QUICK READ April 20: US confirms fighter planes have arrived in Ukraine

People in the city of Mariupol in southern Ukraine, dragons and snakes drag their belongings to evacuate on April 19 – Photo: REUTERS

* On April 19, Reuters news agency quoted a source as saying that in the next few days, US President Joe Biden will announce another military aid package for Ukraine with a value equivalent to the $ 800 million package announced this week. prior to.

Meanwhile, according to AFP news agency, John Kirby – Pentagon spokesman – announced: “from the past few weeks” the Ukrainian military has received more fighter jets and spare parts for the damaged ones.. Mr. Kirby did not specify which country sent the plane to Ukraine, but revealed it was a Russian-made aircraft that Ukrainian forces had requested because they only knew how to use this type.

He also confirmed that Washington only supports the transportation of spare parts, but does not provide any aircraft to Kiev.

* On April 19, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov confirmed that Moscow had begun a new phase of special military operations in Ukraine. In an interview with channel India Today, Lavrov predicted this would be a “very important moment”.

Russia has also taken full control of Kreminna, a small city of more than 18,000 people in eastern Ukraine, according to reports. Guardian April 19th.

* Russia again called on Ukrainian troops at the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol to lay down their weapons, and said its troops will cease fire on April 19 when this call comes into effect. The Interfax news agency said no Ukrainian soldiers responded to a similar call from Moscow on April 18.

Meanwhile, Russian television said about 120 civilians living near the Azovstal plant had been evacuated through humanitarian corridors.

Ukrainian soldiers in the east of the country – Photo: REUTERS

* On April 19, according to Reuters news agency, Ukraine’s Defense Ministry said that the goal of Russia’s new offensive in eastern Ukraine is to control the entire Lugansk and Donetsk regions, establish a land link between the two countries. this territory with the Crimean peninsula and destroy the Ukrainian armed forces.

* General Mark Milley – chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff – chaired an online meeting with many US allies on April 19. According to CNN, military leaders shared assessments of the ongoing hostilities in Ukraine, including multilateral security aid to help Kiev regain and defend its sovereignty.

The meeting included leaders from the US, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Turkey and the United Kingdom.

US President Joe Biden speaks to the press in New Hampshire, USA – Photo: REX

* According to Reuters, US President Joe Biden, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau have pledged to send more types of artillery systems to Ukraine.

* On April 19, in the state of New Hampshire, US President Joe Biden replied that he did not know when asked if he was going to Kiev, according to CNN.

“The answer is I don’t know. I’ve been to Ukraine many times, just haven’t been there recently,” Biden said.

* According to Reuters, Russia has handed over 60 soldiers and 16 civilians to Ukraine in the fifth round of prisoner exchange between Moscow and Kiev.

* Ukraine’s negotiator Mykhailo Podolyak told Reuters News Agency that it is difficult to say when the next round of direct peace talks will happen, because Russia is now “making serious bets” on its attack. in eastern Ukraine.