FBI informant charged with lying about Biden family's ties to Ukrainian business
The informant, Alexander Smirnov, told his handler in summer 2020 that the Bidens sought two $5 million bribes from the energy firm Burisma in 2015 and 2016.
United States
Trump suggests providing Ukraine aid as loans
"Do it this way. Loan them the money. If they can make it, they pay us back. If they can't make it, they don’t have to pay us back," Donald Trump said on Feb. 14.
The Hill: US lawmakers mull 2 'plan Bs' for passing Ukraine aid
The Senate passed the $95 billion funding request, including assistance for Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan, earlier this week. Johnson said, however, he will not put the bill to the vote, arguing that the country should first address the growing number of migrants at the southern border.
Stoltenberg: US to remain staunch NATO ally
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg's statement during a Brussels press conference comes days after Donald Trump, the Republican Party's hopeful for the next U.S. president, raised concerns by anti-NATO comments.
Sullivan: Ukraine 'running out of ammunition' without US aid
Ukrainian troops began running out of ammunition as U.S. assistance has largely run out, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said on Feb. 14, urging Congress to pass additional funding.
ABC News: Alleged 'serious threat' to US national security relates to Russia's plans to put nuclear weapons in space
According to ABC News, Russia may want to use a nuclear weapon against satellites rather than drop it on the Earth. One of the media's sources called such reports "a big deal," which is "very concerning and very sensitive."
CNN: US Congress briefed on 'serious national security threat' allegedly linked to Russia
Mike Turner, the chair of the U.S. House of Representatives intelligence committee, provided information to all Congress members on a "serious national security threat," CNN reported on Feb. 14.
Austin: Ramstein summit to focus on artillery, air defenses for Ukraine
U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin on Feb. 14 opened the 19th Ramstein-format meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group (UDCG), which is being held in a hybrid format in-person in Brussels and online.
Blinken says he spoke with Paul Whelan, US citizen held in Russia
Speaking at a forum about hostage diplomacy, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he spoke with Paul Whelan on Feb. 12 but provided no further details.
Kremlin denies Reuters report that Putin proposed ceasefire to US
"No. It is not true," Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said of the report, which claimed that Russian President Vladimir Putin had proposed a ceasefire in Ukraine to the U.S.
Reuters: Russian officials claim that US rejected Putin's proposed peace talks
Both the Russian officials and an unnamed American source said that the U.S. ruled out holding any back channel peace talks that did not include Ukraine. The U.S. source also said it would not engage in official peace talks with Russia.
Biden: Trump's NATO comments dangerous, shameful, un-American
"For God’s sake, it’s dumb, it’s shameful, it’s dangerous, it’s un-American," U.S. President Joe Biden said.
US Defense Secretary Austin hospitalized again, passes duties to deputy
While in the hospital, Austin transferred his duties to Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks, said Pentagon spokesperson General Pat Ryder. The White House, Congress, and the chairperson of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were notified immediately, Ryder added.
Scholz meets with US senators in Washington ahead of talks with Biden
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that he had met with senators from both parties, writing on Twitter that "Ukraine needs all of our support in order to defend itself against Russia’s aggression."
Ukraine designates US-based manufacturer as international 'sponsor of war'
Allied Mineral Products, LLC manufactures a variety of refractory products, including heat-resistant materials that can be used in the production of military equipment.
German MP: Europe must be prepared for US failure to support Ukraine, regardless of who is president
Europe must be more prepared for the U.S. to fail to support Ukraine, regardless of whether Donald Trump is elected president, German Defense Committee Chair Marie-Agnes Strack-Zimmermann told German news outlet t-online on Feb. 8.
US Senate blocks Ukraine, Israel aid bill
A procedural vote on a bill that includes Ukraine aid, funds for Israel, and changes to U.S. border policy failed to get enough votes in the U.S. Senate on Feb. 7.
Bloomberg: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to push vote on Ukraine, Israel aid separate from border policy
Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans to push a vote on Ukraine and Israel aid separate from U.S. border funding, Bloomberg reported on Feb. 7, citing a senior Democratic aide.
Ukraine is about to get new US long-range bombs. How will it use them?
