Nearly 1,000 faith leaders call for Christmas cease-fire in Ukraine
Nearly 1,000 U.S. faith leaders are calling for a Christmas cease-fire in Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Washington on Wednesday, 10 months after Russia’s invasion.
The leaders, who represent a broad range of faiths, said in a statement that they hoped a temporary truce could lead to the negotiation of permanent peace.
“As people of faith and conscience, believing in the sanctity of all life on this planet, we call for a Christmas Truce in Ukraine,” the statement reads. “In the spirit of the truce that occurred in 1914 during the First World War, we urge our government to take a leadership role in bringing the war in Ukraine to an end through supporting calls for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement, before the conflict results in a nuclear war that could devastate the world’s ecosystems and annihilate all of God’s creation.”
Read the full story here.
Nearly 1,000 U.S. faith leaders are calling for a Christmas cease-fire in Ukraine as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky visits Washington on Wednesday, 10 months after Russia’s invasion.
The leaders, who represent a broad range of faiths, said in a statement that they hoped a temporary truce could lead to the negotiation of permanent peace.
“As people of faith and conscience, believing in the sanctity of all life on this planet, we call for a Christmas Truce in Ukraine,” the statement reads. “In the spirit of the truce that occurred in 1914 during the First World War, we urge our government to take a leadership role in bringing the war in Ukraine to an end through supporting calls for a ceasefire and negotiated settlement, before the conflict results in a nuclear war that could devastate the world’s ecosystems and annihilate all of God’s creation.”
Read the full story here.
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Zelensky presents Biden with medal in Oval Office meeting
President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky entered the Oval Office around 2.15 p.m., according to a White House pool report.
“I’m delighted you could make the trip,” Biden told Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is “escalating his assaults on civilians” and trying to “use winter as a weapon,” Biden added. “We will support Ukraine pursuing a just peace.”
Zelensky told Biden he had wanted to visit the United States earlier and expressed “all my appreciations from my heart and from the heart of all Ukrainians” to Biden, the U.S. Congress and “ordinary people” in the United States for their support.
Zelensky also awarded Biden a medal from a Ukrainian soldier who had asked Zelensky to give it to “a very brave president.”
More live updates here.
President Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky entered the Oval Office around 2.15 p.m., according to a White House pool report.
“I’m delighted you could make the trip,” Biden told Zelensky.
Russian President Vladimir Putin is “escalating his assaults on civilians” and trying to “use winter as a weapon,” Biden added. “We will support Ukraine pursuing a just peace.”
Zelensky told Biden he had wanted to visit the United States earlier and expressed “all my appreciations from my heart and from the heart of all Ukrainians” to Biden, the U.S. Congress and “ordinary people” in the United States for their support.
Zelensky also awarded Biden a medal from a Ukrainian soldier who had asked Zelensky to give it to “a very brave president.”
More live updates here.
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In Washington, Zelensky seeks to rally support for grueling war with Russia
President Zelensky made an impassioned and emotional plea to Congress on Wednesday for continued American support against Russia’s unrelenting assault, speaking personally and passionately about why Ukraine needed more aid and weapons to lawmakers whose ranks include some vocal skeptics of future reinforcements.
Watch highlights from the address.
President Zelensky made an impassioned and emotional plea to Congress on Wednesday for continued American support against Russia’s unrelenting assault, speaking personally and passionately about why Ukraine needed more aid and weapons to lawmakers whose ranks include some vocal skeptics of future reinforcements.
Watch highlights from the address.
In Washington, Zelensky seeks to rally support for grueling war with Russia
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned and emotional plea to Congress on Wednesday for continued American support against Russia’s unrelenting assault, speaking personally and passionately about why Ukraine needed more aid and weapons to lawmakers whose ranks include some vocal skeptics of future reinforcements.
Zelensky’s address to a joint session of Congress came after he met with President Biden during an extraordinary day in Washington that marked the Ukrainian leader’s first international trip since Russia invaded Ukraine 300 days ago. The two projected a united front at the White House, and both men issued blistering rebukes of Russia as they sought to rally support for a long and grueling war.
