Page 71 - Ukraine

Biden considers border restrictions as he tries to reach Ukraine aid deal

Top Biden administration officials laboured Wednesday to try to reach a last-minute deal for wartime aid for Ukraine by agreeing to Senate Republican demands to bolster US-Mexico border policies, with urgency setting in as Congress prepared to depart Washington with the impasse unresolved. The White House was racing to lock in a deal in principle with key Senate negotiators, according to two people familiar with the plans who demanded anonymity to discuss them. A core negotiating group, which has included Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, departed the Capitol Wednesday evening after making progress but without the principles of a deal finalized. As details of the plan emerged, advocates for immigrants and members of President Joe Biden's own Democratic Party fretted about the policies under discussion. Some demonstrated at the Capitol, warning of a return to the hardline border and immigration policies of the Trump era. Congress has little time to reach an agreement on

Russia-Ukraine war: Zelensky pleads for aid at Capitol and White House

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy told America his country was fighting for our freedom and yours as he made an impassioned plea Tuesday for Congress to approve more assistance to fight Russia's invasion. But prospects for additional US aid to Ukraine appeared seriously delayed, if not in grave doubt, despite his whirlwind diplomacy in Washington. After hours of talks on Capitol Hill, Zelenskyy spent more hours at the White House meeting with President Joe Biden and his aides about a way forward. The US has already provided Ukraine USD 111 billion since Russian President Vladimir Putin launched his grinding invasion more than 21 months ago, but Republicans are insisting on linking any more money to strict US-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry. The White House is warning that if new money isn't provided by year's end it will have swift consequences for Ukraine's capacity to hold its territory, let alone take back land captured by Russia. As Zelenskyy wrapped u

Russian-linked hackers claim cyberattack on mobile network, says Ukraine

Tuesday's attack on Kyivstar, which has 24.3 million mobile subscribers and more than 1.1 million home internet users, knocked out services, silenced air raid alert syst

At least 50 people injured in nighttime Russian missile attack on Ukraine

Ukraine's capital came under another missile attack early Wednesday, resulting in at least 45 injuries and several damaged buildings, the city's mayor said. A series of loud explosions could be heard in Kyiv at 3 a.m. as the city's air defences were activated for the second time this week. Kyiv Mayor Vitali Kitschko said on Telegram that debris from intercepted missiles fell in the eastern Dniprovskyi district, injuring at least 45 people. Eighteen people including two children were hospitalized while 27 people received medical treatment on the spot. An apartment building, a private house and several cars caught fire, while the windows of a children's hospital were shattered, Klitschko said. Falling rocket debris also damaged the water supply system in the district. On Monday, a Russian missile attack destroyed several homes on the outskirts of Kyiv and left more than 100 households temporarily without electricity. Wednesday's attack came as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Biden meets Zelenskyy, calls on Congress to pass funding to Ukraine

Biden also announced a $ 200 million military package under the Presidential Drawdown Authority

Zelenskyy to arrive on Capitol as Biden's Ukraine package risks collapse

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will arrive on Capitol Hill to a darker mood than when he swooped in last winter for a hero's welcome, as the Russian invasion is grinding into a third year and US funding hangs in balance. Zelenskyy's visit on Tuesday comes as President Joe Biden's request for an additional USD 110 billion US aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other national security needs is at serious risk of collapse in Congress. Republicans are insisting on strict US-Mexico border security changes that Democrats decry as draconian in exchange for the overseas aid. It is maddening, said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del., a close ally of Biden, of the stalemate. A very bad message to the world, to the Ukrainian people. The White House said the time was right for Zelenskyy's trip to Washington as Biden pushes lawmakers to approve the aid package before the year-end holidays. But the mood turned grim at the Capitol on the eve of his arrival. Zelenskyy will meet privately with senat

Explosions heard in Kyiv in possible air attack; no word on damage so far

A series of loud explosions rang out in Ukraine's capital early Monday followed by air raid sirens. There was no immediate word on the origin of the explosions, but they sounded like air defence units firing into the sky. Kyiv is routinely targeted by Russian drone and missile attacks. Just over two weeks ago, Kyiv came under what Ukrainian officials said was the most intense drone attack since the beginning of Russia's full-scale invasion in 2022. Ukraine's air force said Russia launched 75 Iranian-made Shahed drones against the capital, of which 74 were destroyed by air defenses. The explosions Monday occurred just after 4 a.m. as the city was under its nightly curfew. There was no immediate information on any damage or casualties.

