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☆ By passing Ukraine aid, the accidental speaker became an unlikely Churchill
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

CNN —Republican Speaker Mike Johnson showed political courage that is rare in Washington and notable legislative skill for an inexperienced leader in forcing a long-delayed $60 billion aid bill for Ukraine through the House of Representatives on Saturday. And 112 Republicans — a majority of the conference — voted against the Ukraine bill. And any Republican speaker propped up by Democrats might hemorrhage support among GOP lawmakers and be forced to resign. “As we deliberate on this vote, you have to ask yourself this question: Am I Chamberlain or Churchill?” he said. The accidental speaker makes an unlikely Churchill, but on Saturday he proved to be a far more daring and substantial figure than many of his Republican and Democratic critics previously believed.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Vladimir Putin, Ronald Reagan, Joe Biden’s, “, Donald Trump, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, ” CNN’s Frederik Pleitgen, Putin, —, Biden, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Greene, Johnson —, Kevin McCarthy’s, Marc Molinaro, CNN’s Manu Raju, Trump, Zelensky, Trump’s, Hakeem Jeffries, Mike Quigley, It’s, ” Quigley, Chuck Schumer, Jeffries, Mike McCaul, ‘, it’s, McCaul, Chamberlain, Churchill Organizations: CNN, West, GOP, America, MAGA, United States House, Representatives, Ukraine, Republican Party, Trump, Republicans, Georgia, Mar, Democratic, Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Illinois Democrat, Foreign, Texas Republican, Republican Locations: Washington, Ukraine, Russian, Louisiana, United States, Russia, Europe, Iran, China, Israel, Taiwan, Mexico, Georgia, New York, Kyiv, Texas, Nazi Germany

☆ ‘Ghostly’ city: How Russia’s war in Ukraine is taking a toll on its own Belgorod region
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Anna Chernova | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +12 min

In recent weeks, the Belgorod region has been subject to almost daily shelling and drone attacks. Russian authorities blame Ukraine and report having repelled the attacks, while also admitting destruction and casualties caused by them. The Belgorod region has borne the brunt of the war compared to more distant Russian regions, which have been relatively untouched. The governor of Belgorod region, Vyacheslav Gladkov, said on March 23 that 24 people had been killed and 152 injured in the span of less than two weeks. Following a major air attack on Ukraine by Russia overnight into December 29, Kyiv retaliated a day later by targeting the Belgorod region.

Persons: Vyacheslav Gladkov, ‘, Timur Khaliullin, ” Khaliullin, “, Khaliullin, Natalia Izotova, ”, Izotova, Gladkov, Kyiv's, Emil Leegunov, we’ve, It’s, ” Elizaveta, Yevhen Titov, Vasily, we’re, ” Vasily, Vladimir Putin, ” Izotova Organizations: CNN, Belgorod Philharmonic, Kyiv, Getty, Victory, Nazi, Reuters, Belgorod Locations: Belgorod, Russia’s, Ukraine, Russia, ”, Russia, Russian, Anadolu, Elizaveta, Kharkiv, Ukraine’s, St, Petersburg, Bryansk, Makhachkala, Grayvoron, Nazi Germany, Ukrainian

☆ House Approves $95 Billion Aid Bill for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The House voted resoundingly on Saturday to approve $95 billion in foreign aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as Speaker Mike Johnson put his job on the line to advance the long-stalled aid package by marshaling support from mainstream Republicans and Democrats. Minutes before the vote on assistance for Kyiv, Democrats began to wave small Ukrainian flags on the House floor, as hard-right Republicans jeered. The legislation includes $60 billion for Kyiv; $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific region. It would direct the president to seek repayment from the Ukrainian government of $10 billion in economic assistance, a concept supported by former President Donald J. Trump, who had pushed for any aid to Kyiv to be in the form of a loan. But it also would allow the president to forgive those loans starting in 2026.

