Zelenskyy says Ukraine ready for Russia peace talks in Azerbaijan if Moscow agrees
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has suggested holding peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine in Azerbaijan if Moscow agrees durin...
Sweden's Defence Minister said on Thursday the Nordic country had agreed to donate its biggest aid package to Ukraine so far, worth 13.5 billion Swedish crowns, approximately $1.2 billion.
The aid package is Sweden's 18th since Russia launched a large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022. So far Sweden has provided almost $5.5 billion in military support to Kyiv.
The aid will include 146 trucks, 23 weapon stations for marine use, 16 CB 90 combat boats, 1 million rounds of 12.7 mm ammunition, 1,500 TOW anti-tank missiles, 200 anti-tank weapons, infantry equipment, and chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear (CBRN) personal protective equipment.
The donations from the Swedish armed forces, from marine and army stocks, will amount to approximately $294 million and roughly 25% of the military aid package.
Roughly 45% of the package, $534 million will be used for new production from the defence industry to Ukraine's armed forces. This can be directed towards prioritized needs, such as artillery, long-range strike abilities and drones.
Up to $71 million will go to repairs and maintenance of already Swedish-donated equipment. It will also be used for transport and security for logistics. The funds will also be used for services from the Swedish Defence Research Agency (FOI) and the Swedish Defence University.
The Swedish Defence University will be tasked with carrying out a training program for students in Ukraine, which works as a high-level course on strategic decision-making at various levels of conflict. This also shows that Sweden's military support is expanding in scope.
About 90 million USD will be allocated towards production of long-range missiles and drones. The government is now negotiating with suppliers in Sweden and Europe to supply prioritized equipment such as artillery and drones, Defence Minister Pal Jonson told a press conference. “A short delivery time is important,” - Pal Jonson wrote on platform X.
Approximately $250 million USD will be allocated towards different international funds, including $178 million directed towards the Danish model, which aims to source funds for Ukraine's defence industrial base. This also builds sustainability and resilience within Ukraine, he added.
The Danish model delivered around €590 million of locally manufactured weapons to Ukraine in 2024, the Danish Ministry of Defence says. The Danes are among the top military aid donors to Ukraine in absolute terms, behind the U.S., Germany and the U.K., according to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy.
The U.S. military is redirecting at least three Iranian-flagged tankers after intercepting them in Asian waters near India, Malaysia and Sri Lanka, shipping and security sources said on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Tehran said U.S. breaches, blockades and threats are undermining “genuine negotiations.”
Diplomatic efforts to end the Iran war are intensifying, with the White House confirming that U.S. President Donald Trump will send special envoy Steve Witkoff and adviser Jared Kushner to Islamabad for talks with Iran under Pakistani mediation.
Russian emergency services have contained a major fire at the Tuapse oil refinery on the Black Sea coast, local officials said on Thursday, ending a four-day effort after a Ukrainian drone strike.
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic, after reports that an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing Washington’s support for the UK’s claim amid tensions over the Iran war.
Slovenia’s national broadcaster RTV Slovenia has confirmed it will not air the Eurovision Song Contest 2026, joining a widening boycott over Israel’s participation.
Two men were killed after the United States carried out a missile strike on a suspected drug-trafficking boat in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Friday (24 April), the military said.
Argentina has reiterated its interest in resuming talks with the United Kingdom over the Falkland Islands, a disputed archipelago in the South Atlantic, after reports that an internal Pentagon email suggested reviewing Washington’s support for the UK’s claim amid tensions over the Iran war.
China has urged the European Union to take its concerns seriously over new cybersecurity and digital regulations, warning they could create difficulties for Chinese companies operating in Europe.
Russia and Ukraine have swapped prisoners of war, according to officials on both sides. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said 193 prisoners, including soldiers and border guards, had been returned from Russia, some injured and facing criminal charges.
Türkiye and the United Kingdom on Thursday signed a wide-ranging strategic partnership agreement to boost bilateral cooperation, especially in defence. The deal, signed in London, signals a “new era” in relations between the two NATO allies.
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