Kremlin Hails US Proposal To Deny NATO Membership To Ukraine, Awaits Official Word On Crimea

"The Kremlin has belatedly reacted to Washington proposals toward ending the war in Ukraine, by praising and welcoming the Trump administration's ruling out Ukraine joining the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO); however, as The Wall Street Journal reports in the wake of high-level meetings in Europe last week, Moscow "showed no urgency in

reaching a deal."
"We have heard from Washington at various levels that Ukraine’s membership in NATO is out of the question," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said in a Monday press briefing. "This is something that satisfies us and coincides with our position."
"Ukraine should not be a member of NATO and should not have prospects for integration with it," Peskov said. "This would be a threat to the national interests of the Russian Federation. And this is one of the root causes of the conflict." Zerohedge

Congressman Visits Ukraine Frontlines, Filmed Firing Heavy Weapon

"Apparently trying to out-hawk the late John McCain, Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick has described that he recently traveled to Ukraine and spent several days at the front lines.
The 51-year old Republican rep from Pennsylvania spent a total of a week inside the war-ravaged country, visiting soldiers while making declarations that Ukraine and the US will defeat the Russian military.

Fitzpatrick even did a provocative photo op wherein he signed an artillery shell "to Putin". And even more alarming is that he filmed himself firing a large gun, which may have been an anti-aircraft weapon..... the Congressman was trying to be as provocative against the Russians as possible, at a moment a Republican president is trying to forge peace between Moscow and Kiev.
Crucially, Fitzpatrick traveled around with Ukraine’s National Guard Artillery and Third Assault Brigade - the latter which is made up of Azov Special Operations soldiers and is commanded by Andriy Biletsky, who has long been accused of having neo-Nazi links and ideology.
He wrote on X after the trip, "It was my profound honor to deliver a very ‘personal’ message to Vladimir Putin today, from the front lines of the war near the Russian border, on behalf of our PA-1 community. The only permissible details to share are that ‘the message was delivered on target.’"
This does suggest he may have been firing on or near an actual war zone - though the security risks would be enough to probably prevent him from getting very close to any real fighting." ZH

Russians launch strikes at Kherson region

"In Kherson region, Russian aggression claimed the life of one person and left seven others injured over the past 24 hours." Ukrin

Ukrainian forces down 38 Russian drones

"Ukrainian Defense Forces destroyed 38 Russian drones, while an additional 16 decoy drones vanished from radar screens without causing any damage." Ukrin

165 clashes on front lines in past 24 hours, most in Pokrovsk sector

"As many as 165 combat engagements were recorded on the front lines in Ukraine. The enemy launched airstrikes in the areas of the following settlements: Marinka, Krasnopillia, Vysoke, Mala Rybnytsia, Myropilske, Prokhody, Studenok, and Uhroidy in the Sumy region; Oleksandropil, Pokrovsk, Novopavlivka, Muravka, Novodarivka, and Dachne in the Donetsk region; Malynivka, Zaliznychne, Shcherbaky, Novoiakovlivka, and Stepnohirsk in the Zaporizhzhia region.

Over the past 24 hours, the Ukrainian Defense Forces' aviation, missile troops, and artillery struck ten enemy personnel, weapons, and equipment concentration areas, two command posts, and six artillery systems.
In the Kupiansk sector, the enemy launched two assaults near Petropavlivka and Zahryzove.
In the Lyman sector, the enemy attacked 25 times, trying to advance near Nove, Nadiia, Novomykhailivka, Hrekivka, Myrne, Kolodiazi, Torske, and toward Novyi Myr and Zelena Dolyna.
In the Siversk sector, Russian forces attacked Ukrainian positions twice in the areas of Verkhniokamianske and Pereizne.
In the Kramatorsk sector, four clashes were recorded near Vasiukivka, Chasiv Yar, Markove, and Stupochky.
In the Toretsk sector, the enemy launched 23 attacks near Toretsk, Dyliivka, and Shcherbynivka.
In the Pokrovsk sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled 61 enemy assaults and offensive actions near Sukha Balka, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Sukhyi Yar, Vodiane Druhe, Kotlyne, Uspenivka, Novooleksandrivka, Nadiivka, Troitske, Tarasivka, Promin, Lysivka, Udachne, Preobrazhenka, Kotliarivka, Andriivka, and toward Oleksandropil, Novopavlivka, and Berezivka.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the enemy attacked Ukrainian positions 19 times near Kostiantynopil, Vilne Pole, Pryvilne, Novosilka, Rozlyv, and toward Odradne.
In the Orikhiv sector, Ukrainian defenders repelled three enemy assaults toward Stepove and Novodanylivka.
In the Dnipro River sector, the enemy conducted two unsuccessful offensive operations." Ukrin

Pope Francis Dead on Easter Monday

"In the wake of Pope Francis’ passing on Easter Monday, the Catholic Church will begin the

process of selecting the next Bishop of Rome, thereby setting the future course of the Church and its 1.3 billion followers.
Within 15 to 20 days of the death of the Pope, a conclave of the College of Cardinals will be convened within the Sistine Chapel in the Vatican, where they will hold a secret ballot vote to elect the next Pontifex Maximus of the Church." Breitbart

Germany Deploys Troops To Lithuania In First Permanent Foreign Deployment Since World War II

"Germany has activated its first permanent foreign troop deployment since World War II, establishing a 5,000-strong armored brigade in Lithuania. This decision follows Defense Minister Boris Pistorius’ announcement in 2023 to bolster troop presence on NATO‘s eastern flank in response to the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian War." ZH

45 combat clashes along frontline, battles ongoing in three sectors

 "45 combat engagements between Ukraine's Defense Forces and Russian troops have occurred so far, with ongoing battles currently taking place in three sectors of the front. The enemy is showing the greatest activity in the Pokrovsk and Kursk sectors.

