Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelensky said he spoke with House Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) about his country’s “defense needs and capabilities” and thanked him for “untiring bipartisan support.” from United States. Zelensky again invited McCarthy, whose party includes influential members who are skeptical of continued US assistance, to visit Ukraine. The speaker’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment overnight.
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin is in Europe this week for meetings including a Ukraine Defense Contact Group meeting at Ramstein airbase in Germany. The group is made up of senior defense officials from countries that support Kiev against Moscow’s aggression.
Here is the latest on the war and its effects around the world.
Analysis of our correspondents
Lula, on a visit to China last week, accused the United States and the European Union of “fomenting war,” urging them to stop and instead “start talking about peace.” John Kirby, White House National Security Council spokesman told reporters in Washington that “in this case, Brazil is parroting Russian and Chinese propaganda without looking at the facts at all.”
The Brazilian leader’s comments were welcomed by Moscow. “Regarding the process in Ukraine, we are grateful to our Brazilian friends for their excellent understanding of the genesis of this situation,” said Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, who was in Brasilia this week as part of a four-nation tour of the Americas. Latina.