Ukraine Prez Zelenskyy in Argentina to win support from developing nations

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy traveled to Buenos Aires to witness the swearing-in on Sunday of Argentina's new president, Javier Milei. It is the Ukrainian leader's first-ever trip to Latin America as Kyiv continues to court support among developing nations for its 21-month-old fight against Russia's invading forces. Milei welcomed Zelenskyy at the presidential palace after his inauguration. The two shared an extended hug, exchanged words and then Milei, who has said he intends to convert to Judaism, presented his Ukrainian counterpart with a menorah as a gift. They were expected to have a longer one-on-one meeting later on Sunday. A political outsider who has railed against what he calls entrenched official corruption in Argentina and promised to uproot the political establishment, Milei ran on a pro-Western foreign policy platform, repeatedly expressing distrust of Moscow and Beijing. Zelenskyy phoned Milei shortly after the Argentinian's electoral victory, thanking him

Biden invites Zelenskyy amid a stepped-up push for Congress to approve aid

President Joe Biden has invited Ukraine's leader, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, to the White House on Tuesday as the US administration steps up the pressure on Congress to provide billions more in aid to Kyiv in the war with Russia. The visit is intended "to underscore the United States' unshakeable commitment to supporting the people of Ukraine as they defend themselves against Russia's brutal invasion," the White House said in a statement Sunday. As Russia ramps up its missile and drone strikes against Ukraine, the leaders will discuss Ukraine's urgent needs and the vital importance of the United States' continued support at this critical moment." Biden has asked Congress for a USD 110 billion package of wartime funding for Ukraine (USD61.4 billion) and Israel, along with other national security priorities. But the request is caught up in a debate over US immigration policy and border security. Earlier, Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday defended the emergency sale to Israel of .

Ukraine war: Samarkand university sees rise in Indian MBBS students

With the war closing Ukraine's door for MBBS aspirants from India, 93-year-old State Samarkand Medical University in Uzbekistan is seeing an exponential rise in the number of Indian students. Till 2021, the public university used to receive around 100 to 150 Indian students and the number has gone up to 3,000 in 2023. The varsity has also accommodated over 1,000 Indian students who were earlier enrolled in various universities in Ukraine and had to leave their courses midway. The number of Indian students has risen exponentially and we are also making adequate arrangements to ensure the trend continues and the students do not have to face any discomfort," Dr Zafar Aminov, Vice Chancellor, State Samarkand Medical University told PTI. "We have hired over 40 teachers from India this year. Our teaching and learning in English only but we wanted to ensure that students do not find it difficult to deal with any difference in accent, Aminov said. This way, the teachers are culturally clos

US aid for Ukraine by yr-end seems out of reach as GOP ties it to security

A deal to provide further US assistance to Ukraine by year-end appears to be increasingly out of reach for President Joe Biden. The impasse is deepening in Congress despite dire warnings from the White House about the consequences of inaction as Republicans insist on pairing the aid with changes to America's immigration and border policies. After the Democratic president said this past week he was willing to make significant compromises on the border, Republicans quickly revived demands that they had earlier set aside, hardening their positions and attempting to shift the negotiations to the right, according to a person familiar with the talks who was not authorized to publicly discuss them and spoke on condition of anonymity. The latest proposal, from the lead GOP negotiator, Sen. James Lankford, R-Okla., came during a meeting with a core group of senators before they left Washington on Thursday afternoon. It could force the White House to consider ideas that many Democrats will ...

Ukraine condemns Russian presidential election bid in occupied territory

Ukraine on Saturday strongly condemned Russia's plans to hold presidential elections on occupied Ukrainian territory in the spring. Ukraine's Foreign Ministry called the planned elections null and void and pledged that any international observers sent to monitor them would face criminal responsibility. Lawmakers in Russia on Thursday set the country's 2024 presidential election for March 17. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday moved to prolong his repressive and unyielding grip on Russia for at least another six years, announcing his candidacy in the election. He is all but certain to win. Russian authorities plan to arrange voting in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia and Kherson territories Moscow illegally annexed from Ukraine in September last year but does not fully control together with the Crimean peninsula, which Russia illegally annexed in 2014. The announcement of the presidential election follows local elections for Russian-installed legislatures in occupied parts

