The United States has pledged $ 5.6 billion in security aid to Ukraine’s fight
U.S. soldiers assigned to the 65th Field Artillery Brigade fire a high-mobility artillery rocket system (HIMARS) during a joint actual fire exercise with Kuwait ground forces on January 8, 2019 , near Camp Buehring, Kuwait.
Courtesy: US Department of Defense
From heavy artillery to tactical drones and armored vehicles, the U.S. has pledged $ 5.6 billion in military aid to Ukraine since Russia invaded in late February.
The latest $ 1 billion aid package, the 12th aid delivery, comes as Russian forces intensify their fighting in eastern and southern Ukraine.
Read more about the weapons the U.S. has pledged to fight Ukraine so far.
– Amanda Macias
“We don’t know where they are,” Biden says of the missing Americans in Ukraine
A soldier from the Ukrainian Kraken Special Forces Unit observes the area on a destroyed bridge on the road near the village of Rus’ka Lozova, north of Kharkiv, on May 16, 2022.
Dimitar Dilkoff | AFP | Getty Images
President Joe Biden said he “does not know” where the three Americans reported missing in Ukraine are.
“Americans should not go to Ukraine now,” he told reporters at the White House.
The State Department said Thursday it was aware of reports that three U.S. citizens had disappeared in Ukraine, but said it could not verify whether they were in Russian custody.
State Department spokesman Ned Price said he could not “talk about the details” of the third American who was reported missing in Ukraine. He added that “our understanding was that this individual has traveled to Ukraine to take up arms.”
Price’s comments follow reports from various media that Alexander Drueke, 39, and Andy Huynh, 27, two former members of the US service, were captured by Russian forces in Kharkiv last week. These reports and details have not been confirmed by CNBC or NBC News.
Price told reporters that so far the Biden administration has not seen any evidence that Russian forces have detained Americans.
– Amanda Macias
About 15,000 Russian millionaires are trying to leave Russia, according to British information
An overview of St. Basil’s Cathedral in Red Square before the IAAF World Championships on August 6, 2013 in Moscow, Russia
Mark Kolbe | Getty Images Sport | Getty Images
Approximately 15,000 Russian millionaires are trying to leave the country as the Kremlin war in Ukraine intensifies in the Donbas region, according to British intelligence estimates.
“Motivations most likely include both personal opposition to the invasion and intent to escape the financial impact of sanctions imposed on Russia,” the UK Ministry of Defense shared in an intelligence update via Twitter.
“If this exodus continues, it will probably aggravate the long-term damage of the war on Russia’s economy,” the tweet continued.
– Amanda Macias
Johnson from the UK arrives in Kyiv to meet with Zelenskyy
The Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, Boris Johnson, traveled to Kyiv after the visit of the leaders of France, Italy and Germany.
During the visit, Johnson offered to set up a training program for Ukrainian forces while fighting Russian aggression. The new military program could train up to 10,000 soldiers every 120 days, according to a 10th Downing Street statement.
“The UK-led program would train and train the Ukrainian Armed Forces using the proven experience of the British Army, which would allow them to accelerate their deployment, rebuild their forces and increase their resilience as they continue to defend their sovereignty. his nation against Russia. invaders “, the statement added.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Johnson’s visit to the Telegram social messaging app.
“Many days of this war have shown that Britain’s support for Ukraine is firm and determined. I am glad to see again our country’s great friend Boris Johnson in Kyiv,” Zelenskyy wrote.
Johnson, who recently survived a censure vote, made the visit after canceling an appearance at a Conservative party conference.
– Amanda Macias
The UN says at least 4,509 people have been killed in Ukraine since the start of the war
Relatives of the fallen soldier Yurii Huk, 41, pay their respects at his grave in the Lychakiv Field Camp Cemetery in Lviv, Ukraine, on May 16, 2022.
Omar Marques | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
The United Nations has confirmed 4,509 civilian deaths and 5,585 wounded in Ukraine since Russia invaded its former Soviet counterpart on February 24.
The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said the death toll in Ukraine is likely to be higher, as armed conflict could delay reports of fatalities.
The international organization said most of the recorded civilian casualties were caused by the use of explosive weapons with a wide range of impact, including heavy artillery bombardment and multiple rocket launch systems, as well as missiles. and airstrikes.
