United News of Bangladesh

President Donald Trump has confirmed that the United States is selling weapons to NATO allies, who are then supplying them to Ukraine as it faces intensifying Russian missile and drone attacks. “We’re sending weapons to NATO, and NATO is paying for those weapons, 100%,” Trump told NBC on Thursday. “The weapons that are going out are going to NATO, and then NATO is going to be giving those weapons (to Ukraine), and NATO is paying for those weapons." Secretary of State Marco Rubio, speaking from Kuala Lumpur on Friday, explained that deploying existing U.S.-made weapons from NATO allies in Europe is faster than sending them directly from U.S. factories. “It’s a lot faster to move something, for example, from Germany to Ukraine,” he said. Ukraine urgently needs more U.S.-made Patriot air defense systems. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Thursday that Ukraine is seeking 10 additional Patriot systems. Germany has pledged two, and Norway one. Russia launches record drone attack on Ukraine Meanwhile, Russia launched a drone attack on Kharkiv early Friday, injuring nine and damaging a maternity hospital. Another drone strike in Odesa also injured nine. “There is no silence in Ukraine,” Zelenskyy said. In response, Kyiv is launching the “Clear Sky” project—an interceptor drone system with a $6.2 million investment to counter Russian Shahed drones. Zelenskyy said his recent talks with Trump have been “very constructive,” as Ukraine pushes its allies to speed up promised military support.

Ukraine on Saturday said it struck a Russian airbase as Russia launched hundreds of drones overnight in its latest wave of long-range attacks, further diminishing hopes of progress toward ending the war that has now dragged on for over three years. Ukraine’s military General Staff confirmed that its forces targeted the Borisoglebsk airbase in Russia’s Voronezh region, which it described as the “home base” for Russia’s Su-34, Su-35S, and Su-30SM fighter jets. In a statement on Facebook, the General Staff said the strike hit a depot containing glide bombs, a training aircraft, and “possibly other aircraft.” Russian officials have not yet commented on the reported attack. Strikes on Russian airbases are part of Ukraine’s efforts to weaken Russia’s military capability and demonstrate its reach into high-value targets deep inside Russian territory. Last month, Ukraine claimed to have destroyed over 40 Russian aircraft stationed at various airfields inside Russia during a surprise drone operation. Meanwhile, Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 322 drones and decoys into Ukrainian territory overnight into Saturday. Of these, 157 were intercepted and destroyed, while 135 were lost, likely due to electronic jamming, according to Ukrainian officials. The western Khmelnytskyi region was the main target of the latest attacks. However, regional Governor Serhii Tyurin said no damage, injuries, or fatalities were reported. Ukraine pursues joint weapons production with allies as US pauses some arms shipments Russia has recently escalated its long-range aerial bombardments on Ukraine. On Friday, waves of drones and missiles targeted Kyiv in what officials described as the largest aerial assault since the invasion began. The attack killed one person and injured at least 26 others. The renewed Russian offensive follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s phone conversation with US President Donald Trump on Friday. Zelenskyy described the discussion as “very important and productive,” saying the leaders talked about strengthening Ukraine’s air defenses, the potential for joint US-Ukraine weapons production, and broader U.S.-led initiatives to end the war. Speaking to reporters Friday night, Trump confirmed the call, saying, “We had a very good call, I think.” When asked about the prospects of ending the war, Trump responded, “I don’t know. I can’t tell you whether or not that’s going to happen.” The US has recently paused shipments of certain military aid to Ukraine, including vital air defense missiles. European allies are now considering how they can fill the gap. Zelenskyy has said plans are underway to expand Ukraine’s domestic arms production, though scaling up such efforts will take time. Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it shot down 94 Ukrainian drones overnight, along with an additional 12 drones on Saturday morning. No casualties have been reported in connection with those incidents.