Persons: resoundingly, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Republicans jeered, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Republicans, Russia, Mr Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Gaza, Kyiv

☆ House Set to Vote on Foreign Aid Bills for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Catie Edmondson | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The House on Saturday was heading toward passage of a $95 billion foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as Speaker Mike Johnson put his job on the line to advance the long-stalled legislation in defiance against hard-liners from his own party. Lawmakers were expected on Saturday afternoon to vote separately on aid for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan, as well as on another bill that includes a measure that could result in a nationwide ban of TikTok and new sanctions on Iran. Each of the aid bills for the three nations is expected to pass overwhelmingly, and the Senate is expected to take it up quickly and send the legislation to President Biden’s desk, capping its tortured path to enactment. The legislation includes $60 billion for Kyiv; $26 billion for Israel and humanitarian aid for civilians in conflict zones, including Gaza; and $8 billion for the Indo-Pacific. But the legislation also would allow the president to forgive those loans starting in 2026.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson, Biden’s, Donald J, Trump Organizations: Lawmakers Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Iran, Gaza

☆ American sniper in Ukraine says his unit prefers Soviet-era rifles because bullets are easier to find and they can take them from the Russians
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-20 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

Read previewAn American veteran fighting in Ukraine said soldiers in his unit prefer to use Soviet-era rifles over modern ones because it's easier to find ammunition, including by taking it from the Russians. Jonathan Poquette is currently serving as a sniper in Ukraine, and he said that his unit prefers AK-74 rifles, which are chambered for 5.45×39mm rounds. He said that the prolific availability of older rifles among Ukraine's soldiers was also partly an issue with Ukraine's planning. This has also included ammunition from defeated Russian soldiers, or that fleeing Russians have left behind. Ukraine's ammunition shortagesUkraine is suffering from extensive shortages of ammunition and weaponry that have had serious ramifications all along the front lines.

Persons: —, Jonathan Poquette, Poquette, Nuzhnenko, Kalashnikov, Oleksandr Ratushniak, Volodymyr Zekenskyy, Frederick Kagan, Serhii Mykhalchuk Organizations: Service, Business, AK, Radio Free, Radio Liberty, REUTERS Poquette, Chosen Company, 59th Motorized Brigade, NATO, US, REUTERS, Artillery Rocket Systems, EU Locations: Ukraine, Ukrainian, Soviet Union, Russian, Bakhmut, Radio Free Europe, Kyiv, Chasiv Yar, Donetsk region, Russia, Europe, Czech Republic

☆ Ukraine says it took out one of Russia's supersonic strategic bombers for the first time
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-19 | by ( Cameron Manley | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +1 min

Ukraine claims to have shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber in war first. The bomber was on its way to attack Ukraine, said the air forces. download the app Email address Sign up By clicking “Sign Up”, you accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy . AdvertisementUkraine has shot down a Russian Tu-22M3 supersonic bomber for the first time since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, Kyiv's military intelligence said. In a statement released early Friday, the Main Intelligence Directorate of Ukraine (GUR) said it had taken out one of the strategic long-range bombers that had "launched a missile attack against Ukraine on the night of April 19."

Persons: —, GUR Organizations: Service, Main Intelligence, Business Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Russia's Stavropol, Russia

Ahead of the encroaching Russian forces, Ukrainian volunteers have been evacuating civilians from Ocheretyne and other villages, posting videos on social media showing older residents leaving badly destroyed apartment buildings, along with their pets, and with belongings packed into cardboard boxes. A photograph taken on April 11, 2024, near the town of Chasiv Yar, in Donetsk region, shows smoke rising from fires after bombing. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty ImagesAbout 40 kilometers (25 miles) north of Ocheretyne, on another piece of higher ground, the town of Chasiv Yar is also firmly in Russian sights. “The situation around the town of Chasiv Yar is difficult,” Nazar Voloshyn, spokesman for the Ukrainian Ground Forces’ “Khortytsia” operational-strategic group, told CNN. Ukraine’s vulnerability in the face of the FAB threat highlights another huge need for Kyiv – more air defenses.

