On April 16, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a law on mobilization. Meanwhile, House Speaker Mike Johnson intends to allow members of Congress to review his bills on funding US aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan within 72 hours before bringing them to the floor.
RBC-Ukraine collected the main news for April 16.
Russia's war against Ukraine: Latest news
- Defense forces destroyed all Shahed drones used in attack on Ukraine tonight
- Russia's offensive could threaten Ukrainian Armed Forces as they lack aid from US
- UK intelligence assesses Moscow's ability to defend military plants from Ukrainian drones
Zelenskyy signs mobilization law: Effective date revealed
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy has signed the draft law on mobilization No. 10449, according to the website of the Verkhovna Rada (Parliament).
On the morning of April 16, the draft law was sent to the President for signature. At 3:43 p.m., Zelenskyy signed it.
According to the rules, the law will come into effect one month after the President's signature.
The Verkhovna Rada approved the draft law in the second reading on April 11. However, the provision regarding demobilization was excluded from this document.
China insists on Russia's participation in Ukraine peace conference
China supports the convening of an international peace conference on Ukraine but insists on Russia's participation, according to the head of China, Xi Jinping.
During a meeting with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing, Xi Jinping urged all parties to work together to swiftly restore peace and prevent the escalation of the "conflict" from spiraling out of control.
Xi Jinping informed Scholz that China supports all efforts towards a peaceful resolution, including the organization of an international peace conference, recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation from all sides.
Lithuania and Rheinmetall sign agreement to build ammunition production plant
Lithuania has signed a letter of intent with Germany's Rheinmetall to build an ammunition plant in the Baltic country.
Lithuanian Economy Minister Ausrine Armonaite said that the plant will be one of the largest investments made in the Baltic country. Negotiations on a detailed investment agreement will now be held.
"We are attracting an investment which will generate returns and will help us to ensure autonomy in purchasing the armaments," she says.
Johnson gives Congress time to review his Ukraine and Israel proposal
House Speaker Mike Johnson intends to allow members of Congress to review his bills on funding US aid to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan within 72 hours before bringing them to the floor, reports NBC News.
If the text is published on Tuesday, as Johnson hopes, it may mean that the House of Representatives will not be able to vote on the four separate bills by Friday, April 19.
The House of Representatives is currently scheduled to leave Thursday afternoon, April 18, and go on recess next week, but this could change.
Johnson stated that the Republican conference decided to vote on the foreign aid bills separately, and he would like to send each bill to the Senate individually. However, a final decision on whether to package them together has not yet been made.
Zelenskyy announced convening of Ukraine-NATO Council
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated, that Ukraine seeks to convene a NATO meeting to discuss the supply of arms and air defense systems.
According to him, Ukraine works daily to improve its relations with partners. In particular, this is necessary in order to receive more tangible assistance.
"For the sake of achieving true equality in protection against terror, when the same, truly equal rules will apply for us here in Ukraine, in Europe, and in other parts of the world, when we face the same manifestations of terror, the same strikes of rockets and drones. Over these two days, we have heard about almost everything. About different conflicts - here, in Europe, and in the Middle East - different levels of threats, different airspace. Although the same Shaheds and ballistic threats... About different threats of escalation. But are human lives different, is human dignity different? No. We value every life equally. We must value it," Zelenskyy said.
He announced that Ukraine will request the convening of a meeting of the Ukraine-NATO Council. It will address issues of protecting the sky from Russian strikes and supplying air defense systems and corresponding missiles.