⚡️ Chinese nationals reportedly smuggling military gear out of Russia.
The incidents concern body armor, tactical gear, and other military apparel that are then studied and replicated using cheaper materials before being resold abroad, Izvestia reported.
The incidents concern body armor, tactical gear, and other military apparel that are then studied and replicated using cheaper materials before being resold abroad, Izvestia reported.
⚡️ UK to boost explosives production, reduce reliance on US arms.
The United Kingdom will significantly ramp up domestic production of military-grade explosives to reduce its reliance on U.S. and French imports, the Times reported on April 20.
The United Kingdom will significantly ramp up domestic production of military-grade explosives to reduce its reliance on U.S. and French imports, the Times reported on April 20.
⚡️ Norway's PM, finance minister to meet Trump on April 24 to discuss Ukraine, trade.
The leaders will discuss the security situation, NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and trade, the Norwegian prime minister's office said.
The leaders will discuss the security situation, NATO, the Russia-Ukraine war, and trade, the Norwegian prime minister's office said.
Nearly 100 days of Trump, and Putin is still calling the shots
“Putin has deployed all the resources at his disposal to play Trump. Everyone knows that the U.S. president is highly susceptible to flattery, and Putin has gone overboard in arguing that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was ‘stolen,’ and that the war never would have happened with Trump in office. He wants us to believe that he went to his private chapel to pray for Trump after the assassination attempt in 2024, and he has even had the Kremlin court artist paint a portrait of Trump as a gift,” writes former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt in his op-ed.
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
“Putin has deployed all the resources at his disposal to play Trump. Everyone knows that the U.S. president is highly susceptible to flattery, and Putin has gone overboard in arguing that the 2020 U.S. presidential election was ‘stolen,’ and that the war never would have happened with Trump in office. He wants us to believe that he went to his private chapel to pray for Trump after the assassination attempt in 2024, and he has even had the Kremlin court artist paint a portrait of Trump as a gift,” writes former Swedish Prime Minister Carl Bildt in his op-ed.
Photo: Win McNamee/Getty Images
⚡️ 'He knew how to give hope' — Zelensky extends condolences after Pope Francis's passing.
"Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.
"He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support."
"Millions of people around the world are mourning the tragic news of Pope Francis’s passing," President Volodymyr Zelensky said on social media.
"He knew how to give hope, ease suffering through prayer, and foster unity. He prayed for peace in Ukraine and for Ukrainians. We grieve together with Catholics and all Christians who looked to Pope Francis for spiritual support."
⚡️ Ukraine allocating third of defense budget for high-tech weapons production.
The unification of technical standards for drones is among the key objectives for 2025, said Hlib Kanievskyi, a procurement chief at the Defense Ministry.
The unification of technical standards for drones is among the key objectives for 2025, said Hlib Kanievskyi, a procurement chief at the Defense Ministry.
⚡️ Russia announces 'resumption' of hostilities after Easter ceasefire as Kyiv reports violations.
Russia's temporary ceasefire was said to start at 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 and end at midnight on April 21.
President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of nearly 3,000 ceasefire breaches during that period.
Russia's temporary ceasefire was said to start at 6 p.m. Moscow time on April 19 and end at midnight on April 21.
President Volodymyr Zelensky accused Russia of nearly 3,000 ceasefire breaches during that period.
⚡️ Kremlin 'satisfied' with US opposition to Ukraine's NATO membership.
"We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is out of the question," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 21, Interfax reported.
"Of course, this is something that satisfies us and aligns with our position that Ukraine should not be a NATO member," the spokesperson added.
"We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine's membership in NATO is out of the question," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said on April 21, Interfax reported.
"Of course, this is something that satisfies us and aligns with our position that Ukraine should not be a NATO member," the spokesperson added.
⚡️ Ukrainian woman arrested for allegedly helping Russia's GRU target missile strikes for 'easy money.'
The suspect reportedly rented an apartment near a logistics center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct reconnaissance near a military airfield.
The suspect reportedly rented an apartment near a logistics center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces to conduct reconnaissance near a military airfield.
⚡️ Russian attacks continued since 'first hours' of so-called Easter truce, Border Guard says.
Russia reduced the use of aviation during its so-called Easter ceasefire but nevertheless continued its attacks since the very "first hours," said Andrii Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service.