Striking Russian pressure points deep behind enemy lines has become a near-daily task for Ukraine — and the country’s long-range arsenal continues to grow to serve the purpose. Ukraine’s latest acquisition, the Ground-Launched Small Diameter Bomb, is due for its combat debut any day now. The GLSDB is the
White House threatens to veto standalone Israel aid bill proposed by Republicans
"The Administration strongly encourages both chambers of the Congress to reject this political ploy and instead quickly send the bipartisan Emergency National Security Supplemental Appropriations Act to the President's desk," the U.S. Office of Management and Budget said in a statement.
Kremlin declines to comment on US far-right commentator Carlson's reported visit to Moscow
Tucker Carlson was spotted in Moscow on Feb. 3 attending a ballet at the famed Bolshoi theater, the Russian Telegram channel Mash reported. As of Feb. 5, Carlson has not publicly commented on his alleged trip to Russia.
Speaker Johnson says bill on Ukraine aid, border security 'worse than expected'
The speaker of the U.S. House of Representatives, Mike Johnson, said on Feb. 5 that the recently unveiled bipartisan deal on Ukraine aid and border security is "worse than expected."
White House: EU funding for Ukraine no substitute for US leadership in military assistance
"But it's not a substitute for American leadership when it comes to security assistance. And that is why it’s so critical for us to continue to urge Congress to pass that national security supplemental," U.S. National Security Council spokesperson John Kirby said.
Opinion: Why supporting Ukraine enhances US national security
CAMBRIDGE – Observing Republican members of Congress oppose the extension of U.S. support to Ukraine, one cannot help but wonder what happened to one of the United States’ two major political parties. This includes those GOP politicians who, while ostensibly supportive of Ukraine, allow their colleagues to hold it hostage
Zakhar Tropin: Why Washington’s approach to punishing Russia won’t work
The U.S. State Department recently announced its support for the creation of a special tribunal to prosecute Russian crimes of aggression against Ukraine in a hybrid “internationalized” format. This move echoes the myopic policies of Western countries toward Ukraine and has very little legal grounding. From a legal standpoint,
US Ambassador to UN: Russia will be held accountable for its war crimes
U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield told journalists that Russia would ultimately be held accountable for its war crimes during her visit to Kyiv on Nov. 8. She said the U.S. had done everything possible to isolate Russia in the U.N.'s Security Council and General
Putin lashes out at West over sanctions, calls US 'fading world power’
In a 73-minute speech on June 17 at the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin lashed out at the U.S. for trying to “cancel” Russia, claiming it is a "fading world power" doomed to meet its imminent demise because of its “unipolar” policy. The speech was
Andriy Zagorodnyuk: ‘Those who say Ukraine can’t win don’t understand the situation'
A New York Times editorial article titled “The War in Ukraine Is Getting Complicated, and America Isn’t Ready,” published on May 19, immediately triggered a stir in Ukraine and beyond. Coming from a media outlet that has the reputation of being supportive of U.S. assistance to Ukraine against
Historic loss of flagship deals humiliating blow to Russia's naval power
The Russian-Ukrainian war has produced yet another hallmark event in the history of warfare. On April 14, after 49 days of Russia’s all-out war, Ukraine inflicted a devastating blow upon the Kremlin’s pride and the symbol of its naval power in the Black Sea. Missile cruiser Moskva, the
Q&A with US Chargé d’Affaires Kristina Kvien: ‘From now on, Russia will be a pariah state’
Editor's Note: Chargé d’Affaires Kristina Kvien has served as acting United States ambassador to Ukraine since January 2020. A week into Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, the Kyiv Independent talked to U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kristina Kvien about sanctions, Ukrainians courage and a no-fly zone over Ukraine.
Amid fierce defense, Ukraine foils Russian blitz victory plans
More than 72 hours after the start of the all-out invasion on Feb. 24, Russia has failed to inflict a quick defeat to Ukraine’s armed forces or gain a foothold in any of the country’s key cities. As of Feb. 27, all the biggest cities – Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv,
Putin sends troops to Kremlin-occupied Donbas
Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered to send troops into the Kremlin-occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk, in eastern Ukraine, after officially recognizing them as independent states. According to the decree signed by Putin on Feb. 21, the Kremlin has recognized the independence of the Russian-occupied Donbas and has ordered the
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