Read the full story here.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made an impassioned and emotional plea to Congress on Wednesday for continued American support against Russia’s unrelenting assault, speaking personally and passionately about why Ukraine needed more aid and weapons to lawmakers whose ranks include some vocal skeptics of future reinforcements.
Zelensky’s address to a joint session of Congress came after he met with President Biden during an extraordinary day in Washington that marked the Ukrainian leader’s first international trip since Russia invaded Ukraine 300 days ago. The two projected a united front at the White House, and both men issued blistering rebukes of Russia as they sought to rally support for a long and grueling war.
Read the full story here.
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Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Both Biden and Zelensky cast Ukraine’s fight as a broader one that was important for democracies around the world.
- Biden announced a new $1.85 billion security assistance package for Ukraine that will include the Patriot missile system, the most advanced air-defense weapon in the American arsenal and one of Ukraine’s top requests.
- Both Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on their colleagues to approve additional aid to Ukraine.
- Russia’s ambassador to Washington said the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Washington D.C. “showed that neither the administration nor Zelensky are ready for peace.”
Follow our live updates here.
- Both Biden and Zelensky cast Ukraine’s fight as a broader one that was important for democracies around the world.
- Biden announced a new $1.85 billion security assistance package for Ukraine that will include the Patriot missile system, the most advanced air-defense weapon in the American arsenal and one of Ukraine’s top requests.
- Both Senate Majority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) called on their colleagues to approve additional aid to Ukraine.
- Russia’s ambassador to Washington said the Ukrainian leader’s visit to Washington D.C. “showed that neither the administration nor Zelensky are ready for peace.”
Follow our live updates here.
Amid a show of unity, Zelensky and Biden differ on some war needs
Beyond the sincere expressions of Ukrainian gratitude and firm pledges of ongoing American support, President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Biden came together Wednesday with specific, and sometimes differing, goals for their meeting.
With a $47 billion U.S. aid package requested by Biden for 2023, both were keen to solidify support from the new, Republican-led House that takes over next month. It was important, a senior administration official said, for Zelensky to use his considerable in-person charisma in making the case to lawmakers “about how this really is a struggle for democracy.”
For Zelensky himself, the objective centered on appeals for more powerful weapons to enhance Ukraine’s ability to launch major offensives against entrenched Russian forces in the coming year. There was little indication that he succeeded, at least in the short term.
Read the full story here.
Beyond the sincere expressions of Ukrainian gratitude and firm pledges of ongoing American support, President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Biden came together Wednesday with specific, and sometimes differing, goals for their meeting.
With a $47 billion U.S. aid package requested by Biden for 2023, both were keen to solidify support from the new, Republican-led House that takes over next month. It was important, a senior administration official said, for Zelensky to use his considerable in-person charisma in making the case to lawmakers “about how this really is a struggle for democracy.”
For Zelensky himself, the objective centered on appeals for more powerful weapons to enhance Ukraine’s ability to launch major offensives against entrenched Russian forces in the coming year. There was little indication that he succeeded, at least in the short term.
Read the full story here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- After nearly 10 months of war, but referring to the brutal invasion of Ukraine instead as “a special military operation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday finally called it a “war” for the first time, setting off an uproar among antiwar Russians who have been prosecuted for challenging the Kremlin-approved euphemism.
- “Our goal is not to spin this flywheel of a military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war,” Putin said during a televised news conference on Thursday.
- In his remarks on Thursday, Putin dismissed the U.S. decision to supply Ukraine with its most advanced air defense weapon, the Patriot missile system.
- Putin described the move as an insignificant development. “Patriot is a rather old system and does not work like our S-300,” He said, referring to Russia’s mainstay air defense system. “We’lll just keep it in mind and there will be an antidote,” Putin said. “We’ll knock down Patriots.”
Read the full story here.
