Summary of the day
At least eight people were killed in a Russian missile attack on the Dnipropetrovsk region.
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said two children were among those killed.
Ukraine said it shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time.
In a joint statement, foreign ministers from G7 countries reiterated their support for Kyiv.
Two people have been detained in Poland on suspicion of attacking Leonid Volkov, an aide to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters.
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said that a Belarusian working for the Russians who is suspected of ordering two Poles to assassinate Alexei Navalny’s aide has been detained.
Asked about US aid for Ukraine, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said “most important thing is getting this aid voted and moving it forward.”
Blinken also added: “Is it too late? No. If it happens now, it’s not too late. If it doesn’t happen, or takes a lot more time, there is a real risk that yes, it will be too late.”
The European Council president, Charles Michel, sent a public message to Donald Trump, saying “the numbers speak for themselves. EU contribution to Ukraine: €143 billion ($150 billion).”
During a visit to Finland, which had closed its border crossings with Russia, the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, spoke of the instrumentalisation of migration, and said “I’m here to tell you that the European Union is there to support you in your efforts.”
The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, asked for EU assistance.
French police arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran’s consulate in Paris.
Updated
Donald Tusk, the Polish prime minister, said that a Belarusian working for the Russians who is suspected of ordering two Poles to assassinate Alexei Navalny’s aide has been detained.
Niedoszły zamachowiec na prezydenta Zelenskiego, Polak działający w porozumieniu z rosyjskimi służbami - aresztowany 2 dni temu. Białorusin pracujący dla Rosjan, który zlecił dwóm Polakom zamach na współpracownika Nawalnego - zatrzymany. Zamachowcy też już w areszcie. Powiązani…
— Donald Tusk (@donaldtusk) April 19, 2024
Updated
Man arrested in Iran consulate incident
French police arrested a man who had threatened to blow himself up at Iran’s consulate in Paris, police said, Reuters reported.
A police source had told Reuters the man was seen at about 11 am (0900 GMT) entering the consulate, carrying what appeared to be a grenade and explosive vest.
The man exited the consulate and was not actually carrying explosives, a police source said.
Updated
“Americans are advised to avoid the area and follow instructions from local authorities,” the US embassy in Paris said.
#SecurityAlert Paris authorities request people stay away from the vicinity of the Iranian diplomatic mission in Paris’ 16 arrondissement in light of the ongoing security operation. Americans are advised to avoid the area and follow instructions from local authorities. Please… pic.twitter.com/DNvgv9zpvB
— U.S. Embassy France (@USEmbassyFrance) April 19, 2024
BFMTV reports that a man entered the Iranian consulate in Paris saying that he has explosives and wants to avenge his brother.
Updated
French police cordon off Iranian consulate
French police cordoned off the Iranian consulate in Paris, where a man was threatening to blow himself up, Reuters reported citing French media.
Updated
'Real risk' it'll be too late for Ukraine if aid doesn't come, Blinken says
Asked about US aid for Ukraine, the secretary of state, Antony Blinken, said “most important thing is getting this aid voted and moving it forward.”
“Is it too late? No. If it happens now, it’s not too late. If it doesn’t happen, or takes a lot more time, there is a real risk that yes, it will be too late,” he said.
Updated
At least 29 people were injured in Italy when a ferry carrying people from the island of Capri collided with a quay in Naples, Reuters reported.
G7 ministers reaffirm 'unwavering determination to support democratic Ukraine'
In a joint statement today, foreign ministers from G7 countries reiterated their support for Kyiv.
“We, the G7 Foreign Ministers of Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States of America, and the High Representative of the European Union, strongly condemn Russia’s ongoing war of aggression against Ukraine. We reaffirm our unwavering determination to support democratic Ukraine,” they said.
They added:
We express our resolve in particular to bolster Ukraine’s air defense capabilities to save lives and protect critical infrastructure. We will also work with partners towards this end. In this context we appreciate the Immediate Action for Air Defense Initiative (IAAD) proposed by Germany.
The ministers also said:
We will continue to explore all possible avenues to aid Ukraine in obtaining compensation from Russia, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law. As requested by Leaders, we will continue our work and advise ahead of the Apulia Summit on all possible avenues and feasible options by which immobilized Russian sovereign assets could be made use of to support Ukraine, consistent with our respective legal systems and international law.
Blinken holds press conference after G7 summit in Italy
'Let’s get the facts straight', Michel tells Trump
The European Council president, Charles Michel, has sent a public message to Donald Trump.
“Let’s get the facts straight. The numbers speak for themselves. EU contribution to Ukraine: €143 billion ($150 billion),” he said.
.@realDonaldTrump, don’t be intimidated by Putin. We aren’t.
— Charles Michel (@CharlesMichel) April 19, 2024
Let’s get the facts straight.
The numbers speak for themselves.
EU contribution to Ukraine: €143 billion ($150 billion).
Ukraine’s foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said two children were among those killed in Dnipropetrovsk region this morning.
