense troops with advanced armament is a priority task in developing the AF. As of today, the share of modern weapons stands at 82% and it is necessary to increase this figure to 85% in the next two years," Shoigu said.

"This year, the troops will receive the first S-500 next-generation air defense systems in two modifications: long-range surface-to-air missile systems and anti-ballistic missile defense complexes, and also S-400, S-300V4, Buk-M3 and Tor-M2U anti-aircraft missile systems and new-generation radar stations."

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🎥 A new batch of US Abrams tanks has been spotted in Moscow

In shops in the Russian capital, in the dessert section, among the usual cakes there is now a chocolate “Abrams Tank.” For just 759 rubles (less than $9), a cake can be bought in the shape of a destroyed US main battle tank.

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Russian serviceman describes the main weaknesses of the Leopard 2 tank

Its inability to be repaired in the field and excessive automation are the main drawbacks of a German Leopard 2A5 tank evacuated from the Avdeyevka section of the Donbass front, commander of a repair platoon in the Central Military District under call sign Pero [lit. Plume] told Sputnik.

"In my opinion, the main disadvantage of this pattern is to give electronic components, electronic parts, more opportunity for control than humans," the repair platoon commander explained.

According to the serviceman, if the electronics are damaged on the front line, then the tank cannot be repaired immediately.

Earlier, the Russian Defense Ministry said that a German Leopard 2A5 tank had been delivered by a repair and evacuation team from the Avdeyevka section of the Donbass front to a Central Military District repair unit, and published footage of its evacuation.

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Switzerland unblocks Russia-related assets worth 290 mln Swiss francs

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists"

"Assets worth 140 million Swiss francs (about 153 mln - TASS) which had previously been blocked as a precautionary measure were released after further investigations found the legal requirements for their freezing were not met," the statement says.

The total amount of blocked assets of the Russian Federation decreased by 150 million Swiss francs (about $165 million) due to the fact that a number of individuals "were removed from the EU sanctions lists" that the confederation is targeting.

Moreover, only by expanding the community’s blacklist, in 2023 Switzerland additionally blocked funds allegedly associated with Russia for 50 million francs (about $55 million).

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Conflict in Ukraine can be over by end of 2025, Hungary’s Orban believes

Prime Minister said that it is possible if proponents of peace, not war, win the June elections to the European Parliament and the US Presidential elections in November.

Orban believes that, if proponents of peace win the elections to the European Parliament, "military decisions in Europe could be slowed down, stopped or even cancelled."

"Another election will take place in America, with one candidate favoring war and another one favoring peace. If a peaceful candidate wins, then we will get support from America," Orban said, referring to Joe Biden as the warmongering candidate and Donald Trump as the peacemaking candidate.

"Thus, after the next year’s elections, if everything goes well and God helps us, then the political leaders that advocate peace will be able to step forth in Europe and America, and then we will be able to end the war by the end of the year," the prime minister said on social media.

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