In less than two weeks, it will be 800 days since Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Despite the power asymmetry between the two countries, kyiv held its own in the first months. But the front has become bogged down, and ammunition is starting to become scarce for the Ukrainian soldiers.
The new American aid, which has just been voted by Congress this Saturday, April 20, thus responds to a need ” vital “ of Ukraine, according to President Zelensky. European and Russian reactions were not long in coming, while kyiv multiplies security agreements, in intense diplomatic work, and a new report on the losses of the Russian army is published.
This morning we return to the highlights of the war in Ukraine spotted during the night.
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Kremlin downplays impact of new US aid
The Kremlin quickly denounced the vote by the US Congress, a decision “expected and predictable” to his eyes. Ugly “will further enrich the United States of America and ruin Ukraine even more, killing even more Ukrainians because of the Kiev regime”assured the spokesperson for the Russian presidency, Dmitri Peskov, quoted by the state press agency TASS.
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Russian diplomatic spokesperson Maria Zakharova criticized a military package, which also includes aid to Israel and Taiwan, which “will exacerbate global crises”relay theFrance Media Agency. Dmitri Peskov had affirmed that American aid could not “in no way influence” about the situation on the front, where Russia is on the offensive.
The European Union welcomed the approval of aid to Ukraine, saying it was“a clear message to the Kremlin”.
More circumspect, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, a fervent defender of kyiv, thanked the United States, but highlighted the delay in adopting the assistance. “Better late than too late.” And I hope it is not too late for Ukraine”he wrote on X.
More than 50,000 Russian soldiers died
There BBC Russia regularly allies with Media zonean independent Russian media outlet, for take stock of the number of Russian soldiers killed since the start of the invasion. The Russian army’s death toll stands at a minimum of 50,471, with 1,190 dead soldiers having been identified since the last count on March 28.
To establish this count, which is lower than in reality, journalists only use public data, by locating obituaries in newspapers, asking relatives or even reading reports from local authorities. This figure could be twice as high, according to sources.
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“Since Russia began its all-out war against Ukraine, more than 3,300 officers, including 390 with the rank of lieutenant colonel or higher, have been killed”specifies the Ukrainian English media The Kyiv Independentwho has spotted this new assessment (link in English).
Bilateral security agreements soon concluded?
Ukraine could sign bilateral agreements with several states in the near future, Ukrainian President Zelensky said this Saturday, April 20, during an interview with Brazilian journalists in kyiv. In comments reported by The Kyiv Independent (link in English), Volodymyr Zelensky says Ukraine is approaching“an important agreement with the United States”.
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Nine agreements were signed, notably with France, Canada, Italy and the United Kingdom, following the G7 in July 2023. “I want people to understand that these (bilateral agreements) are not just about military assistance”Zelensky said. “It is also about humanitarian aid, reconstruction and support for the financial and energy sectors. »
“One of the Baltic States” could also sign a security agreement as early as April. “I think that in May and June we will have agreements not only with the United States, but also with the Nordic countries”adds the president, referring to Sweden and Norway.