Fighting until the afternoon of April 18: Russia and Ukraine reported enemy losses

Wreckage of a tank in the port city of Mariupol in southeastern Ukraine on April 17 AFP

Sputnik news agency on April 18, citing information from the Russian Defense Ministry, said that the operation military of this country at Ukraine Since February 24, it has destroyed 136 aircraft, 471 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and 249 anti-aircraft missile systems of Ukraine.

In addition, Russia also claimed to destroy 2,308 tanks and other armored vehicles, 254 multiple rocket launchers systems, 998 cannons and 2,171 military vehicles of Ukraine.

Same day, page Kyiv Independent Russia has lost 147 helicopters, 167 other aircraft, 155 UAVs, 67 air defense systems, 76 fuel vehicles and 8 boats.

In addition, the Armed Forces of Ukraine also claimed to have destroyed 790 Russian tanks, 2,041 armored personnel carriers, 1,487 vehicles, 381 artillery pieces and 130 multiple rocket launchers.

The two sides have not commented on the announcement latest news of the opponent.

Turkey continues to call for negotiations

According to Sputnik on April 18, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said that Turkey continues to make efforts to bring Moscow and Kyiv to the negotiating table, but the situation is complicated.

Mr. Kalin made a speech when receiving the US congressional delegation in Istanbul. Turkey has hosted two important meetings in Antalya and Istanbul aimed at ending the crisis, but the current negotiating situation is “quite difficult”, he said.

“Turkey is doing everything possible to bring the two sides to the negotiating table,” Kalin said. The spokesman said Ankara has taken many initiatives and efforts to prevent the situation from escalating.

The situation in Ukraine shows “the importance of the NATO alliance and strengthened relations”, and it is essential to focus on common issues between the two countries in order to bring interests and visions closer together. more, according to Mr. Kalin.

Mariupol situation continues to be hot

According to CNN, citing adviser Petro Andriushchenko of the mayor of Mariupol, Russian forces continue to bomb the Azovstal steel plant in this city. Ukrainian forces continued to protest and refused to surrender.

“The fighting in the Livoberezhny district lasted all day. The Russians continued to open fire and bombard Azovstal with all their weapons,” he said.

He said the Russian side has informed that the humanitarian corridor to leave Mariupol will be marked with a red flag, but the Ukrainian side has not yet seen a red flag.

see more: Russian forces ‘announce Mariupol blockade’, Ukraine mentions ‘red lines’

The great turning point of the war?

The United States and its NATO allies have stepped up sending tanks, helicopters and other heavy weapons to Ukraine, as its military prepares for major battles with Russian forces in the Donbass region of Ukraine. eastern Ukraine.

The new weapons delivered to Ukraine represent a marked shift in the West’s stance on the war.

In the early days, American and European officials, unsure how long Ukraine could hold out, were wary of supplying Ukraine with heavy weapons for fear they might fall into Russian hands.

See more: NATO sends heavy weapons to Ukraine and the big turning point of hostilities?

Russia warns Europe of default

TASS news agency on April 18 quoted Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council Dmitry Medvedev as saying that Russia’s default on foreign debt could lead to hyperinflation and debt default in Europe.

Commenting on European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen’s comments on Russia’s default on Russia’s debt, it was only a matter of time, Medvedev said “let’s see” and pointed out “two things are clear”.

“Russia’s default could lead to European default,” he wrote on Telegram and said that the financial system of the European Union (EU) is unstable and people are losing trust.

In addition, he said that EU officials should not blame Russia if hyperinflation, shortages of essential food and an influx of refugees “will cause a wave of crime”.

See more: Mr. Medvedev: If Russia defaults, Europe will also default and hyperinflation