Russian Ukraine war

Swedish and Finnish delegations are in Turkey to discuss Ankara's concerns about their NATO membership bids.

The weapons: Ukraine is making use of weapons such as Javelin antitank missiles and Switchblade “kamikaze” drones, provided by the United States and other allies. The latest: President Biden signed a $40 billion package of new military and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine on Saturday while visiting South Korea, amid signs that the United States and its allies are preparing for a drawn-out conflict. The bill still needs to clear other legislative hurdles and receive Russian President Vladimir Putin’s signature before it becomes law. However, the commission noted that oligarchs often attempt to hide their ownership of assets and evade seizures, “for example, by taking a yacht into international waters.” This move extends an existing program that allowed people in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics to claim passports quickly. The investor, hedge fund manager and philanthropist urged Europe to reduce its dependence on Russian fossil fuels. “Repressive regimes are now in the ascendant, and open societies are under siege,” Soros said, naming China and Russia as the largest threats. But on Tuesday, Beaune sought to reassure Ukraine, telling reporters he is “convinced” the country will become an E.U. member and that the consortium suggestion was not intended as an alternative to that. Macron and his E.U. affairs minister, Clément Beaune, have also recently said Ukraine’s application process could take up to two decades. In NATO, it is unacceptable for allies to impose an embargo on each other, either explicitly or implicitly.” That means American banks will not be able to process debt payments when Russia tries to make them. Meanwhile, Russia is attempting to capture Ukraine’s eastern Luhansk region at all costs, with the strategic city of Severodonetsk “under enemy fire around-the-clock,” Sergei Haidai, the regional governor, said Wednesday. Civilians are sheltering in bomb shelters inside the Azot chemical plant, which has been hit by deadly strikes in recent days, Haidai added.