Persons: Oleksandr Syrskyi, Novokalynovo, Boris Rozhin, Anatolii Stepanov, Velyka, Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Mike Johnson, Jake Tapper, “, Vladimir Putin doesn’t, Lloyd Austin, Chasiv Yar, ” Nazar Voloshyn, Yurii Fedorenko, Yar, Chasiv, ” Voloshyn, Zelensky, Victoria Butenko Organizations: CNN, Ukrainian, United States Congress, Russian, Getty, Ukraine’s Eastern Command, ” Artillery, US, House Defense, House, Ukrainian Armed Forces, Kremlin, Nazi, Ukrainian Ground Forces, Separate Assault Brigade, Reuters, Ukrainian Telegram, FAB, Kyiv, NATO Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Ocheretyne, Avdiivka, Ukrainian, Novokalynove, Donetsk, Ocheretyno, AFP, Tonenke, Pokrovsk, Europe, Russia’s, Chasiv, Nazi Germany, Kalynivka, Ivanivske, Zaporizhzhia region, Chasiv Yar, Kharkiv

Kyiv, Ukraine CNN —Ukraine’s air defenders say they notched up two significant firsts on Friday morning, taking down a Russian Tu22M3 strategic bomber and hitting two Kh-22 hypersonic cruise missiles in flight. Ukraine’s air force said six Kh-22 missiles were launched overnight from Russian bombers flying over the Black Sea and the nearby Sea of Azov – out of a total of 22 missiles and 14 Shahed drones fired overall. A military source told CNN a Patriot air defense system had been responsible for the two successful Kh-22 interceptions. Russia has fired hundreds of them at Ukrainian targets since the start of the full-scale invasion two years ago, according to air force information – all of which had evaded air defense until now. Anatolii Stepanov/AFP/Getty ImagesFatalities in Dnipropetrovsk regionAs well as the six Kh-22 missiles fired overnight, Russia fired 16 other missiles at Ukraine, including two Iskander K cruise missiles, in addition to 14 Shahed drones.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, ”, Anatolii Stepanov Organizations: Ukraine CNN —, CNN, Patriot, Defense Intelligence, ” Russia’s Defense Ministry, Tass, Kyiv, Getty Locations: Kyiv, Ukraine, Russian, Dnipropetrovsk, Azov, Russia, Germany, Soviet, Russia’s Stavropol, Dnipro, AFP, Dnipropetrovsk region, Synelnykove

☆ Here’s How Johnson’s Jigsaw Puzzle of a Foreign Aid Plan Would Work
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Robert Jimison | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

The House is set to vote this weekend on a foreign aid package for Ukraine, Israel and Taiwan that has been stalled for months. The strategy is designed to capitalize on the distinct bases of political support for the various pieces of the foreign aid package, worth $95.3 billion, without allowing opposition to any one element defeat the whole thing. Mr. Johnson regards it as a necessity given his vanishingly slim majority and the large number of Republicans who staunchly oppose sending aid to Ukraine. He will need to rely on support from Democrats not only to win passage of the funding for Kyiv, but also to prevail on a procedural vote needed to bring the package to the floor. On Thursday, Mr. Johnson was working to get that procedural measure through the House Rules Committee, where three Republicans have said they will block it, meaning that Democratic support would be needed just to get it out of committee.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Johnson Organizations: Republican, Kyiv, Democratic Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Louisiana

☆ Ukraine says it took out prized Russian S-400 launchers with a strike on a base in Crimea
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Jake Epstein | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Ukraine said its forces took out multiple S-400 launchers during an attack on a Russian base. The strikes on the Dzhankoi base in Crimea this week destroyed or damaged four launchers, Kyiv said. The S-400 is a prized Russian air-defense system, and relatively few have been lost during the war. AdvertisementUkraine's military intelligence agency says Kyiv took out several of Russia's prized S-400 air-defense launchers during an attack on an airbase in the occupied Crimean peninsula this week. "The occupiers believed in their newest air-defense system so much that they placed warehouses with missiles directly next to the launcher," Atesh claimed in a Telegram statement.

Persons: —, Ukraine's, 🇺🇦 @ Organizations: Service, Ukrainian, Directorate of Intelligence, Business Locations: Ukraine, Crimea, Russian, Crimean

☆ A NATO state said it could buy Patriot systems for Ukraine from countries not prepared to give them directly
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Read previewOne of Ukraine's main European allies said it could buy US-made Patriot air-defense systems from other countries to send on to Ukraine. Ukraine is searching for more Patriot systems as it runs low on air defenses to stop Russian attacks. AdvertisementThe US-made MIM-104 Patriot missile system is a ground-based, mobile surface-to-air missile battery. REUTERS/Yevhen KotenkoGermany announced over the weekend that it would give Ukraine another Patriot system. AdvertisementHe said he "struggles to understand" some allies' resistance to giving Ukraine at least one of their Patriot systems.

