UK calls for increased sanctions on Russia, US aid package for Ukraine is blocked

“I call on my counterparts from the G7 countries, including the United States, Canada, Great Britain, Germany, Italy, France and Japan, to commit to extending sanctions as long as Russian troops remain. in Ukraine. I want the countries to agree that sanctions will remain in place until there is a complete and peaceful withdrawal of troops, as well as financial and technical support to help Ukraine rebuild the country.” , Sky News news agency quoted Ms. Truss as saying.

“To help Ukraine, we need to act further and faster. Ukraine’s best long-term security will come from being able to fend for itself. This means providing Ukraine with ‘a clear path’ to access military equipment that meets the standards of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO)”, he added.

It is expected that Ms. Truss will have a meeting with the foreign ministers of NATO countries tomorrow (May 14) in Berlin, Germany. There, the British foreign secretary will call on allies to “develop, strengthen and modernize NATO, to be ready to deal with global threats”.

According to Sky News, British Foreign Secretary Truss’ comments came in the context of Finnish leadership officials earlier on the same day announcing that the country would apply to join NATO.

“Finland must apply to join NATO immediately. We hope that the steps needed to make this decision will be taken expeditiously within the next few days. NATO membership will strengthen Finland’s security, and Finland’s membership will strengthen this entire defense alliance,” said a joint statement issued by Finnish President Sauli Niinisto and Prime Minister. General Sanna Marin announced on May 12.

US aid package for Ukraine blocked

US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin today (May 13) said he had just had a phone call with his Ukrainian counterpart Oleksiy Reznikov. “We discussed the situation in eastern Ukraine, and we talked about the efforts to support security from the United States and the international community to ensure Ukraine has the necessary capabilities to resist attacks from Russia,” The Guardian quoted Austin’s Twitter post.

According to The Guardian, the phone call between US Defense Secretary Austin and his Ukrainian counterpart Reznikov took place in the context that the passage of a bill for a $ 40 billion aid package that Washington has for Kiev was blocked by the Senate. Republican Senator Rand Paul in the US Senate.

“We cannot save Ukraine by destroying the US economy. There should be a federal agency that oversees the aid process to Ukraine. I do not allow this aid package to be passed quickly, without something financially responsible in the aid package. We will have to borrow that money from China to send it to Ukraine. With a debt of $ 30 trillion, the United States cannot afford to become the ‘police’ of the whole world,” Senator Paul said.

“This is the second spending bill for Ukraine in two months, and it is three times larger than the first aid package,” Paul added.

Russia says Finland and Sweden will become ‘targets’ if they join NATO

“The entry of Finland and Sweden into NATO members, as well as the deployment of units of this military bloc on their territory, will make the two Nordic countries a ‘potential’ target for Russia.” , Deputy Ambassador of Russia to the United Nations Dmitry Polyansky told Al Jazeera news agency on the night of May 12.

“These two countries know that by the time they become members of NATO, Russia will have some corresponding response. They have lived as our good neighbors for decades, and if they suddenly make the choice to become part of a ‘unfriendly’ military bloc, it’s up to them. ,” added Mr. Polyansky.

Tuan Tran