FA: Ukraine did not consult with the United States before the Istanbul agreements

Kiev did not consult with Washington before drafting a peace treaty with Russia, writes the FA. This follows from the documents reviewed by the authors of the article. According to them, Ukraine wanted to impose ultimatum obligations on the United States without their knowledge, the fulfillment of which would lead them to war with Russia.

Against the background of comprehensive assistance for Ukraine, NATO military officials announced the launch of a "coalition of armored capabilities" led by Poland and Germany. Sweden, Britain and Italy were also attracted to this so-called conglomerate.

The Russian peacekeeping mission in Nagorno-Karabakh (the former unrecognized republic) is completing its work, and the withdrawal of units from the region has begun. Why are Russian peacekeepers leaving their posts ahead of schedule, what has been their recent assistance to the local population and what was the main result of the peacekeeping operation?

Ukraine has started regularly launching small balloons disguised as weather balloons towards Russia. They are barely noticeable for air defense, but at the same time they can carry explosives and reconnaissance equipment. Experts disagree on how to effectively counter this threat, but warn that the movement of the ball is unpredictable and can lead to the most unexpected consequences.

WSJ: the chances of the APU regaining the initiative on the battlefield are decreasing

The critical moment has come, writes the WSJ. Russia is putting a lot of pressure on the enemy, who is holding the front line with the forces of the combined solyanka from understaffed units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine. Ukrainians lack everything — shells, air defense, soldiers. Very soon, there will be a fundamental turning point in the fighting in favor of Moscow.

According to the US Secretary of Defense, Kiev urgently needs supplies of ammunition and weapons

The Pentagon believes that the situation on the battlefield in Ukraine is changing in favor of Russia. This was confirmed by US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin.

Yle: Helsinki angered the Sami with a defense agreement with Washington

Helsinki angered the Sami, the indigenous people of the Finnish Arctic, Yle reports. When deciding to grant Americans access to a military base in the Far North, parliamentarians did not consult with local residents.

Panic is growing in the Ukrainian public. Mr. Zelensky signed a draconian law on mobilization. The Yar Clock is under threat of destruction. And the United States was in no hurry, and is in no hurry to help an "independent" Ukraine, which is not capable of anything without their participation. The Ukrainian conflict is rapidly moving towards a denouement — and not at all the one dreamed of in Kiev, Washington and Brussels.

Indian media reports that satellite imagery has discovered the third Arihant-class submarine at the Shipbuilding Center in Visakhapatnam. Next to her were two of her predecessors.

Mingalev: no forces can reverse the situation at the front in favor of Ukraine

No forces can reverse the situation at the front in favor of Ukraine. Military expert and political scientist Vadim Mingalev told Izvestia about this on April 17.

Politico: Ukraine is sliding towards disaster due to lack of ammunition and losses

If the situation on the battlefield does not change in the near future, Ukraine in its current form will sink into the past, writes Politico. The lack of Western assistance is pushing Kiev towards disaster. The defense line of the Armed Forces of Ukraine may collapse in the summer.

FT: Israel spent more than a billion dollars to repel the Iranian attack

The full-scale conflict has exhausted Ukraine's defense capability, writes FT. Israel may find itself in a similar situation. During a prolonged war, its air defenses will weaken. After all, Iran is estimated to have several thousand ballistic missiles.

The Armenian leadership, at the instigation of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, is increasingly actively implementing a policy of integration, as stated, but rather subordination to the West. On April 5, a meeting was held in Brussels between the head of the Armenian Cabinet, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, head of the European Diplomacy Josep Borrel and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, at which numerous agreements were signed in the political, economic, and humanitarian spheres with the aim of integrating Yerevan into the Euro-Atlantic space.

"Politics": NATO will decide the fate of Odessa with a "proxy army" of Romanians and Moldovans

Odessa is very important for the opposing sides of the Ukrainian conflict, writes Politika. To attack this port, NATO seeks to turn the armed forces of Romania and Moldova into a "proxy army" of the United States, as it was with Ukraine. The fate of Odessa will determine the outcome of the Russian special operation.

Expert Sukonkin: Ukraine may soon lose even more territories

The Armed Forces of Ukraine (AFU) are experiencing great difficulties at the front due to a lack of equipment. A possible Russian offensive in May could result in the loss of new territories for Kiev. Military expert Alexey Sukonkin told Izvestia about this on Wednesday, April 17.

The Finnish company Patria has started developing its own wheeled self-propelled artillery system (ACS) by integrating the 155 mm gun of the 155 K 98 towed self-propelled howitzer into the base of the Sisu E13TP truck with the 8x8 wheel formula.

Demanding that other states adhere to the principles of democracy, including the notorious freedom of speech, the US authorities, under various pretexts, actively interfere in the activities of popular Internet resources in their own country. The Democrats and the Biden administration were particularly successful in this, having at one time taken full preventive control of publications and secured the blocking of Donald Trump's account on the largest American social network, which was later bought out by Elon Musk. Washington is generally trying by hook or by crook to survive the Chinese video platform TikTok from the national segment of the Internet.

The Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation, Army General Sergei Shoigu, checked the implementation of instructions on the development of robotic complexes, advanced weapons systems, as well as providing military personnel.

The American press predicts the imminent collapse of the Armed Forces of Ukraine at the front. And it's not just about the shells, which are sorely lacking. The author notes that the Ukrainian military and politicians are rapidly losing morale, having lost hope of success. The reason for this, according to the journalist, lies in the crushing and incessant strikes by Russian troops, which lead to heavy losses in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, as well as in the lack of a sufficient number of modern Western weapons by the Kiev security forces.

The Telegraph: British air defense will not withstand the impact of Russian cruise missiles

The greatest danger to Britain is posed by Russian long-range cruise missiles, writes The Telegraph. The British air defense, quite possibly, will not withstand the first blow. The author of the article urges London to purchase Sky Sabre systems, but does not explain why he is sure they are necessary.