- After nearly 10 months of war, but referring to the brutal invasion of Ukraine instead as “a special military operation,” Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday finally called it a “war” for the first time, setting off an uproar among antiwar Russians who have been prosecuted for challenging the Kremlin-approved euphemism.
- “Our goal is not to spin this flywheel of a military conflict, but, on the contrary, to end this war,” Putin said during a televised news conference on Thursday.
- In his remarks on Thursday, Putin dismissed the U.S. decision to supply Ukraine with its most advanced air defense weapon, the Patriot missile system.
- Putin described the move as an insignificant development. “Patriot is a rather old system and does not work like our S-300,” He said, referring to Russia’s mainstay air defense system. “We’lll just keep it in mind and there will be an antidote,” Putin said. “We’ll knock down Patriots.”
Read the full story here.
Here are the latest battleground updates from Ukraine:
- North Korea has sold, and delivered, infantry rockets and missiles directly to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, a private army controlled by a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin’s that is playing an increasingly critical role in the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration said Thursday.
- The capital Kyiv is still seeing the worst power supply issues in Ukraine, the head of the local grid operator said overnight.
- Russia launched attacks in 16 settlements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of southeastern Ukraine, the general staff of the country’s armed forces said in its daily update Thursday. According to its spokesman, Russia also launched six missile and 15 airstrikes over the past day, including on civilian “objects” in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Post is unable to verify the reports.
Follow our live updates here.
- North Korea has sold, and delivered, infantry rockets and missiles directly to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, a private army controlled by a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin’s that is playing an increasingly critical role in the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration said Thursday.
- The capital Kyiv is still seeing the worst power supply issues in Ukraine, the head of the local grid operator said overnight.
- Russia launched attacks in 16 settlements in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of southeastern Ukraine, the general staff of the country’s armed forces said in its daily update Thursday. According to its spokesman, Russia also launched six missile and 15 airstrikes over the past day, including on civilian “objects” in the Zaporizhzhia region. The Post is unable to verify the reports.
Follow our live updates here.
Here is the latest from Ukraine:
- Wagner forces have been particularly active in and around the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, Kirby said Thursday, adding that 40,000 of the estimated 50,000 Wagner forces fighting in Ukraine are convicts directly recruited from Russian prisons.
- The House of Representatives will on Friday vote on a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill, which includes $44.9 billion in emergency military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The package was approved by the Senate on Thursday.
- Zelensky met with President of Poland Andrzej Duda for two hours on his way back from his trip to the United States.
- Putin publicly called his invasion of Ukraine a “war” for the first time on Thursday.
Follow our live updates here.
- Wagner forces have been particularly active in and around the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, Kirby said Thursday, adding that 40,000 of the estimated 50,000 Wagner forces fighting in Ukraine are convicts directly recruited from Russian prisons.
- The House of Representatives will on Friday vote on a $1.7 trillion omnibus spending bill, which includes $44.9 billion in emergency military, economic and humanitarian assistance to Ukraine. The package was approved by the Senate on Thursday.
- Zelensky met with President of Poland Andrzej Duda for two hours on his way back from his trip to the United States.
- Putin publicly called his invasion of Ukraine a “war” for the first time on Thursday.
Follow our live updates here.
She fled Russian occupation by boat. Minutes later, she was shot.
KHERSON, Ukraine — For weeks, Dmytro Matiukha had urged his in-laws to leave their cottage on the east bank of the Dnieper River.
The shelling was getting worse on the Russian-occupied island where they lived, and the couple had lost power in their home. So over the weekend, when Ukrainian officials encouraged residents to flee across the river to the liberated city of Kherson, Matiukha’s in-laws decided to make the trip.
Matiukha told them to be careful, he recalled, and waited in his car to pick them up on the Ukrainian-controlled side of the river. But just minutes after they left on Sunday, Matiukha received a call from his father-in-law.
“Mom was hit,” said Vladyslav Svitlov, 76. “What do I do?”
Read the full story here.