Russia launched the largest missile and drone barrage on Kyiv since the start of the war in Ukraine, officials said Friday, as Moscow steps up its efforts to capture more Ukrainian territory. The overnight aerial assault lasted seven hours, killing one person and injuring at least 26 others, including a child, Ukrainian officials confirmed. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy described it as “a harsh, sleepless night” for the capital. Shortly after the attack, Zelenskyy held what he called a “very important and productive” phone conversation with US President Donald Trump to discuss ways to strengthen Ukraine's air defenses, joint weapons production, and broader US-led efforts to end the war with Russia, as reported by AP. Zelenskyy’s office said they discussed the possibility of future meetings between their teams to explore ways of enhancing Ukraine’s protection, particularly through direct projects in drone technology and defense industry cooperation. They also exchanged views on military procurement, investment, and diplomatic efforts with international partners. The White House did not immediately comment on the call. The Ukrainian air force reported that Russia launched 550 drones and missiles across Ukraine during the night, including 11 missiles. Most of the aerial assault involved Shahed drones. The attack caused severe damage across multiple districts of Kyiv. Emergency services removed more than 300 tons of rubble, while five ambulances responding to the aftermath were also damaged. Blasts lit up the night sky and echoed across the city as air raid sirens wailed. “Absolutely horrible and sleepless night in Kyiv,” Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha posted on X. He called it “one of the worst so far.” Kyiv’s Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko described “families running into metro stations, basements, underground parking garages, mass destruction in the heart of our capital.” “What Kyiv endured last night cannot be called anything but a deliberate act of terror,” Svyrydenko wrote on X. At least 14 people were hospitalized in Kyiv, according to Mayor Vitali Klitschko. Ukraine pursues joint weapons production with allies as US pauses some arms shipments Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed its forces targeted military production sites in Kyiv, including drone factories. Meanwhile, another prisoner swap took place Friday. Zelenskyy said most of the Ukrainian soldiers freed had been in Russian captivity since 2022 and were classified as “wounded and seriously ill.” The total number of soldiers exchanged was not disclosed by either side. The assault on Kyiv came hours after a phone call between President Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin. When asked if any progress was made toward ending the war, Trump said, “No, I didn’t make any progress with him today at all.” He added, “I’m very disappointed with the conversation I had today with President Putin because I don’t think he’s there. I don’t think he’s looking to stop (the fighting), and that’s too bad.” Putin’s foreign affairs adviser Yuri Ushakov said the Russian leader told Trump that Moscow will continue its efforts to achieve its objectives in Ukraine and eliminate the “root causes” of the conflict. “Russia will not back down from these goals,” Ushakov told reporters after the call. Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, with Putin falsely claiming it was necessary to protect Russian-speaking civilians in eastern Ukraine and to prevent Ukraine from joining NATO. Ukraine's military is under pressure as Russia intensifies attacks along the 1,000-kilometer front line and escalates aerial strikes. Official data compiled by The Associated Press shows that Russia launched 5,438 drones and more than 330 missiles across Ukraine in June alone, a new monthly record. Throughout Thursday night, AP journalists in Kyiv reported the constant buzzing of drones, explosions, and intense machine-gun fire as Ukrainian forces tried to intercept incoming threats. Ukraine’s air defenses reportedly shot down 270 targets, including two cruise missiles, though another 208 targets were lost from radar and presumed jammed. Russia struck eight locations with nine missiles and 63 drones, while debris from intercepted drones fell across 33 sites. In addition to Kyiv, damage was reported in the Dnipropetrovsk, Sumy, Kharkiv, and Chernihiv regions. Zelenskyy condemned the attack on Kyiv as “cynical.” Emergency services reported damage in at least five of the capital's 10 districts.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced on Sunday that Ukraine will dispatch a delegation to Istanbul for direct peace talks with Russia on Monday, amid intensifying Russian assaults, including a missile strike that killed 12 Ukrainian soldiers and the largest drone offensive of the ongoing three-year war. Zelenskyy made the announcement via Telegram, stating that Defense Minister Rustem Umerov will lead the Ukrainian team. “We are doing everything possible to safeguard our independence, our country, and our people,” he said. Ukraine had earlier asked Moscow to share a written outline of its position regarding an end to the conflict before the talks. Russia responded that it would present the memorandum during the negotiations. Deadly Missile Strike Hits Ukrainian Army Unit Ukraine's air force reported that Russia launched 472 drones on Sunday — the most in a single day since the full-scale invasion began. Alongside the drones, seven missiles were also fired, said Yuriy Ignat, a spokesperson for the air force. A missile strike earlier that day targeted a Ukrainian army training facility, killing at least 12 service members and injuring more than 60 others. The attack occurred around 12:50 p.m. local time, according to the army, which emphasized that no large gatherings of troops were present during the strike. An investigative panel has been set up to determine how such a significant loss occurred. US defense secretary warns Indo-Pacific allies of 'imminent' threat from China The training site is located far from the front lines, which span approximately 1,000 kilometers (620 miles), but remains within reach of Russian drones and missile systems. With Ukraine facing troop shortages, military units are taking increased precautions to avoid concentrations of personnel that could become targets. The army warned that any negligence or misconduct contributing to the casualties would be met with strict accountability. Ukrainian Drones Strike Deep Into Russian Territory Meanwhile, Ukrainian drone attacks were reported in various parts of Russia, including the Siberian region of Irkutsk — more than 4,500 kilometers (2,800 miles) east of Moscow. Local Governor Igor Kobzeva confirmed the drone’s presence but said it posed no danger to civilians. Additional drone activity was reported in Russia’s Ryazan and Murmansk regions, though no injuries or deaths were reported. Escalation in Northern Ukraine Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed on Sunday that its forces had seized control of Oleksiivka, a village in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Ukrainian authorities responded by ordering mandatory evacuations in 11 nearby settlements as Russian advances continue. Ukraine’s top military commander, Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Russian troops are concentrating their main offensives in the eastern Donetsk cities of Pokrovsk, Toretsk, and Lyman, as well as near the Sumy border.

