Every year, on May 9 Russia celebrates “Victory Day”, a commemoration of the USSR’s defeat of Nazi Germany in World War II. Russian President Vladimir Putin has previously used the anniversary to project Moscow’s moral superiority over Nazism – and anyone he opts to label a “Nazi”. In the lead-up to Russia’s Victory Day this … Read more
US President Joe Biden signed the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022 into law in a White House ceremony Monday, flanked by the nation’s first Ukrainian-born member of Congress, Republican Rep. Victoria Spartz. The law is aimed at streamlining the process for getting military assistance to Ukraine as Russia continues its invasion. “I’m signing a bill that provides another important … Read more
US Ambassador to Russia John Sullivan said Monday that President Vladimir Putin did not declare victory in his speech “because even the Russian propaganda machine couldn’t back that one up.” “We have seen time after time Russia’s goals in Ukraine thwarted, starting with their attempted lightning strike on Kyiv,” Sullivan said in an interview with … Read more
White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said Monday that remarks from Russian President Vladimir Putin in his annual Victory Day address in Moscow alleging NATO was “creating threats next to our border,” are “patently false and absurd.” “What we saw President Putin do is give a version of revisionist history that took the form of … Read more
President Joe Biden has told congressional leaders to move the Ukraine aid package first without the $10 billion in Covid-19 aid that Congress has struggled to pass for weeks, according to a congressional source. Senate Republicans had insisted on the two moving on separate tracks, and the White House doesn’t want the Ukraine package bogged … Read more
The Celtics enter Monday night down 2-1 to the Milwaukee Bucks in their Eastern Conference semifinal series at Fiserv Forum. Can they tie it up in Game 4 before heading back to Boston? Tip-off is at 7:30 p.m. You can watch on TNT and listen on 98.5. The Celtics will be without Robert Williams, who … Read more
The city of Odesa, Ukraine, has come under further missile attacks Monday evening local time. Around 10 p.m. local time (3 p.m. ET), witnesses in the center of the city said they heard several large explosions which shook buildings. Social media showed at least one large fire burning. and a witness said a large shopping … Read more
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen says “further work is needed” on agreeing new energy sanctions against Russia – following talks with Hungary’s Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Von der Leyen travelled to Budapest this afternoon to meet Orban. Hungary has opposed EU plans for a phased-in ban on Russian oil imports – the key … Read more
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer has said he will quit if given a fine by Durham police for breaking lockdown rules. Deputy leader Angela Rayner also confirmed she would step down if fined. The opposition leader has been under pressure after police announced a probe into an event in April 2021, when he had curry … Read more
US President Joe Biden said Monday he is willing to accept the separation of Ukraine aid from additional Covid-19 funding, calling on Congress to pass a Ukrainian supplemental funding bill “immediately, and get it to my desk in the next few days” and warning for the first time that existing aid will run out in … Read more
The Ukrainian military struck at least Russian one air defense system on Snake Island over the weekend, according to three US defense officials and a Ukrainian official. The strike on the SA-15 short-range air defense system is in addition to strikes on a Russian helicopter and landing boat, a senior US defense official said. “We think that … Read more
US President Joe Biden recently told his top national security officials that leaks about US intelligence sharing with Ukrainians aren’t helpful and need to stop, according to an official familiar with the conversation. Last week, after the White House denied providing direct intelligence to Ukrainians “with the intent to kill Russian generals,” Biden spoke separately … Read more
White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters Monday there remains no plans for President Joe Biden to travel to Ukraine, even following first lady Jill Biden’s trip to the country over the weekend. “Their travel is a little bit different, I think you all know from traveling with the President, but there’s not a trip currently … Read more
If you were having a dull Monday it just got VERY SPICY. The New York Islanders announced that they had fired head coach Barry Trotz. A move that can only be described as shocking. Barry Trotz had one year remaining on his contract with the New York Islanders after a season where they missed the post-season for the … Read more
The two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Tampa Bay Lightning haven’t lost consecutive playoff games in nearly three years, rattling off 17 consecutive victories following a postseason loss since the start of their 2020 title run. “Usually a good recipe come playoff time is to not lose two in a row,” captain Steven Stamkos said after a 7-3 … Read more
The United Nations Secretary-General on Sunday thanked everyone involved in the evacuation of more than 170 civilians from the besieged Azovstal steel plant and other areas of Mariupol. “This group of evacuees arrived safely in Zaporizhzhia today, May 8. My thoughts are with them and all the people in Ukraine who are suffering in this … Read more
Japan will ban Russian crude oil imports “in principle”, as part of a Group of Seven (G-7) campaign to counter Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said after an online meeting of G-7 leaders on Sunday. The G-7 nations committed to ban or phase out imports of Russian oil, marking the latest attempt by the West … Read more
If North Korea was looking for another excuse to forge ahead with its nuclear weapons program, it just found one in Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. That one of the very few countries to have voluntarily given up a nuclear arsenal is now under attack from the same country it gave its warheads to will not … Read more