KHERSON, Ukraine — For weeks, Dmytro Matiukha had urged his in-laws to leave their cottage on the east bank of the Dnieper River.
The shelling was getting worse on the Russian-occupied island where they lived, and the couple had lost power in their home. So over the weekend, when Ukrainian officials encouraged residents to flee across the river to the liberated city of Kherson, Matiukha’s in-laws decided to make the trip.
Matiukha told them to be careful, he recalled, and waited in his car to pick them up on the Ukrainian-controlled side of the river. But just minutes after they left on Sunday, Matiukha received a call from his father-in-law.
“Mom was hit,” said Vladyslav Svitlov, 76. “What do I do?”
Read the full story here.
Wagner mercenaries buy North Korean missiles for use in Ukraine war
North Korea has sold, and delivered, infantry rockets and missiles directly to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, a private army controlled by a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin’s that is playing an increasingly critical role in the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration said Thursday.
Wagner forces have been particularly active in and around the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, where the front line has barely moved in months of heavy fighting and where they are suffering heavy casualties, said John Kirby, the communications coordinator for the National Security Council.
Read the full story here.
North Korea has sold, and delivered, infantry rockets and missiles directly to Russia’s Wagner mercenary group, a private army controlled by a close confidant of President Vladimir Putin’s that is playing an increasingly critical role in the war in Ukraine, the Biden administration said Thursday.
Wagner forces have been particularly active in and around the city of Bakhmut, in eastern Ukraine, where the front line has barely moved in months of heavy fighting and where they are suffering heavy casualties, said John Kirby, the communications coordinator for the National Security Council.
Read the full story here.
Shelters, backpacks and FM radios: Kyiv prepares for nuclear war
To varying degrees, residents of Kyiv are contemplating the once unthinkable possibility that their city could be targeted by a nuclear bomb. Ominous references by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is prepared to use “all necessary means” to win in Ukraine and frequent chatter on Russian TV talk shows advocating the use of nuclear weapons have given grounds for the concerns.
Military experts assess the risk of a nuclear strike as small, and Pentagon officials have said they see no evidence Russia is making preparations to carry one out. The threat may have receded further after Putin told Russian journalists on Wednesday that Russia had not “gone mad” on the issue of nuclear weapons and was aware of the serious implications of their use.
Read the full story here.
To varying degrees, residents of Kyiv are contemplating the once unthinkable possibility that their city could be targeted by a nuclear bomb. Ominous references by Russian President Vladimir Putin that he is prepared to use “all necessary means” to win in Ukraine and frequent chatter on Russian TV talk shows advocating the use of nuclear weapons have given grounds for the concerns.
Military experts assess the risk of a nuclear strike as small, and Pentagon officials have said they see no evidence Russia is making preparations to carry one out. The threat may have receded further after Putin told Russian journalists on Wednesday that Russia had not “gone mad” on the issue of nuclear weapons and was aware of the serious implications of their use.
Read the full story here.
Inside the monumental, stop-start effort to arm Ukraine
The administration marked the historic visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by announcing the transfer of a Patriot missile battery, the most sophisticated air defense system in the U.S. arsenal.
But the initial war supply operation clearly wasn’t built for the long haul. In interviews over the last several months, more than two dozen senior U.S., European and Ukrainian government and military officials and experts, some speaking on the condition of anonymity about the strategically and diplomatically sensitive effort, revealed new details about how a U.S.-led consortium of democracies has gone about keeping Ukraine afloat in the war.
Read the full story here.
The administration marked the historic visit to Washington by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky by announcing the transfer of a Patriot missile battery, the most sophisticated air defense system in the U.S. arsenal.
But the initial war supply operation clearly wasn’t built for the long haul. In interviews over the last several months, more than two dozen senior U.S., European and Ukrainian government and military officials and experts, some speaking on the condition of anonymity about the strategically and diplomatically sensitive effort, revealed new details about how a U.S.-led consortium of democracies has gone about keeping Ukraine afloat in the war.
Read the full story here.