EU leaders voted to grant Ukraine candidate status after having fast-tracked the approval process in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine (Reuters)
Meanwhile, Ukraine ordered its forces to withdraw from Severodonetsk, leaving Lysychansk as the last Ukraine-controlled area in the Luhansk province (New York Times)
As Ukraine lost ground, Russian missile strikes on Kyiv and a shopping mall in Kremenchuk killed more than twenty people (National Public Radio)
European Commission Recommends EU Candidate Status for Moldova, Ukraine
Next week in Brussels, European Union (EU) leaders will consider whether to officially give Ukraine and Moldova EU candidate status (Politico)
Biden Announces an Additional $1 Billion in Arms for Ukraine
President Biden has announced $1 billion in additional weapons for Ukraine, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s plea for more heavy arms (Reuters)
Russian Forces Push Ukrainian Forces From Central Severodonetsk
Russian forces have pushed Ukrainian troops out of the center of the eastern city of Severodonetsk in Ukraine’s Donbas region, Ukrainian officials said; the Russian army has also destroyed a second bridge into the city, which some officials predict could fall soon (New York Times).
Ukrainian Forces Mount Counterattack Against Russian Troops in Severodonetsk
Ukrainian forces mounted a counterattack in Severodonetsk after appearing to withdraw from the city last week; President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says controlling the city is crucial for maintaining a foothold in the Donbas region of Ukraine (New York Times)
2,500 Ukrainian Fighters in Mariupol Have Surrendered, Per Ukrainian Government
Russia’s defense minister said that Russia has captured more than 6,000 Ukrainian service members, while Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said around 2,500 Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol have surrendered to Russian forces (New York Times)
Russia Controls One-Fifth of Ukraine After One Hundred Days of War
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described the extent of Russian gains since its February invasion, saying Russia now controls Ukrainian territory that is equivalent to the size of Belgium, Luxembourg, and the Netherlands combined (New York Times)
North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Director-General Jens Stoltenberg said Western countries should be prepared for a long “war of attrition” in Ukraine (Agence France-Presse)
Russian Forces Control Most of Ukrainian City of Severodonetsk
Regional and British officials reported a near-complete seizure of what is the last major city under Ukrainian control in the Luhansk region of the Donbas (Axios)
Biden Announces Advanced Rocket Systems for Ukraine in Op-ed
The United States agreed to send Ukraine advanced rocket systems that can strike targets nearly fifty miles away; the announcement came after Kyiv pledged not to use the weapons for cross-border strikes on Russian territory, an unnamed U.S. official said (Washington Post)
In a New York Times op-ed, U.S. President Joe Biden said the decision was related to the U.S. goal of fostering “a democratic, independent, sovereign, and prosperous Ukraine with the means to deter and defend itself against further aggression” (New York Times)
EU Leaders Agree to Ban Most Russian Oil Imports
European Union (EU) leaders reached a deal to ban seaborne oil imports from Russia, with the aim to deprive Moscow of funds for its ongoing war in Ukraine (Financial Times)
Meanwhile, the summit of EU leaders continues today in Brussels, in which discussions continue on an economic relief package for Ukraine and efforts to help Ukraine export wheat despite a Russian blockade of its ports. (New York Times)
Russian Forces Seize Ukrainian City
Russian forces seized the Ukrainian city of Lyman, officials from both countries said; it is the second midsize city to fall to Russian forces this week (New York Times)
Russia Bombards Eastern Donbas as World Bank Chief Warns of Global Recession
Russia has focused its offensive in the eastern part of Ukraine’s Donbas region, shelling several towns and moving toward encircling the cities of Syevyerodonetsk and Lysychansk, Ukrainian officials said (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
A pro-Russia official in eastern Ukraine said that Russia-backed separatist forces are holding thousands of Ukrainian prisoners (France 24)
As the war enters its fourth month and its pressures on food and energy prices mount, World Bank President David Malpass warned that a global recession will be difficult to avoid (Sky News)
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized proposals from Western commentators that Ukraine should accept territorial concessions to end the war
U.S. Blocks Russian Payments to U.S. Creditors, Pushing Moscow Toward Default
The U.S. Treasury Department said it will not renew a sanctions waiver that allowed Russia to make bond payments to U.S.-based creditors (Washington Post)
Kyiv Refuses to Cede Any Territory for Cease-Fire Deal
Ukraine’s presidential chief of staff demanded that the war end with the complete restoration of Ukrainian territory; in a visit to Kyiv, Polish President Andrzej Duda said Warsaw backs Kyiv’s position (The Guardian)
U.S. Senate Overwhelmingly Approves $40 Billion Aid Package for Ukraine
With only eleven votes in opposition, the Senate approved an emergency bill to provide additional military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine, which President Joe Biden is expected to sign; together with assistance approved in March, the funding represents the largest foreign aid package approved by the U.S. Congress in more than twenty years (New York Times)
Separately, Group of Seven (G7) countries agreed to mobilize $9.5 billion in new financial support for Ukraine’s economy, Germany’s finance minister said (Associated Press)
As the war continues to strain global food supplies, the director of the World Food Program joined calls for Moscow to unblock Ukrainian ports in the Black Sea so food shipments can depart; Moscow said yesterday that heeding the appeal would require U.S. and European Union sanctions against Russia to be reviewed (Reuters)