Persons: —, Mark Rutte, Jens Stoltenberg, Yevhen Kotenko, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, they've, Stoltenberg Organizations: Service, The, Guardian, Business, REUTERS, NATO, Patriot, Patriots Locations: Ukraine, The Netherlands, Warsaw, Poland, Russian, Kyiv, Yevhen, Yevhen Kotenko Germany

☆ CIA director warns Ukraine could lose war with Russia by the end of the year unless US sends more aid
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Katie Bo Lillis | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +3 min

CNN —CIA Director Bill Burns on Thursday warned that unless US sends more military support, Ukraine could “lose” the war against Russia by the end of the year. His comments mark one of the starkest warnings to date from the Biden administration on the stakes in Ukraine as Congress debates whether to approve a long-delayed aid package to Kyiv. In an effort to satisfy divided factions of the GOP, some of whom support and some of whom oppose aid for Ukraine, he has split the legislation into separate bills and the Ukraine aid portion is expected to come up for a vote on Saturday night. That would still be deemed “a loss.”Burns detailed the dire need for basic ammunition that Ukraine faces on the battlefield. He recounted two battalions — 2,000-plus man units — that had “15 artillery rounds per day” and “a grand total of 42 mortar rounds,” respectively.

Persons: Bill Burns, “, Biden, Burns, —, George W, ” Burns, ”, Putin, Mike Johnson Organizations: CNN, CIA, US, Senate Intelligence Committee, — “, Bush, Israel, GOP, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Kyiv, — “ Ukraine, Israel, Moscow, Crimea, Ukrainian, Russian

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Russia fends off drone, missile and 'balloon' attack; Ukraine says it deserves same support as Israel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-18 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

It's been a difficult week for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as he continues to plead with the country's allies for more military aid, air defenses and backing to help beat Russia. Kyiv has watched how Israel's Western partners actively intervened last Saturday to help to defend the state from a massive Iranian drone and missile strike, with many of the projectiles intercepted by U.S., British, French and Jordanian forces. Although he has to tread a fine line between maintaining their support and goodwill, and campaigning for deeper assistance, Zelenskyy echoed that sentiment when addressing EU leaders Wednesday night. "We are still convincing that we need to protect Europe from ballistic missiles and 'Shaheds' [Iranian-made drones], from cruise missiles and bombs, as it happened in the skies of Israel and other countries in the region. Our Ukrainian sky and the sky of our neighbors deserve the same security," he said.

Persons: It's, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Israel, — Holly Ellyatt Organizations: Russia, U.S, NBC Locations: Jordanian, Ukraine, U.S, Europe, East, Brussels, Israel

☆ Ukraine was in trouble already — now it openly admits it's on track to lose
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Tom Porter | Mia Jankowicz | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +11 min

On the front line in east and south Ukraine, reports say the situation is increasingly desperate, with Russia outfiring Ukraine at a rate of three to one. Senior Ukrainian military officials, talking to Politico, said that Russia could break through wherever it focuses its anticipated summer offensive. AdvertisementThe role of the WestUkraine is on a "starvation diet" for aid, George Barros, an expert at the Institute for the Study of War, told BI. Anadolu/Getty ImagesAnalysts also say that weaknesses in Russia's military are limiting the Kremlin's ability to take advantage of the situation. "For Ukraine to suffer total defeat, we'd need to see a major collapse in Ukrainian lines and morale," he said.

