The 362nd day of the Ukrainian war. Latest information [papildināts 17:30]

Live text broadcast – short and concise about the most important things in the Ukrainian war on February 20. Ukraine has been heroically defending its land against the invasion of the aggressor for a year.

17:30. Japan will provide Ukraine with additional financial assistance in the amount of 5.5 billion dollars (5.15 billion euros), Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kisida announced on Monday.

16:36. The main phase of Russia’s offensive efforts in Ukraine continues in the Luhansk region, however, the aggressor lacks free reserves for large-scale and intensive attacks, according to analysts of the US Institute for the Study of War (ISW).

15:23. US President Joe Biden’s visit to Kyiv is a strong signal to Russia, especially to Putin, the chairman of the Saeima Foreign Affairs Commission Rihards Kol (NA) told LETA. Biden, arriving in Ukraine shortly before the anniversary of the war caused by Russia, expresses solidarity and a clear signal of unrelenting help, is a confident politician. Cole also believes that Biden’s visit will encourage allies to further support Ukraine in its fight against the aggressor.

14:16. The High Representative of the European Union (EU) for foreign affairs and security policy, Jozeps Borel, announced on Monday that if China supplies weapons to Russia, it will cross the “red line” in relations with the EU. Borrell revealed that he had expressed serious concerns to Wang and asked him to refrain from supplying arms to Russia. “He told me they won’t do it,” Borrell said, but added that the EU would remain vigilant.

12.58. For Ukraine, Latvia’s supporting voice in the international arena is important to ensure that Russia is cut off from international organizations, but Ukraine could move towards the European Union, Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament Olena Kondratyuk emphasized to journalists during her visit to Latvia today.

12.51. US President Joe Biden announced a new US military aid package to Ukraine worth 500 million dollars during his visit to Kyiv on Monday.

12.48. Russia is certainly preparing military surprises in Ukraine, but the Ukrainians are also preparing for the enemy’s plans, admits the former commander of the Latvian National Armed Forces (NBS) and Latvian ambassador to Kazakhstan and Azerbaijan Juris Maklakovs. “I’m sure there will be surprises. It depends both on the weather conditions and Russia’s ability to train the mobilized and not make the mistakes that were made initially,” Maklakov emphasized.

12.38. After Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, 231 Ukrainian athletes have already died in the war, Vadims Gutcaits, Minister of Sports and President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine, revealed on Monday. “About 35 more athletes are in captivity, but around 3,000 athletes are at the front,” Gutzeit told the German newspaper “Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung” on Monday.

12.06. On Friday, February 25, at 12 noon in Riga, in the square near the House of Congress, Latvian musicians will unite in a charity concert “For the freedom of Ukraine!”, informs the Communications Department of the Riga City Council. The concert is conceived as a voluntary support of the cultural sector for Ukraine, which is experiencing large-scale Russian military aggression.

11.58. On Saturday, February 25, at 10:30 a.m. in Riga, at the Russian Embassy, ​​the event of the anti-war movement organized by Kremlin oppositionists “Victory to Ukraine! Freedom to Russia!” will be held, inform the organizers of the event. The event is dedicated to the anniversary of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This rally is part of an international protest that will take place in more than 100 cities around the world, including London, Berlin, Munich, Helsinki, Tallinn, Vilnius and Riga.

11.21. Beijing on Monday rejected US officials’ claims that China is considering supplying Russia with weapons for use in its war with Ukraine.

10.41. “The situation on the border with Belarus is still under full control. Of course, special attention is being paid to this matter, as units of the Russian Federation are located in Belarus,” the portal pravda.com.ua reports, referring to the statement of the press representative of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine.

09.35. The loss of Russian troops in Ukraine has reached 143,680 soldiers by Monday morning, according to the General Staff of the Ukrainian Army. According to the data of the general staff, 820 invaders were destroyed during the day.

Since the beginning of the repeated invasion on February 24 of last year, Russia has lost 3,316 tanks, 6,553 armored personnel carriers, 2,334 cannons, 471 multi-charge jets, 243 anti-aircraft artillery systems, 299 airplanes, 287 helicopters, 2,018 drones, 873 cruise missiles, 5,209 tankers, and 18 tankers. and speedboats, as well as 225 units of specialized equipment.

08.40. The war started by Russia against Ukraine can continue this year and end only at the beginning of next year, admitted the parliamentary secretary of the Ministry of Interior, former military officer Igors Rajevs (AS) in an interview with LTV’s “Morning Panorama”.

The military expert admitted that, as the anniversary of the war approaches, the probability of a new Russian offensive against Ukraine this week is very high. Currently, Russian troops are attacking in virtually all directions, but, as Rajev assessed, it is not that everything is hopeless. Ukraine is even capable of counterstrikes and recover some territories.

08.17. Today in Riga, in the square near the House of Congress, the humanitarian convoy to Ukraine will be escorted. The convoy consists of three minibuses, which contain tactical clothing made in Latvia and various other things needed at the front. It will go as far as Bakhmut, a town in the Donetsk region that has been the scene of heavy fighting for a long time. Seven brigades will receive the cargo. Along with the convoy, three vehicles will also be delivered to the brigades of Ukrainian soldiers, one of them specially adapted for a heavy machine gun.

07.50. On Monday, Minister of Defense Ināra Mūrniece (NA) will meet with the Deputy Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament, Olena Kondratyukas, to discuss the current situation in Ukraine and Latvia’s future opportunities to provide support to Ukraine.

07.08. Polish President Andrzej Duda is convinced that if the self-proclaimed President of Belarus, Alexander Lukashenko, ordered his armed forces to join the war against Ukraine, it would mean the “total end” of his regime, the portal pravda.com.ua reports.

00.10. CNN asked European Commission (EC) President Ursula von der Leyen whether she thinks China is heeding Europe’s call not to support Russia in its war with Ukraine. She replied that the situation was quite the opposite.

“We’ve seen China and Russia sign a statement of unlimited partnership, and I think we need more evidence and more action to see that China is not supporting Russia,” Leyen told CNN. “So far, we’re seeing the opposite,” she said