🚨 BREAKING: EU approves €90B loan to Ukraine after 'Druzhba' pipeline deadlock is resolved.

EU ambassadors today placed two major items on the Coreper agenda:
🔸€90B loan to Ukraine
🔸20th sanctions package against Russia

Both approved at the Coreper level.
1/🧵

European Commissioner Kos calls on EU countries to fully open Ukraine membership talks by June "Everything is ready… so I hope we can start very soon, even under the Cyprus presidency for cluster one," EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡️European Commissioner Kos calls on EU countries to fully open Ukraine membership talks by June.

"Everything is ready… so I hope we can start very soon, even under the Cyprus presidency for cluster one," EU's Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos told the Kyiv Independent.

'Wishful thinking' — Ukraine rubbishes Russia's latest Luhansk Oblast claim 14 settlements in Luhansk Oblast are not under Russian control, Ukraine's military told the Kyiv Independent.

⚡ 'Wishful thinking' — Ukraine rubbishes Russia's latest Luhansk Oblast claim.

14 settlements in Luhansk Oblast are not under Russian control, Ukraine's military told the Kyiv Independent.

'As long as it's not Putinland' — Zelensky responds to reported 'Donnyland' proposal for part of Donbas "The main thing is that Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast remain Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

⚡️ 'As long as it's not Putinland' — Zelensky responds to reported 'Donnyland' proposal for part of Donbas.

"The main thing is that Donetsk Oblast and Luhansk Oblast remain Ukraine," President Volodymyr Zelensky said.

'Any format, at any time' — Zelensky pushes to restart peace talks, open to any venue but Russia, Belarus President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian representatives have continued discussions with the U.S. side and held talks on April 21.

⚡️ 'Any format, at any time' — Zelensky pushes to restart peace talks, open to any venue but Russia, Belarus.

President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian representatives have continued discussions with the U.S. side and held talks on April 21.

Trump and Putin have 'zero instruments' to enforce backroom deal on Ukraine, ex-FM Kuleba tells Kyiv Independent Caught between Russia's war at home and mounting geopolitical turbulence abroad, Ukraine is unlikely to see a major turnaround anytime soon, says former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba. "2026 will be ...

"2026 will be another year Ukraine will have to survive," former Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba told the Kyiv Independent in an exclusive interview last week.

Bipartisan US senators meet Ukrainian PM, push continued support for Kyiv U.S. senators from both parties met with Prime Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko in Washington on April 16, according to a press release published by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

⚡️Bipartisan US senators meet Ukrainian PM, push continued support for Kyiv.

U.S. senators from both parties met with Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko in Washington on April 16, according to a press release published by the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee.

Ukraine hit again as strikes intensify, sanctions tighten, and drones push deeper into Russia. A prisoner swap may follow.

www.kyivpost.com/post/74094

Russian attack on Chernihiv leaves 6,000 without power, sparks fires Russian forces struck critical infrastructure in the city of Chernihiv overnight on April 17, sparking fires and leaving around 6,000 residents without electricity, officials said.

⚡️Russian attack on Chernihiv leaves 6,000 without power, sparks fires.

Russian forces struck critical infrastructure in the city of Chernihiv overnight on April 17, sparking fires and leaving around 6,000 residents without electricity, officials said.

In the wake of Lord Roberston’s report, a quick reminder that spending on #defence v. #welfare has never been a zero sum game: historyandpolicy.org/opinion-arti...

@smh-historians.bsky.social @sochistorywar.bsky.social @deptvetaffairs.bsky.social
@fimtrc.bsky.social

Interested in #military #welfare #militarybenefits #milwelfhist? Check out the Military Welfare History Network's dedicated podcast series.

historyhub.ie/military-wel...

#OpenAccess research article highlight!

'Books for old soldiers? Creating a library at the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, 1711-15', by Jason McElligott is now available through the following link:

@universitypress.cambridge.org

#IAPH is running an Oral History workshop on 25 April 2026 from 10am - 1pm ** ONLINE ** Excellent training for #Qualitative researchers too. Subsidised for Members. Places limited - email info@irishhistorians.ie subject heading ‘Oral History Training’. #Speirgorm #Skystorians #OralHistory #Ireland

Russian drilling platforms in Caspian Sea struck, Ukraine's military says; Russia wants to capture Pokrovsk, other key Donetsk Oblast towns by end of April, Zelensky says; Zelensky says unnamed 'partners' asked Ukraine not to attack Russian oil refineries; and more.

⚡️Explosion at fireworks warehouse in southern Russia kills 2, injures 14, including children.

Two children were injured and hospitalized, while four other victims are in serious condition, local authorities said.

