The US approves a ‘huge’ aid package for Ukraine, Russia sets conditions for opening a port in the Black Sea

With 86 votes in favor and 11 against, the US Senate quickly approved the emergency aid package on militaryeconomic and humanitarian is considered the largest ever for Ukraine.

Strong bipartisan support in the US Congress underscores the desire of US lawmakers to support Ukraine’s resistance effort against Russian forces, without the need for assistance, according to Reuters news agency. direct intervention from the US military.

The Biden administration on the same day announced an additional $100 million aid package of weapons and military equipment to Kiev.

“This brings the total US military aid to Ukraine to about $3.9 billion, since Russia launched a special military operation in the country on February 24,” US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said. know.

Andriy Yermak, Chief of Staff Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, thanked the US Senate, and said the money would help ensure Ukraine kept its war against Russia. “We are moving towards victory confidently and strategically,” Yermak wrote in an online post just minutes after the bailout was voted on.

Also on May 19, a draft communiqué from the G7 countries revealed by Reuters news agency said that the leaders of the countries in the group had agreed to approve a support package of 18.4 billion USD for Ukraine.

“We will continue to stand with Ukraine throughout this war and beyond, and stand ready to do more if necessary,” the statement said.

The G7 also welcomed the European Commission’s proposal to lend Ukraine 9 billion euros. We call on all partners to join us in supporting Ukraine’s long-term recovery, and to ensure that joint reconstruction efforts are closely coordinated, including coordination. cooperation between the Ukrainian authorities and international financial institutions,” the statement added.

Russia sets conditions for lifting the blockade of ports in the Black Sea

The Speaker of the State Duma (lower house) of Russia Vyacheslav Volodin on May 19 published a list of “unfriendly” countries, ranked according to the number of sanctions that countries impose on Moscow.

According to the list of “unfriendly countries” published by Mr. Volodin on social networks, the US topped with 1,983 sanctions targeting Russia. The next positions are Canada, Switzerland, UK, European Union (EU) as a single entity, Australia and Japan.

“By imposing illegal sanctions on Russia, these countries have caused food and energy prices to skyrocket,” Volodin said. “Those are the main culprits behind the current trouble and the future crises around the world. They are responsible for the skyrocketing prices globally.”

Earlier, United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on May 18 said that war in Ukraine exacerbate food insecurity in poor countries due to rising prices. Guterres called on countries to lift restrictions on food and fertilizers from Russia and Belarus to avoid triggering a major crisis.

David Beasley, head of the United Nations World Food Program, also called on Russian President Vladimir Putin to quickly ease the blockade of Ukraine’s ports on the Black Sea to avoid pushing millions of people around the world into starvation. .

In response, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Andrei Rudenko stated that Moscow only considers allowing access to Ukrainian ports on the Black Sea, if the removal of sanctions against Russia is also considered.

“You must not only appeal to the Russian Federation, but also look deeply into the complexity of the reasons for the current food crisis. The first example is the sanctions that the US and EU have imposed on Russia. This interfered with the normal process of free trade, including the transportation of foodstuffs such as wheat, fertilizers and other products,” Deputy Minister Rudenko said, according to the Interfax news agency.

Ukraine issues arrest warrant for ex-President Yanukovych

The Pechersk District Court in the capital Kiev (Ukraine) has issued an arrest warrant for former President Viktor Yanukovych for allegedly bringing people across the border illegally eight years ago. The court decided to apply the treatment in the form of detention against Mr. Yanukovych.

The whereabouts of Mr Yanukovych are unknown. According to the Office of the Prosecutor General of Ukraine, the 71-year-old former president is believed to have arrived in the city of Anapa. Meanwhile, the Ukrinform news agency in March reported that Yanukovych was in Minsk (Belarus).

Viktor Yanukovych was the President of Ukraine from 2010 to 2014.

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