Bloomberg: European Commission’s budget unit blocks 1.5 billion euro loan for Ukraine as ‘caution prevails over Ukraine’s urgent needs’

3:56 AM

Culture Ministry removes historical status of Kyiv's Peoples' Friendship Arch, allows for dismantling.

Ukraine's Ministry of Culture removed the formerly-named Peoples' Friendship Arch from the state register of monuments of national importance due to its association with Russia's ambitions for Soviet reunification, indicating that the monument "may be dismantled."

1:51 AM

Russia attacks 7 communities in Sumy Oblast.

Russian forces attacked Sumy Oblast 39 times in 11 separate attacks throughout the day, the Sumy Oblast Military Administration reported on April 17.

1:20 AM

RFE/RL Schemes investigation reveals over 2,000 foreign-made parts used in Russian Sukhoi fighter jets.

Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty's investigation project Schemes revealed on April 17 that over 2,000 foreign-made electronic components are allegedly contained in Russian Sukhoi (Su-type) fighter jets, primarily originating from Japan and the United States.

12:00 AM

Zelensky: Russia must pay a 'painful price' as 'sole culprit of this war'.

President Volodymyr Zelensky has said Russia must pay a “painful price” for its war in Ukraine and frozen Russian assets should be utilized to help Ukraine’s fight against “terror.”

11:42 PM

Dutch PM offers to buy Patriot systems from allies for Ukraine.

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte offered on April 17 to buy Patriot air defense systems from more hesitant allies in order to send them to Ukraine, The Guardian reported.

11:05 PM

Zelensky confirms Ukraine struck Russian military airfield in occupied Crimea.

Ukrainian forces carried out an attack early on April 17 against a Russian military airfield in Dzhankoi in occupied Crimea, President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

10:57 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Why is Ukraine rejecting the Belarusian opposition?

10:57 PM

WP: Secret Kremlin document outlines plan to 'weaken' Ukraine's allies.

The document, dated April 11, 2023, says the outcome of the war in Ukraine will “to a great degree determine the outlines of the future world order.”

10:48 PM

Transparency International: Court leaves ex-Defense Ministry official suspected of embezzlement without pre-trial detention.

The court did not send former Defense Ministry official Oleksandr Liyev, who is suspected of embezzling funds for ammunition purchases, into pre-trial detention, Transparency International Ukraine said on April 17.

10:35 PM

Field report

Inside the Swedish ammunition plant at the forefront of Europe’s push to ramp up shell production

10:26 PM

Ukraine to receive $1.6 billion from EU next week in second tranche of financial aid.

The first tranche of 4.5 billion euros ($4.8 billion) was given to Ukraine on March 20.

10:13 PM

War update

Ukraine war latest: Russian attack on Chernihiv kills 17, Johnson sets date on Ukraine aid vote

10:00 PM

Belgium, Czechia ask EU to step in against Russia's elections interference.

The governments of Belgium and Czechia sent a letter to other EU leaders on April 17 calling for new restrictive measures against Russia over its disinformation activities within the European bloc.

9:39 PM

Biden voices support for Johnson's foreign aid bills.

U.S. President Joe Biden said on April 17 that he "strongly supports" House Speaker Mike Johnson's proposals on foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel, and other partners.

9:38 PM

Ukraine Business Roundup — Business & War

9:22 PM

Ukraine's PM meets with US business leaders in Washington.

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal met with U.S. business leaders in Washington on April 17, to discuss continued cooperation and the need for “more support and help to stop the enemy.”

9:14 PM

War analysis

Explainer: Iran's cheap, effective Shahed drones and how Russia uses them in Ukraine

8:28 PM

Ex-lawmaker Demchak declared wanted, suspected of abuse of power.

Former lawmaker Ruslan Demchak has been declared wanted in a suspected case of abuse of power, Ukraine's National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) announced on April 17.

7:55 PM

Time names Yermak, Navalnaya among 100 most influential people of 2024.

The Time magazine published its list of "The 100 most influential people of 2024," including Andriy Yermak, the head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, and Yulia Navalnaya, the widow of Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny.

7:20 PM

Media: FBI questioned far-right German lawmaker over suspected Russian funding.

America's Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) questioned far-right German lawmaker Maximilian Krah last December in New York over suspicion that he was receiving money from Kremlin agents, an investigation by Spiegel and ZDF published on April 17 uncovered.

7:02 PM

Biden urges passing of aid bills in WSJ op-ed: 'We cannot let Putin succeed'.

U.S. President Joe Biden has called for "leadership and courage" in Washington in order to pass urgent military aid for Ukraine and Israel, adding "now is not the time to abandon our friends," in an op-ed published April 17.

6:38 PM

Johnson sets date on Ukraine aid vote, unveils its content.

U.S. House Speaker Mike Johnson said he is moving forward with his plan to hold a vote on a series of foreign aid bills for Israel, Ukraine, and Taiwan despite pressure from Republican hardliners, CNN reported on April 17.

6:28 PM

NATO-Ukraine Council meeting on air defense to take place on April 19.

A NATO-Ukraine Council meeting to discuss supplies of air defense systems will take place on April 19, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on April 17. President Volodymyr Zelensky requested the gathering earlier this week.

5:33 PM

Germany launches new Ukraine air defense initiative, appeals to EU and NATO allies.

Berlin has already appealed to EU and NATO partners as well as other unspecified countries, as Russia's intensifying aerial attacks on Ukrainian cities continue to highlight the growing shortage of sufficient air defense systems.

5:28 PM

Opinion

Opinion: Poland's democracy isn't out of the woods