Persons: —, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy, Dmytro Kuleba, Bryden Spurling, George Barros, BI's Sinéad Baker, Barros, ATACMS, Klaus, Dietmar Gabbert, we've, Justin Bronk, Ukraine —, Politico —, Mykola Bielieskov, Spurling, George Beebe, Beebe, Ukraine it's, ferociously Organizations: Service, Republicans, Business, Patriots, Politico, Russia outfiring, Ukrainian, RAND Corporation, AP, US State Department, Institute for, Leopard, Getty, London's Royal United Services Institute, Ukraine, National Institute for Strategic Studies, Fleet, Anadolu Locations: Russian, Ukraine, Russia, Russia outfiring Ukraine, Iran, North Korea, West Ukraine, Avdiivka, Zaporizhzhia, Ukrainian, NATO, Kyiv, Avdiivkva, Dnipro

☆ Short on rockets, Ukraine has had to get 'more selective' with its HIMARS attacks, soldier says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +7 min

He said his unit had good support from HIMARS — a long-range, high-precision rocket launcher that can hit targets 50 miles away — but its effectiveness was degraded as rockets ran low. AdvertisementUkrainian soldiers watch a rocket fire from a HIMARS launcher in May 2023 in Donetsk Oblast, Ukraine. AdvertisementCongress approved $300 million for Ukraine last month, which would have included HIMARS rockets. M142 HIMARS launches a rocket on Russian position on December 29, 2023 in Unspecified, Ukraine. "Support Ukraine, help us win this war."

Persons: —, Jonathan Poquette, it's, Serhii Mykhalchuk, Poquette, we're, Diego Herrera Carcedo, we'd, Christopher G Organizations: Service, Business, Artillery Rocket Systems, Company, Ukraine's 59th Motorized Brigade, Ukraine, Getty, Republicans, Hudson Institute, US European Command, NATO's, US Locations: Ukraine, Ukraine's, Donetsk Oblast, Ukrainian, Russia, Donetsk, US, Kyiv, Bakhmut, Anadolu

☆ Front-line NATO countries will be staring down a 'battle-hardened Russia' able to more easily strike if Ukraine falls, war analyst warns
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Ella Sherman | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

If Ukraine loses to Russia, NATO forces would face an emboldened Russian military, war experts say. AdvertisementIf Ukraine loses to Russia, NATO countries could consequently find themselves facing an emboldened, "battle-hardened" Russian army with a clearer path to war, an analyst argues. Able to overrun a defeated Ukraine, Russia would be threatening parts of the alliance that haven't faced a Russian threat since the fall of the Soviet Union. AdvertisementIn that dire scenario, "NATO troops, inexperienced in fighting modern mechanized war, would be staring down a battle-hardened Russian military, emboldened from its victory in Ukraine," Kagan wrote. Zelenskyy has repeatedly said that helping Ukraine fight Russia today keeps NATO from having to fight it later.

Persons: —, Fredrick W, Kagan, haven't, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Zelenskyy Organizations: NATO, Service, Soviet Union, Russia, PBS Locations: Ukraine, Russia, NATO, Poland, Romania, Slovakia, Baltic, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Soviet, Russian, Moscow, Kyiv

☆ Ukraine says it used 7 exploding drones to take out a $100 million Russian radar system
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Matthew Loh | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Ukraine said on Tuesday that it used 7 exploding drones to destroy a Russian radar system. Ukrainian media said the destroyed system was a Nebo-U, which monitors hundreds of miles of airspace. Ukraine assessed that the Nebo-U, downed by cheap drones, was worth $100 million. Ukrainian outlets reported that the destroyed Nebo-U was worth about $100 million. Multiple variations of the Nebo, which translates to "sky" in Russian, are used by Russian air and ground forces.

Persons: —, Yemen's Organizations: Service, Security Service of Ukraine, Kyiv Independent, Ukrainska Pravda, Kyiv, Business, Hamas Locations: Ukraine, Russian, Nebo, Bryansk, Russia, Belgorod, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Rostov, Israel, Red

CNN —A Russian missile strike killed and injured more than 70 people in the city of Chernihiv in northern Ukraine – an attack that could have been prevented if Ukraine was provided with better air defenses, President Volodomyr Zelensky said. At least 14 people were killed in the strike and 61 others were injured, including two children, Ukraine’s emergency services said. Russia’s strike comes after Zelensky has for months warned that Ukraine lacks the air defenses necessary to protect its skies. “This would not have happened if Ukraine had received a sufficient number of air defense systems and if the world’s determination to counter Russian terror had been sufficient,” Zelensky said. There must be equally sufficient determination from our partners and, as a result, sufficient support.”More than 70 people were killed and injured in the Russian strike.

