US, G7 Pledge Billions To Ukraine As Battles Rage
As battles raged, the U.S. Senate approved nearly $40 billion in aid for Ukraine, sending the bill to the White House for President Joe Biden to sign.
Ukraine
Red Cross registers Mariupol POWs as hundreds more surrender
Hundreds more fighters have emerged from the Mariupol stronghold where they made their last stand and surrendered, Russia said Thursday, and the Red Cross worked to register them as prisoners of war, as the end of a key battle in the conflict drew closer.
CPAC In Hungary Amid Security Concerns
America’s Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) is holding its first-ever meeting in Europe to strengthen global ties despite security concerns surrounding delegates.
Russia uses new generation of laser weapons in Ukraine
Russia on Wednesday said it was using a new generation of powerful laser weapons in Ukraine to burn up drones.
Gantz in Washington to discuss Iran and Russia with Pentagon chief Austin
Israel’s Defense Minister Benny Gantz is in Washington to meet US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, amid Israeli-Russian tensions and Iran’s close proximity to producing a nuclear bomb, i24 News reports. The meeting will be held on Thursday and will focus on joint Israeli-US security cooperation.
Hungary’s Orban Warns Of Decade Of War And Attacks Against Christians
Hungary’s Parliament approved the new government’s structure Tuesday after re-elected Prime Minister Viktor Orbán warned of “a decade of war” in which the European Union tries to obliterate Christianity.
Turkey Says No To Finland, Sweden NATO membership
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says he will not approve of Sweden and Finland obtaining NATO membership.
Sweden, Finland To Join NATO
Sweden and Finland confirmed Sunday that they would apply for membership in the NATO military alliance in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. In Sweden, the ruling Social Democrats said they backed joining the world’s most powerful security organization.
Russia reportedly fires at Israeli jets
In what may indicate a serious shift in Russia’s previously cordial attitude toward Israel, Russian forces on the ground reportedly fired at Israeli jets while they were carrying out airstrikes on Iranian terrorist targets in Syria last week, CBN News reports.
Putin warns Russia will respond if NATO strengthens Sweden and Finland militarily
Russian President Vladimir Putin warned the West Monday that Russia would “certainly” respond if the military capabilities of Sweden and Finland are bolstered following their decision to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), Reuters reports.
McDonald’s Sells Business In Russia Amid Global Worries
McDonald’s, the U.S. fast-food franchise which came to symbolize American capitalism and even a peace theory, is selling its business in Russia.
Finland Formally Applies For NATO Membership
Finland has formally applied for membership of the NATO military alliance citing concerns about the Russian invasion of Ukraine, where Russian troops face stiff resistance in the east.
Hungary “Praised” For Blocking EU Sanctions Against Patriarch
Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II of the Syriac Orthodox Church has thanked Hungary for not supporting European Union sanctions against the Russian Orthodox Church leader.
Sen. Rand Paul Blocks $40B for Ukraine: ‘We Cannot Save Ukraine by Dooming the U.S. Economy’
“My oath of office is to the U.S. Constitution, not to any foreign nation,” Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) said in a speech on the Senate floor Thursday, as some of his fellow Republicans urged immediate passage of a bill — this one totaling $40 billion — to fund U.S. assistance for the situation in Ukraine.
Hungary’s First Female President Condemns Russia At Inauguration
Hungary’s first female and youngest-ever president was inaugurated Saturday during church-backed ceremonies where she condemned the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
NATO To Discuss Finland, Sweden Membership
Foreign ministers from NATO are gathering in Berlin as Finland and Sweden move closer to joining the Western military alliance despite warnings from Moscow amid the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Putin’s War Backfiring as NATO Now Set to Expand with New Additions Like Finland, Sweden
Vladimir Putin’s war on Ukraine is backfiring, big time. By invading Ukraine, Putin intended to keep NATO from expanding along Russia’s border. Instead, the opposite is unfolding. Today, Finland announced that it wants to join NATO, and Sweden is expected to follow.
G7 Gathers For Three Days Dominated By Talk Of Ukraine War
Foreign ministers and representatives from the Group of Seven leading industrialized nations (G7) gathered on Germany’s Baltic coast on May 12 for a three-day meeting dominated by the Russian invasion of Ukraine and its wider impact, including on food and energy supplies.
Sri Lanka Has New Leader As Violence Spreads
Bankrupt Sri Lanka appointed a new prime minister hoping to quell worsening civil unrest in which at least nine people died this week, and more than 300 were injured.
Wives Ukraine Soldiers Ask Pope To Save Their Husbands’ Lives
The wives of two Ukrainian fighters still holed up in the steel plant of Ukraine’s bombed-out city of Mariupol’s begged Pope Francis to save their lives.