Russia launches cruise missile barrage on Ukraine after extended pause

The air raid in Kyiv lasted for nearly two hours, but air defences successfully intercepted all missiles heading towards the capital, said Serhii Popko

'World is watching,' says US President Biden as Israel, Ukraine aids stall

Biden said he was willing to consider immigration policy changes to secure a deal, winning praise from a key Republican lawmaker

Russia intensifies attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities, say UN officials

Intensifying Russian attacks on Ukraine's energy facilities are worsening humanitarian conditions across the war-torn country, where heavy snow and freezing temperatures have already arrived, UN officials said Wednesday. Assistant Secretary-General Miroslav Jenca told the UN Security Council that Russia's continuing daily attacks on Ukraine's critical civilian infrastructure have resulted in civilian casualties, and Moscow recently escalated its barrages in populated areas including the capital, Kyiv. All attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure must stop immediately, he said. They are prohibited under international humanitarian law and are simply unacceptable. Jenca also raised the risks to all four of Ukraine's nuclear power plants. The Zaporizhzhia plant, which is Europe's largest, suffered its eighth complete off-site power outage since the invasion on Saturday, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency, Jenca said. And IAEA staff at the Khmelnitsky plant

Dutch govt pledges 2.5 bn euro for Ukraine; Zelensky to address US senators

The Dutch government has allocated 2.5 billion euros (nearly $2.7 billion) to support Ukraine in 2024, the country's foreign minister announced during a visit on Tuesday. The announcement comes as the 21-month war drags into another winter and concerns grow that Kyiv's war effort may falter without continued Western support. Foreign Minister Hanke Bruins Slot sought to assure Ukrainian authorities, telling journalists after a meeting with Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba: "My main message to Minister Kuleba was the same as to all of you here. Be assured of our support. Bruins Slot said her country opened a training centre for F-16s in Romania on Nov 13 and is working with the US, Denmark and other countries to see that Ukraine can deploy the fighter jets as soon as possible. Your security is our security, she said. She added that the meeting also touched on Ukraine's aspiration to become a member of the European Union: Your future is with us, she said. Kuleba said while me

Nepal urges Russia not to recruit its citizens into army; says six killed

The small Himalayan nation, wedged between China and India, has no such agreement with Russia, which invaded neighbouring Ukraine in February 2022 and has been engaged in a war since

US nearly out of funds for Ukraine aid, White House warns Congress

The Biden administration on Monday sent Congress an urgent warning about the need to approve tens of billions of dollars in military and economic assistance to Ukraine, saying Kyiv's war effort to defend itself from Russia's invasion may grind to a halt without it. In a letter to House and Senate leaders and also released publicly, Office of Management and Budget Director Shalanda Young warned the US will run out of funding to send weapons and assistance to Ukraine by the end of the year, saying that would kneecap Ukraine on the battlefield. She added that the US already has run out of money that it has used to prop up Ukraine's economy, and if Ukraine's economy collapses, they will not be able to keep fighting, full stop. We are out of money and nearly out of time, she wrote. Biden has sought a nearly USD 106 billion aid package for Ukraine, Israel and other needs, but it has faced a difficult reception on Capitol Hill, where there is growing scepticism about the magnitude of ...

Ukrainian diplomats negotiate climate change at COP28 summit in Dubai

While Ukrainian diplomats take part in negotiations at the United Nations COP28 climate talks, Russia's war on the country lurks just in the background even as the United Arab Emirates has seen its business ties to Moscow surge despite Western sanctions. As Ukraine announced a 450 million euro ($489 million) expansion Monday of a wind farm in its Mykolaiv region, officials highlighted how its turbines would be spread far enough apart to survive any Russian missile attack. They decried continued attacks by Moscow on its energy infrastructure as snow storms grip the country. And an American diplomat forcefully denounced Russian President Vladimir Putin at an event that's seen demonstrators stopped from naming Israel in their protests over its pounding airstrikes and ground offensive in the Gaza Strip against Hamas. The war in Ukraine Putin's invasion represents a fundamental challenge to the international system that the United States and our allies and partners are trying to build,

Nato should be prepared for bad news from Ukraine: Jens Stoltenberg

"I will leave it to the Ukrainians and military commanders to make these difficult operational decisions," Stoltenberg said