U.S. Senate Confirms New Ambassador to Ukraine
The U.S. Senate confirmed Bridget Brink as the new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, and the United States reopened its embassy in Kyiv (Washington Post)
Meanwhile, a Russian solider pleaded guilty in the first war crimes trial since Russia invaded Ukraine (National Public Radio)
Finland, Sweden Submit NATO Applications
Prompted by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland and Sweden formally applied to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); Turkey blocked the opening of their accession processes over their refusal to extradite people Ankara has accused of terrorism. NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said the alliance is “determined to work through all issues and reach a rapid conclusion.” (Financial Times)
Separately, the U.S. State Department launched a program that will analyze evidence of alleged Russian war crimes in Ukraine (Reuters)
Meanwhile, the European Union (EU) unveiled an energy plan to decrease dependence on Russia; the plan includes details on how the EU can reduce purchases of Russian gas by two-thirds this year (Bloomberg)
Ukrainian Fighters at Mariupol Steel Plant Surrender
After Ukrainian fighters at the Mariupol steel plant surrendered to Russian forces, they were evacuated to Russia-held territory; Moscow now controls a portion of southern Ukraine that extends from the Russia border to Crimea (New York Times)
Sweden’s Ruling Party Announces Support for Joining NATO
Sweden’s ruling Social Democrats announced their support for joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), reversing their longtime opposition to participation in a military alliance (Bloomberg)
Both Sweden’s and Finland’s parliaments are discussing membership bids with formal applications expected within days; Russia’s deputy foreign minister warned that Swedish and Finnish membership in NATO would bring “far-reaching consequences” (The Guardian)
European Natural Gas Prices Rise After Russia Imposes Sanctions
Europe’s benchmark gas price rose 18 percent after Russia announced sanctions on some European energy companies (Wall Street Journal)
The European Union continued negotiations on a ban on purchases of Russian oil that has stalled over Hungary’s objections to the ban (Politico)
Finland’s President, Prime Minister Back NATO Membership
President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister Sanna Marin said Finland “must apply” for membership in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) within days (Financial Times)
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Finland’s accession process would be “smooth and swift,” while a Kremlin spokesperson said it would pose a threat to Russia; the move would more than double NATO countries’ land border with Russia (Reuters)
Finland is expected to submit a formal application to join the alliance next week, while Sweden’s ruling Social Democratic Party is expected to decide on applying on Sunday (The Guardian)
Meanwhile, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson signed agreements to provide Finland and Sweden with military resources if they were attacked during the NATO ratification process (Agence France-Presse)
U.S. Intelligence Chief Predicts ‘War of Attrition’ in Ukraine
During congressional testimony, U.S. Director of National Intelligence Avril Haines said Russian President Vladimir Putin is preparing for a prolonged war in Ukraine and appears more willing to make drastic decisions that could lead to a more “unpredictable and escalatory” war; she also said a diplomatic solution to the conflict appears unlikely while both Russia and Ukraine believe they can make gains on the battlefield (Washington Post)
Meanwhile, the U.S. House of Representatives approved a $40 billion aid package for Ukraine (CNN)
Elsewhere, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi said during a White House visit that Western allies should work toward a cease-fire and peace process in Ukraine even as they continue to impose sanctions on Russia (Bloomberg)
Separately, the European Union weighed a plan to secure a ban on Russian oil by paying money to Hungary, which has not committed to phasing out purchases of the commodity (Politico)
Over Six Thousand Ukrainians Approved for U.S. Entry
The U.S. Department of Homeland Security approved entry to six thousand Ukrainians who have a U.S. sponsor and applied for entry online; last month, President Joe Biden announced that the United States will accept up to one hundred thousand Ukrainian refugees (NBC)
Meanwhile, Russia bombarded the southern Ukrainian city of Odessa (New York Times)
Separately, a leaked report from the Russian finance ministry projected that Russia’s economy is likely to shrink by as much as 12 percent this year—the country’s worst economic contraction since 1994 (Bloomberg)
Putin Claims Russia Is Defending ‘Motherland’ by Invading Ukraine
Russian President Vladimir Putin sought to justify the invasion of Ukraine as necessary for “defending the motherland” during a parade celebrating the Allies’ victory over Germany in World War II; in his speech, Putin falsely cast Ukrainian fighters as Nazis, but did not announce a change in Russia’s military campaign or say how long it could continue (Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)
Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy released a video of his own speech, in which he compared Russia’s forces to those of Nazi leader Adolf Hitler (New York Times)
At a virtual meeting with Zelenskyy yesterday, leaders of Group of Seven (G7) countries pledged to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil (USA Today)
U.S. Intelligence Reportedly Helped Ukraine Target Russian Warship
Unnamed U.S. officials said that intelligence-sharing helped Ukraine sink Russia’s Moskva warship on April 14 (NBC)
Meanwhile, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba accused Russia of “missile terrorism” after Russia targeted electric power facilities, railroad stations, and other supply-line targets (Associated Press)