Persons: Volodomyr Zelensky, Alina Mykolayets, Russia’s, Zelensky, ” Zelensky, “, Valentyn Ogirenko Organizations: CNN, Reuters, PBS Locations: Russian, Chernihiv, Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia

☆ Ukraine war live updates: Putin gives first comments on Iran attack; Ukraine 'ran out of missiles' to stop power plant destruction
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Holly Ellyatt | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +1 min

Russian President Vladimir Putin has given his first comments on the Iranian attack on Israel, calling on all sides to exercise restraint in order to avoid a major regional confrontation. The Kremlin said Putin and his Iranian counterpart, Ebrahim Raisi, had spoken on the phone Tuesday, discussing Israel’s airstrike on a Iranian diplomatic mission in Damascus and Iran’s "retaliation measures," referring to Tehran's massive drone and missile strike on Israel last Saturday. As the world awaits Israel's reaction to the attack, the Kremlin said "Putin expressed hope that all sides will exercise sensible restraint and will not allow a new round of confrontation that may be fraught with disastrous consequences for the entire region." The Kremlin said that Putin believed that the "unresolved Palestinian-Israeli conflict was the root cause of the current developments in the Middle East." In other news, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine "ran out of missiles" to stop a Russian strike destroying a Ukrainian thermal power plant near the capital Kyiv last week.

Persons: Vladimir Putin, Putin, Ebrahim Raisi, Volodymyr Zelenskyy Organizations: Kremlin, Israel Locations: Israel, Damascus, Ukraine, Russian, Kyiv

☆ Russia has Ukraine outgunned 10 to 1 on artillery, and 30 to 1 on its airforce, Zelenskyy says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Sinéad Baker | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Russia is firing 10 times more artillery than Ukraine, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. Russia also has 30 times more aircraft, he said, in a worrying sign for the country. Ukraine is suffering critical shortages with US aid stalled, and has warned it may need to retreat. AdvertisementThe US is the single biggest donor to Ukraine, but billions in further aid to Ukraine is stalled in Congress. Zelenskyy warned in March that Ukraine would have to start retreating if no new aid came from Congress.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelenskyy, —, Zelenskyy, We're, Jonathan Poquette Organizations: Service, PBS, Republicans, Ukraine Locations: Russia, Ukraine, Avdiivka

☆ Mike Johnson: Doing ‘the right thing’ may cost the speaker his gavel
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Stephen Collinson | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +11 min

CNN —It took less than six months for Speaker Mike Johnson to reach his existential moment. His tiny majority means he can’t afford to lose more than one GOP vote to pass a bill on a party-line vote. But a GOP speaker dependent on Democratic votes will be seen by many Republicans as a tool of the minority party and would be on borrowed time. In this way, those who oppose Ukraine aid on principle could vote against it, allowing Democrats who support it to ensure its passage. These are important responsibilities,” Johnson told Tapper.

Persons: Mike Johnson, Kevin McCarthy, Paul Ryan, John Boehner –, Johnson, ” Johnson, CNN’s Jake Tapper, Marjorie Taylor Greene, Thomas Massie of, Donald Trump’s, Trump, Greene, Chip Roy, Roy, ”, –, CNN’s Manu Raju, ’ Johnson, he’s, Tapper, “, Dan Crenshaw, CNN’s Raju, Johnson “, ” Trump, hasn’t, bankrolling, Dwight Eisenhower, George W, Bush, Vladimir Putin doesn’t, We’re, Putin, Xi, Lloyd Austin, Biden, he’d Organizations: CNN, Louisiana Republican, Republicans, Texas Rep, Democratic, GOP, White, Texas GOP, Lago, Trump, Senate, “, ”, House Defense Locations: Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, Thomas Massie of Kentucky, Mexico, Kyiv, Washington, Texas, Mar, Trumpism, Europe, Iran, North Korea, British, Jordanian, Russia, Russia’s, United States

☆ Russian Missile Strikes North of Kyiv Kill at Least 14, Ukraine Says
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-17 | by ( Maria Varenikova | Marc Santora | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +1 min

