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West pushes for more Ukraine military aid, not NATO membership

Western leaders are calling for continued military support to Ukraine as it battles Russia’s nearly 3-year invasion but are balking at the Kyiv government immediately joining NATO, the West’s main military alliance, for fear it would drag the allies into…

Biden seeking additional $24B to support Ukraine, replenish US weapons stockpiles

PENTAGON —  President Joe Biden has asked Congress for an additional $24 billion to support Ukraine and replenish U.S. weapons stockpiles, two U.S. officials tell VOA, as the administration continued Monday to push out new aid packages from the last…

German FM urges China to stop backing Russia, work for Ukraine peace

Beijing —  German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on Monday warned her Chinese counterpart that Beijing’s support for Moscow would impact ties and instead urged China to help end the Ukraine conflict. Speaking in Beijing, she said the over 1,000-day war…

Rights chief calls on Georgian authorities to protect basic freedoms

The legitimate protests were dispersed using disproportionate and, in some cases, unnecessary force by the police in the capital, Tbilisi, according to the statement from High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Türk. Dozens of protesters and media workers were reportedly…

Germany announces Ukraine military aid as chancellor makes Kyiv visit

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz pledged $680 million in military aid for Ukraine as he pledged support for the country during a visit Monday to Kyiv. Scholz said Ukraine can rely on Germany, and that his visit was meant to reinforce…

Art collection on 1930s Soviet-engineered famine gifted to Ukraine

The late American businessman Morgan Williams was deeply involved in promoting Ukrainian business as president of the US-Ukraine Business Council. During his time in Ukraine, Williams began collecting artwork related to the Holodomor, a famine engineered by Soviet leader Joseph…

Landmark climate change case to open at top UN court

The Hague —  The top United Nations court will take up the largest case in its history Monday, when it opens two weeks of hearings into what countries worldwide are legally required to do to combat climate change and help…

US will not return nuclear weapons to Ukraine

The United States is not considering returning to Ukraine the nuclear weapons it gave up after the Soviet Union collapsed, White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan said Sunday. Sullivan made his remarks when questioned about a New York Times…

Countries fail to reach agreement in UN plastic talks

BUSAN, SOUTH KOREA —  Countries negotiating a global treaty to curb plastic pollution failed to reach agreement on Monday, with more than 100 nations wanting to cap production while a handful of oil-producers were prepared only to target plastic waste….

Putin approves record Russian defense spending

KYIV, UKRAINE —  Russian President Vladimir Putin approved budget plans, raising 2025 military spending to record levels as Moscow seeks to prevail in the war in Ukraine. Around 32.5% of the budget posted on a government website Sunday has been…