Coming soon! My (and friends') new book: link.springer.com/book/9783032.... Enjoy #milwelfhist #military #welfare

A great papers and a great turnout (albeit on a windy day at @ucddublin.bsky.social yesterday). Our thanks again to @bethbailey.bsky.social for discussing the recruitment of women into the US Army and the welfare considerations the same #milwelfhist

After months of winter blackouts, Ukraine again faces power cuts amid cloudy skies During sunny days, Ukraine’s solar farms produce over 3 GW of energy. But a return of cloudy weather and rain in recent days has limited the sun’s ability to power Ukrainian homes.

The hum of generators — long a constant soundtrack of winter — once again reverberates across Ukraine as a spell of cold and overcast weather triggers fresh blackouts in the country.

Trump administration is trying to reverse Kissinger, and even Kissinger is probably rolling in his grave For years, an idea has percolated among certain Western officials that the best way to break the burgeoning partnership between Russia and China is to appease Moscow, including to the point of choking...

"Instead of pushing a supposed 'reverse Kissinger,' officials across the West, including in the White House, would be far better served with something else: supporting Ukraine, however they can," writes Casey Michel in this op-ed.

New details, leaked audio show Hungary coordinating with Kremlin to stall Ukraine's EU accession "Sometimes good-willed direct blackmailing is the best option," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tells his Hungarian counterpart in one call as the EU convened to open accession negotiations for...

⚡️New details, leaked audio show Hungary coordinating with Kremlin to stall Ukraine's EU accession.

"Sometimes good-willed direct blackmailing is the best option," Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov tells his Hungarian counterpart in one call as the EU opened accession negotiations for Kyiv.

All ready at @ucddublin.bsky.social for @bethbailey.bsky.social's lecture tomorrow on the recruitment of women into the US AVF (and a little on the welfare implications). It's gonna be great!

Last few seats remaining. Book now: www.ucd.ie/warstudies/e... #milwelfhist

Ukraine's parliament attempts to unblock stalled IMF financing, votes on contentious tax bills Ukraine’s parliament is set to vote on April 7 on key tax bills tied to International Monetary Fund (IMF) funding, in a packed legislative push that also includes measures to align the country with th...

⚡️Ukraine's parliament attempts to unblock stalled IMF financing, votes on contentious tax bills.

Ukraine’s navy struck a Russian-held oil rig in the Black Sea using Swedish RBS-15 missiles, each carrying a 200 kg high-explosive warhead.

www.kyivpost.com/post/73417

Russia’s fourth-largest refinery halts ALL operations after Ukrainian drone strike — Reuters

Lukoil’s Nizhny Novgorod plant — a major gasoline producer — stopped work on April 5, with fuel supplies potentially disrupted until at least the end of the month.

Counterattacking through the kill zone, Ukrainian troops brace for new Russian offensives Editor’s Note: In accordance with the security protocols of the Ukrainian military, soldiers featured in this story are identified by first name and call sign only. ZAPORIZHZHIA OBLAST – For tonight'...

While Kyiv claims counteroffensive success, Russian troops continue to seep through an increasingly blurry front line as a crucial year of fighting looms.

Ukraine’s parliament approves a bill extending the military levy for three years post-war, meeting a key $8.1 billion IMF requirement.

www.kyivpost.com/post/73442

Syrsky visits front-line hotspot in contested corner of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast Syrsky said Ukraine has retaken 480 square kilometers and 12 settlements since late January amid heavy fighting on key front-line sectors.

⚡️Syrsky visits front-line hotspot in contested corner of Dnipropetrovsk Oblast

"I regularly work with soldiers in the hottest parts of the front line," Commander-in-Chief of Ukraine's Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrsky wrote in an April 5 Telegram post.

Ukraine destroyed $28 million worth of Russian equipment overnight near Huliaipole, Zaporizhzhia region, including MLRS systems and a rare Zoopark-1 counter-battery radar.

www.kyivpost.com/post/73344

Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russian military-linked chemical plant The Minudobrenia plant was reportedly struck. The facility produces ammonia, ammonium nitrate, and nitric acid, which are key components of explosives and ammunition.

⚡️Ukrainian drones reportedly strike Russian military-linked chemical plant.

A chemical plant in Rossosh, Voronezh Oblast, was struck by Ukrainian drones on April 6, independent Telegram outlet Exilenova Plus reported.

Russia increases attacks on civilians, killing 16 and injuring 94 more In one of the worst attacks, a Russian drone targeted a market in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, killing at least five people and injuring 27 on the morning of April 4.

⚡️Update: Russia's attack on market in Nikopol kills 5, injures 27.

The number of victims injured in a Russian attack on a market in Nikopol, Dnipropetrovsk Oblast, has risen to 27, local authorities reported. Russia struck the market the morning of April 4, killing five people.