At least 14 people were killed and scores more injured when three Russian missiles struck a busy downtown district of Chernihiv, north of Kyiv, just before noon on Wednesday, Ukrainian officials said. President Volodymyr Zelensky said the death toll, reported by the office of Ukraine’s prosecutor general, might rise and blamed Ukraine’s lack of air defenses for the loss of life. The prosecutor general said that 61 people were reported injured. “This would not have happened if Ukraine had received enough air defense equipment and if the world’s determination to counter Russian terror was also sufficient,” Mr. Zelensky said in a statement. Ukrainian officials did not comment on the apparent attack, but Russian military bloggers affiliated with the Kremlin reported that Ukrainian missiles had struck locations around the air base in Dzhankoi, Crimea.

Persons: Volodymyr Zelensky, Ukraine’s, Mr, Zelensky, ” Organizations: Kremlin, Ukrainian Locations: Russian, Chernihiv, Kyiv, Ukraine, Crimean, Ukrainian, Dzhankoi, Crimea

CNN —A lack of air defenses meant Ukraine was powerless to prevent a Russian airstrike last week that destroyed the biggest power plant in Kyiv region, President Volodomyr Zelensky said. Russia fired 11 missiles towards the Trypilska power plant, Zelensky said. We ran out of all missiles,” Zelensky told PBS NewsHour in an interview that aired Monday. Zelensky questioned why Israel has enjoyed such comprehensive support from NATO members despite not being a member of the alliance. The NATO allies, including NATO countries, have been defending Israel.

Persons: Volodomyr Zelensky, Zelensky, ” Zelensky, Zelenksy, Iran’s, wouldn’t, ”, Israel, Mike Johnson, Johnson, Anna Rose Layden Organizations: CNN, PBS, House Republicans, NATO, Conference, “ Locations: Ukraine, Kyiv, Russia, Ukrainian, United States, Israel, Iran, Jordanian, Taiwan, Washington ,

☆ Middle East Crisis Global Leaders Press Iran and Israel to Avoid Escalation
▼ + stars: | 2024-04-16 | by ( Cassandra Vinograd | ) www.nytimes.com time to read: +4 min

“When rockets fly in Israel, the whole world writes about it,” said Amil Nasirov, a 29-year-old singer. “And it’s like some devaluation of Ukrainian lives.”Ukraine has begged since the outset of Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022 for more tools to close its sky to Russian missiles. Ukrainian officials noted the role that fighter jets played in defending Israel as a sign of their importance in air defense. “That would be a danger of escalation.”The United States remains the chief supplier of the munitions for Ukraine’s best air defense systems. In the intervening months, Ukraine’s air defenses have been critically depleted, while Russia has greater success in using air power to advance on the front line, attack Ukraine’s energy grid and inflict more casualties against civilians.

Persons: Sergiy, “, ”, Amil Nasirov, Biden, Volodymyr Zelensky, ” Mr, Zelensky, David Cameron, Cameron, Britain’s, Liubov Sholudko Organizations: United Nations, Patriot, NATO, Britain’s LBC, Ukraine Locations: Ukraine, Russia, Israel, United States, Britain, France, Iran, Washington, Russian, Moscow, Ukrainian, Kharkiv, Germany, Europe

Speaker Mike Johnson on Monday said he planned this week to advance a long-stalled national security spending package to aid Israel, Ukraine and other American allies, along with a separate bill aimed at mollifying conservatives who have been vehemently opposed to backing Kyiv. It came days after Iran launched a large aerial attack on Israel, amplifying calls for Congress to move quickly to approve the pending aid bill. lawmakers on his plan, Mr. Johnson said he would cobble together a legislative package that roughly mirrors the $95 billion aid bill the Senate passed two months ago but that is broken down into three pieces. Lawmakers would vote separately on a bill providing money for Israel, one allocating funding for Ukraine and a third with aid for Taiwan and other allies. “We know that the world is watching us to see how we react,” Mr. Johnson told reporters.

Persons: Mike Johnson, G.O.P, Johnson, “, Mr, Putin, Xi, ” Organizations: Congress, Israel, Ukraine, Republicans Locations: Israel, Ukraine, Iran, Taiwan, America

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