Zelenskyy to address Congress as fighting intensifies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will ship a digital deal with to Congress on Wednesday, the place he’s anticipated to induce for higher help as Russia’s invasion of Ukraine entered its third week.

Zelenskyy, who advised there was nonetheless some cause to be optimistic negotiations would possibly but yield an settlement with the Russian authorities, mentioned Russia’s calls for have been changing into “extra reasonable.” The perimeters have been anticipated to talk once more later Wednesday.

“Efforts are nonetheless wanted, endurance is required,” he mentioned in his video deal with to the nation. “Any conflict ends with an settlement.”

Wednesday’s digital deal with comes after shrapnel from an artillery shell slammed right into a 12-story condominium constructing in central Kyiv Wednesday morning, obliterating the highest ground and igniting a fireplace, in response to an announcement and pictures launched by the Kyiv emergencies company.

The neighboring constructing was additionally broken. The company reported two victims, with out elaborating.

Russian forces have intensified combating in Kyiv suburbs, notably across the city of Bucha within the northwest and the freeway main west towards Zhytomyr, the top of the Kyiv area Oleksiy Kuleba mentioned Wednesday.

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Newest developments:

►Zelenskyy addressed the Canadian Parliament, once more pleading for a no-fly zone over his nation. The speech got here as Moscow introduced it was banning Prime Minister Justin Trudeau from getting into Russia.

►The Workplace of the U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Human Rights says a minimum of 691 civilians have died and 1,143 have been injured because the conflict started. At the least 4 kids have died, the company mentioned.

►Greater than 3 million Ukrainians have fled the nation, the U.N. refugee company mentioned. “As we speak we’ve handed one other horrible milestone,” tweeted U.N. Excessive Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi. “The conflict has to cease. Now.”

Biden to announce $800 million extra navy support for Ukraine

President Joe Biden on Wednesday is anticipated to announce a further $800 million in navy support for Ukraine, in response to a White Home official, bringing the whole U.S. assist for Ukraine to $1 billion in simply the final week.

Biden will announce the help in an 11:45 a.m. ET speech, shortly after Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is anticipated to induce for higher help throughout a digital deal with to the U.S. Senate and Home earlier within the morning.

“We’re transferring urgently to additional increase the assist to the courageous folks of Ukraine as they defend their nation,” Biden mentioned Tuesday. “And I’ll have far more to say about this tomorrow — about precisely what we’re doing in Ukraine.”

The extra $800 million will imply greater than $2 billion in U.S. support has gone to Ukraine since Biden entered workplace. The cash has paid for an assortment of navy gear together with 600 Stinger anti-aircraft methods, 2,600 Javelin anti-armor methods, almost 40 million rounds of small arms ammunition, 200 grenade launchers and ammunition, 200 shotguns and 200 machine weapons, in response to the White Home.

As well as, Biden signed into legislation a authorities funding invoice Tuesday that can present $13.6 billion in humanitarian support, financial assist and protection help for Ukraine and the area.

— Joey Garrison

As development stalls in Ukraine, Russia seeks mercenaries

Russian losses on battlefields in Ukraine have stalled its offensive and compelled it to hunt reinforcements from troops stationed within the Pacific and paying mercenary forces, in response to the British Protection ministry. Russia has been searching for mercenaries from Syria and elsewhere to battle in Ukraine.

“Russia will doubtless try to make use of these forces to carry captured territory and unlock its fight energy to resume stalled offensive operations,” British protection attaché Mick Smeath mentioned in an announcement Tuesday night.

Ukrainian resistance has hampered development by Russia, whose potential to carry territory it seizes can be degraded by continued losses, in response to British navy intelligence.

Earlier Tuesday, a senior Protection Division official mentioned the Russian offensive in opposition to Ukraine’s main cities, together with Kyiv, was not progressing.

However Russian forces proceed to bombard Kyiv with artillery and missile fireplace, putting residential areas with growing frequency, in response to the official, who shared battlefield assessments on the situation of anonymity.

— Tom Vanden Brook

Contributing: The Related Press