From Russian territory, artillery strikes were launched on Myropilske and Turya in Sumy region.
In the Lyman sector, two clashes occurred near Nadiya and Myrne.

In the Kramatorsk sector, Russians attacked four times near Chasiv Yar, Stupochky, and Bila Hora. One battle is ongoing.
In the Toretsk sector, Russian invaders attacked Ukrainian positions twice near Druzhba and Toretsk.
In the Pokrovsk sector, 20 clashes of varying intensity have occurred today near Sukha Balka, Myroliubivka, Yelyzavetivka, Lysivka, Kotlyne, Udachne, Novooleksandrivka, Uspenivka, Preobrazhenka, Andriivka, and Rozlyv. Two battles are still ongoing.
In the Novopavlivka sector, the Russians made two advance attempts near Skudne and Odradne.
In the Orikhiv sector, Russian forces attempted three times to advance toward Ukrainian positions in the areas of Mala Tokmachka and Stepove, but were repelled.
In Russia’s Kursk region, Ukrainian defenders are currently repelling three enemy attacks. A total of 12 clashes have been recorded there so far today. Since the beginning of the day, Russian forces have carried out 100 artillery strikes in the area, including seven using multiple launch rocket systems (MLRS)." Ukrin

US wants Putin to extend Easter truce beyond Sunday

"The United States aims to secure "a full and comprehensive ceasefire" in Ukraine beyond a

temporary Easter truce, a U.S. State Department spokesperson said on April 20 in a statement emailed to Reuters.
Ukraine is ready to extend the truce to at least 30 days, Zelensky said on April 19. The president responded to Putin's declaration by inviting Russia to accept a month-long unconditional ceasefire." KyivIndependemt

China Tests Novel Non-Nuclear Hydrogen Bomb - Generates Intense Fireball

"Chinese scientists successfully detonated a powerful and innovative non-nuclear hydrogen-based bomb that produced an enduring, intensely-hot fireball.

Naturally, scientists recognized that densely-packed hydrogen offers extraordinary explosive potential, and set out to build explosive devices to measure the destructive force. China's pioneering evaluation started small, with a test bomb weighing just 4.4 pounds (2kg). The resulting fireball impressed researchers, producing heat exceeding 1,832 degrees Fahrenheit (1,000 Celsius). More importantly, the fireball lasted more than two seconds, which is 15 times longer than a comparably-scaled TNT explosion. No nuclear materials were involved." ZeroHedge

Satellite Images Expose China's Secretive Nuclear Submarine Force

"Newly published satellite imagery shows the latest developments at a Chinese naval base, which serves as the hub for China's nuclear-powered submarine fleet.
Google Earth recently updated satellite imagery of China's Qingdao First Submarine Base on the eastern coast. The images reveal at least six submarines docked near a pier, with one additional submarine visible in a drydock, per Luck's observations.

The latest research by Department of Defense says it believes that China will expand its submarine fleet from 60 to 65 by the end of 2025. China’s submarine fleet could reach 80 in the next ten years, according to the Pentagon.
As China continues to expand its military might, the new chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Gen. Dan Caine, is sounding the alarm of the U.S.’s ability to confront China. “The U.S. does not have the throughput, responsiveness, or agility needed to deter our adversaries,” Gen. Caine told the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The U.S. military is bracing for possible confrontation with China over the Taiwan Strait. Adm. Sam Paparo, head of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, warned that China is actively preparing for major military actions targeting Taiwan.
China is said to be building a novel type of amphibious vessel called Shuiqiao, or “water bridges,” to bolster a possible Taiwan invasion, the India Defense Review reports. These adaptable barges are engineered to swiftly transport heavy equipment across challenging coastal terrain." 

ZeroHedge

Russia trying to create illusion of ceasefire, yet continuing attempts to advance – Zelensky

"Russia is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, but in some areas, it is

continuing to make isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky stated this on Telegram following a report by the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces Oleksandr Syrskyi on the frontline situation as of 6:00, on April 20, Ukrinform reports.
“Overall, as of Easter morning, we can state that the Russian army is attempting to create the general impression of a ceasefire, while in some areas still continuing isolated attempts to advance and inflict losses on Ukraine,” Zelensky wrote." Ukrin

Putin announces ‘Easter truce’

"Russian leader Vladimir Putin announced a temporary ceasefire in the war against Ukraine during Easter. He added that Russian forces would halt military operations from 18:00 on April 19 until 00:00 on April 21." Ukrin

U.S. could ‘move on’ from Russia-Ukraine peace talks – Rubio

"U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has suggested that Washington could abandon efforts to

find a peaceful resolution to the Ukraine conflict if it believes Moscow and Kiev are incapable of negotiating.
Speaking to reporters on Friday, Rubio commented on a meeting with representatives from Ukraine, France, Britain, and Germany in Paris the day before. He stated that while the talks on the Ukraine conflict were “constructive and helpful,” the White House is still waiting to see if a peace deal is “doable.” RT

Another 277 POWs returned to Ukraine

"Another 277 warriors have been returned to Ukraine from Russian captivity. Among them are the defenders of Mariupol and other areas in the Donetsk, Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, and Luhansk regions." Ukrin