– Amanda Macias
Russia says Ukraine’s EU bid “requires more attention”
Peskov says the EU’s decision to offer Ukraine the status of a candidate requires more attention from Russia.
Anadolu Agency | Anadolu Agency | Getty Images
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said that the EU’s decision to offer Ukraine the status of a candidate requires more attention from Russia.
“The possible entry of Ukraine into the EU requires more attention from the Russian Federation in connection with the discovery of the defense affiliation,” Peskov said in a statement, according to the state-run Interfax news agency.
“Sam Meredith.”
Zelensky says historic decision to grant Ukraine EU candidacy status will help defeat Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has welcomed the EU’s recommendation to offer Ukraine candidacy status, a historic move that will help Kyiv defeat Russia’s attack.
“It is the first step on the path to EU membership that will undoubtedly bring our Victory closer. Thank you to [von der Leyen] and every member of the EC for a historic decision, “Zelenskyy said via Twitter.
Zelenskyy said he expects EU government leaders to approve the proposal in Brussels next week.
“Sam Meredith.”
The European Commission recommends that Ukraine become a candidate for the EU
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine should be welcomed as a candidate country.
Kenzo Tribouillard | Afp | Getty Images
The European Commission, the executive arm of the EU, has proposed that Ukraine have EU candidate status.
The recommendation comes on the condition that Ukraine carry out a number of major reforms.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said Ukraine should be welcomed as a candidate country, referring to a legal term meaning that a nation has officially begun a path of membership to become a full member. right.
Wearing a yellow blazer over a blue shirt to represent the colors of Ukraine, von der Leyen told a news conference that the commission had a clear message for Kyiv. “And this is, yes, Ukraine deserves [the] European perspective. Yes, Ukraine should be welcomed as a candidate country. “
Read the full story here.
“Sam Meredith.”
The EU will discuss a quick opinion on Ukraine’s candidacy for the candidacy
Italian Draghi, Ukrainian Zelenskyy and French Macron were photographed during a joint press conference in Kyiv.
Future Publishing | Future Publishing | Getty Images
The European Commission, the executive arm of the European Union, will meet on Friday to offer its quick opinion on whether to grant candidacy status to Ukraine.
The discussion comes just 24 hours after some of the bloc’s most powerful leaders visited Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, in a show of solidarity with the war-torn country.
Friday’s opinion is expected to form the basis for talks at next week’s EU summit in Brussels, Belgium. Candidacy status is not the same as EU membership, a process that could take several years to complete.
Alongside Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Thursday, French President Emmanuel Macron said France, Germany, Italy and Romania were in favor of “immediate” candidacy status for Ukraine.
“Sam Meredith.”
The number of attacks by Russian forces in Ukraine is increasing every day, according to Luhansk regional governor
Few residents remain in Lysychansk, as they suffer frequent bombardment by Russian troops who are in a fierce battle for Severodonetsk, which is on the other side of the river.
Scott Olson | Getty Images News | Getty Images
Serhiy Haidai, the head of the Luhansk regional administration region who has become a well-known voice amid heavy fighting in the Donbas region, said the number of shells by Russian forces “is increasing every day”.
“The Russians continue to destroy the region’s infrastructure,” Haidai told Telegram, according to a translation.
“Thus, the bombing of the buildings of the non-standard chemical equipment plant in Severodonetsk was recorded and the building of the Azot plant was damaged. In general, there is almost no [surviving] administrative buildings in the territory of the giant of the chemical plant “, he added.
Haidai said that for the past 24 hours, Russian forces had used multiple artillery and rocket launchers in the districts of Severodonetsk, Lysychansk, Ustynivka, Loskutivka, Metolkino, Borivsky, Mykolaivka and Novozvanivka, among others.
“Sam Meredith.”
The State Department is aware of the third American missing in Ukraine, can not confirm the arrest reports
A Ukrainian military vehicle is driving in the front line during a fight, in the middle of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, near Izyum, Kharkiv region, Ukraine, on April 23, 2022.
Jorge Silva | Reuters
The State Department is aware of reports that a total of three American citizens have disappeared in Ukraine, but has not been able to verify whether they were in Russian custody.
“There are reports of another American whose whereabouts are unknown. I can’t talk about the details of this case. Unfortunately, we don’t know all the details,” said State Department spokesman Ned Price. during a daily press conference.
“Similarly, we understand that this individual has traveled to Ukraine for …