Five Russian missiles hit Kyiv when UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres wrapped up a visit to the Ukrainian capital on Thursday, President Vladimir Zelensky said. The strike was an obvious demonstration of force by the Kremlin against the UN chief, who met with Zelensky and called the war “absurd in the 21st century.” Otherwise, some kind of normalcy had returned to Kyiv, where fighting had subsided after Russian forces withdrew from its suburbs about a month ago.
Senior US officials are laying the groundwork for a different global security order and a potential protracted conflict in Ukraine. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken told US lawmakers that the world had changed dramatically since the February 24 invasion, and expressed Washington’s support for Finland and Sweden’s NATO membership. On the same day, President Biden asked Congress for another $ 33 billion to help Ukraine. U.S. officials say they want to not only help Ukraine survive, but also weaken Russia.
Russian forces in eastern Ukraine are moving forward at a pace of only a few kilometers a day and remain hampered by logistical challenges, the Pentagon said. According to Britain, Russian shelling continues in other parts of Donbass, which includes the Luhansk and Donetsk districts, where fighting has been “particularly fierce” around the cities of Lisichansk and Severodonetsk. Moscow has also transferred a significant number of troops from Mariupol to other battle zones, according to the Pentagon, although some Ukrainian forces remain in the Black Sea port city despite weeks of bombing.
Here’s what else you need to know
- The United States has said Russian intelligence was behind an attack this month on a Nobel laureate and prominent Russian editor who criticized the invasion.
- Congress passed legislation renewing the World War II military leasing program. The bill, which President Biden must sign to become law, will make it easier to send military equipment to Ukraine.
- Ukraine is stepping up its defense along the border with Transnistria, a pro-Russian breakaway region of Moldova, following recent unexplained explosions there.
- The Washington Post has removed its paid wall for readers in Russia and Ukraine. Telegram users can subscribe to our update channel.
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