Russia reduced the use of aviation during its so-called Easter ceasefire but nevertheless continued its attacks since the very "first hours," said Andrii Demchenko, a spokesperson for Ukraine’s State Border Guard Service.
⚡️ Pentagon denies Hegseth sharing sensitive information in second Signal chat.
The Pentagon denied on April 20 that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.
The Pentagon's statement came after the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing its sources, that Hegseth shared details of the attacks on Yemen in a second Signal chat.
The Pentagon denied on April 20 that U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth shared information about strikes on Yemen in a private Signal chat that included his wife, brother, and personal lawyer.
The Pentagon's statement came after the New York Times (NYT) reported, citing its sources, that Hegseth shared details of the attacks on Yemen in a second Signal chat.
⚡️ Putin signs law ratifying strategic partnership treaty with Iran.
The agreement was initially signed during a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Russia on Jan. 17, where the leaders pledged closer cooperation in trade, defense, energy, and regional infrastructure projects.
The agreement was initially signed during a summit between Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian in Russia on Jan. 17, where the leaders pledged closer cooperation in trade, defense, energy, and regional infrastructure projects.
⚡️Ukraine strikes Russian drone launch site in Kursk Oblast, killing up to 20 operators, General Staff says.
Russian forces reportedly used the facility to prepare, equip, and launch reconnaissance, strike, and FPV (first-person-view) drones.
Russian forces reportedly used the facility to prepare, equip, and launch reconnaissance, strike, and FPV (first-person-view) drones.
⚡️Putin expands 'foreign agent' label to include those who work with foreign organizations, governments.
Under the new rules, individuals can be labeled as "foreign agents" for assisting in implementing decisions made by international bodies in which Russia is not a participant or by foreign state institutions, if those actions are judged to threaten Russian security.
Under the new rules, individuals can be labeled as "foreign agents" for assisting in implementing decisions made by international bodies in which Russia is not a participant or by foreign state institutions, if those actions are judged to threaten Russian security.
⚡️Russia intensifies push in Kursk, Sumy border areas as Ukraine holds line, Syrskyi says.
"Intense fighting continues in Sumy Oblast in areas near the state border, as well as on the territory of the Russian Federation," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote.
"Intense fighting continues in Sumy Oblast in areas near the state border, as well as on the territory of the Russian Federation," Commander-in-Chief Oleksandr Syrskyi wrote.
⚡️ US recognizing Crimea as Russian would be 'much worse than Munich in 1938,' Ukrainian lawmaker says.
The chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee compared the potential decision to Western appeasement of Hitler that led to World War II.
The chair of the parliament's foreign affairs committee compared the potential decision to Western appeasement of Hitler that led to World War II.
⚡️First wheat shipment since Assad's ousting arrives in Syria, reportedly from Russia.
While officials did not disclose the wheat's origin, a source confirmed to Reuters that the cargo came from Russia.
While officials did not disclose the wheat's origin, a source confirmed to Reuters that the cargo came from Russia.
⚡️Trump sees 'very good' chance for Ukraine ceasefire as US proposes major concessions.
"I will be giving you full details over the next three days, but we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
"I will be giving you full details over the next three days, but we had very good meetings on Ukraine, Russia," U.S. President Donald Trump said.
⚡️Ukraine, US, UK, France to meet in London on April 23 for peace talks, Zelensky says.
"We are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote.
"We are ready to move forward as constructively as possible, just as we have done before, to achieve an unconditional ceasefire, followed by the establishment of a real and lasting peace," President Volodymyr Zelensky wrote.
Pope Francis leaves a mixed legacy in wartime Ukraine, overshadowed by historic Vatican-Moscow ties
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at 88, leaves behind a legacy as vast and varied as his global influence. Yet in Ukraine, his track record is far from positive.
For many Ukrainians, the Pope’s legacy is shaped by his repeated downplaying of the gravity of Ukraine’s fight for its survival in Russia’s war of aggression.
Photo: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images
Pope Francis, who passed away on April 21 at 88, leaves behind a legacy as vast and varied as his global influence. Yet in Ukraine, his track record is far from positive.
For many Ukrainians, the Pope’s legacy is shaped by his repeated downplaying of the gravity of Ukraine’s fight for its survival in Russia’s war of aggression.
Photo: Vatican Media via Vatican Pool/Getty Images