“This horror once again underscores how urgent is the provision of additional air defense systems and missiles and how necessary are the decisions we discussed yesterday at the G7 ministerial,” he said.
A horrific Russian air strike on the Dnipropetrovsk region this morning. Two children are among those killed. A 14-year-old girl and a 8-year-old boy. Another 6-year-old boy was saved in the hospital.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 19, 2024
The brutality of Russian terror against ordinary people, including innocent… pic.twitter.com/nuzdWjkz3z
“Russia must be held accountable. Ukraine urgently requires more air defence support!” wrote the EU’s ambassador in Kyiv, Katarina Mathernova.
Another tragic morning in Ukraine. Russia targeted civilians in city of Dnipro & around including those peacefully asleep at home. Railway facilities were also hit. Russia must be held accountable. Ukraine urgently requires more air defence support!@EUDelegationUA https://t.co/9N7mTYv6Z9
— Katarina Mathernova 🇪🇺 (@kmathernova) April 19, 2024
Volodymyr Zelenskiy, Ukraine’s president, visited the Donetsk region today.
Today, I visited the Donetsk region.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2024
I went to see our defenders who are recovering in the 95th Air Assault Brigade’s medical company.
I spoke with the soldiers and presented them with state awards. I thank them for their service and defending Ukraine. Our country is proud to… pic.twitter.com/fN3z79heJG
2 detained on suspicion of attacking Navalny aide
Two people have been detained in Poland on suspicion of attacking Leonid Volkov, an aide to the late Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny, Lithuanian President Gitanas Nausėda told reporters today, Reuters reported.
Ukraine said it shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 strategic bomber for the first time today, Reuters reported.
The Russian defence ministry said the strategic bomber had crashed in Russia’s Stavropol region.
Ukrainian Air Force Commander Mykola Oleshchuk said Kyiv had “destroyed” the warplane.
“For the first time, anti-aircraft missile units of the Air Force, in cooperation with the Defence Intelligence of Ukraine, destroyed a Tu-22M3 long-range strategic bomber, a carrier of Kh-22 cruise missiles used by Russian terrorists to attack peaceful Ukrainian cities,” he said.
Nine killed in Russian strikes in Dnipropetrovsk region
Nine people were killed in Russian missile strikes on Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, Ukrinform reported citing the Ukrainian prosecutor general’s office.
“A child who was seriously injured during today’s massive enemy attack on the Dnipropetrovsk died in the hospital. So far, the death toll has increased to nine, including three children,” the prosecutor general’s office said.
Updated
“Rescue operations are underway in Dnipro following a Russian strike,” Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelenskiy said this morning.
“Several floors of a typical residential building were destroyed, and the railway station sustained damage. Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove in the Dnipropetrovsk region were also targeted.
Rescue operations are underway in Dnipro following a Russian strike. Several floors of a typical residential building were destroyed, and the railway station sustained damage.
— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 19, 2024
Kryvyi Rih and Synelnykove in the Dnipropetrovsk region were also targeted. All injured people are… pic.twitter.com/t0zX4TwJhY
'The European Union is there to support you', Commission president tells Finns
Speaking of the instrumentalisation of migration by Russia, Ursula von der Leyen said “now Putin is focusing on Finland.”
“Finland has acted decisively and successfully to counter this threat. This is not just about the security of Finland, but it is about the security of the European Union. We are in this together,” she said.
“I’m here to tell you that the European Union is there to support you in your efforts,” the Commission president stressed.
Very glad to be here with you, dear @PetteriOrpo, in Lappeeranta, to visit the Finnish border and assess the situation.
— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 19, 2024
We live in tense times and stand side-by-side to ensure the security of the EU’s external borders against hybrid threats. pic.twitter.com/b9zMliF0nO
Updated
'We should be more Finnish when it comes to security,' von der Leyen says
Ursula von der Leyen, the European Commission president, said during a visit to Finland today that “today’s visit to the border crossing point was very insightful for me.”
“We should be more Finnish when it comes to security. We have a lot to learn from Finland, and from the model of Finnish preparedness,” von der Leyen said.
Finnish leader asks for EU measures on arrival of migrants via Russia
The Finnish prime minister, Petteri Orpo, has asked for EU assistance when it comes to the influx of migrants via Russia and the economic impact of border closures on eastern Finland.
Speaking alongside the European Commission president, Ursula von der Leyen, Orpo said:
“We visited with madame president the border and we described what kind of situation is – and now we have to find common solutions to stop this phenomenon when Russia used illegal immigrants against us. We are preparing our own legislation but we also need EU-level measures,” he said.
“I’m very thankful that the Commission, the European Union, the other member states, have supported us – and Ursula, you especially supported us, at the beginning of this phenomenon.”
He added that eastern Finland has suffered due to Russia’s behaviour and the closure of the border.
“What we need is that European Union have to help eastern Finland and areas suffering because of Russian behaviour … our wish is that European Union have to build a new instrument to fund eastern Finland and the areas suffering.”
Updated
Welcome to the blog
Good morning and welcome to the Europe blog.
Send thoughts and tips to lili.bayer@theguardian.com.