President Vladimir Putin visited Russia's Kursk region for the first time since Moscow claimed that it drove Ukrainian forces out of the area last month, the Kremlin said Wednesday. Putin visited the region bordering Ukraine the previous day, according to the Kremlin. Ukrainian forces made a surprise incursion into Kursk in August 2024 in one of their biggest battlefield successes in the more than three-year war. The incursion was the first time Russian territory was occupied by an invader since World War II and dealt a humiliating blow to the Kremlin. Since the end of 2023, Russia has mostly had the advantage on the battlefield, with the exception of Kursk. Putin has effectively rejected recent U.S. and European proposals for a ceasefire. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on Wednesday accused Kyiv’s allies of seeking a truce “so that they can calmly arm Ukraine, so that Ukraine can strengthen its defensive positions.” Germany's economy will stagnate this year as tariffs cast a shadow: advisers North Korea sent up to 12,000 troops to help the Russian army take back control of Kursk, according to Ukraine, the U.S. and South Korea. Russia announced on April 26 that its forces had pushed out the Ukrainian army. Kyiv officials denied the claim. The Ukrainian Army General Staff said Wednesday that its forces repelled 13 Russian assaults in Kursk. Its map of military activity showed Ukrainian troops holding a thin line of land hard against the border but still inside Russia. Putin’s unannounced visit appeared to be an effort to show Russia is in control of the conflict, even though its full-scale invasion of its neighbor has been slow and costly in terms of casualties and equipment. Video broadcast by Russian state media showed that Putin visited Kursk Nuclear Power Plant-2, which is still under construction, and met with selected volunteers behind closed doors.

President Donald Trump said Thursday he was not surprised that Russian President Vladimir Putin will be a no-show for anticipated peace talks with Ukraine in Turkey this week. Trump had pressed for Putin and Ukraine President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to meet in Istanbul on Thursday. He brushed off Putin’s decision to not take part in the expected talks, reports AP. “I didn’t think it was possible for Putin to go if I’m not there,” Trump said in an exchange with reporters as he took part in a business roundtable with executives in Doha on the third day of his visit to the Middle East. Trump earlier this week floated potentially attending himself. The US president, however, noted on Thursday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio was already in the country for meetings with NATO counterparts. Trump’s special envoy, Steve Witkoff, also plans to be in Istanbul on Friday for the anticipated Russia-Ukraine talks. The push for direct talks between Zelenskyy and Putin comes amid a flurry of negotiations aimed at producing a ceasefire agreement between Russia and Ukraine. Putin was first to propose restarting direct peace talks Thursday with Ukraine in the Turkish city that straddles Asia and Europe. Zelenskyy challenged the Kremlin leader to meet in Turkey in person. Trump marvels at wealth of his Arab hosts while he eyes White House and Air Force One upgrades But the Kremlin has said its delegation at the talks will be led by Putin’s aide, Vladimir Medinsky, and include three other officials. Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak said Zelenskyy will only sit down with the Russian leader. Later Thursday, Trump will visit a US installation in Qatar at the center of American involvement in the Middle East. He has used his four-day visit to Gulf states to reject the “interventionism” of America’s past in the region. Trump will address troops at Qatar’s al-Udeid Air Base, which was a major staging ground during the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan and supported the recent US air campaign against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis. The president has held up Gulf nations like Saudi Arabia and Qatar as models for economic development in a region plagued by conflict as he works to entice Iran to come to terms with his administration on a deal to curb its nuclear program. Before addressing the troops, Trump took part in a roundtable with business leaders. The group included top executives from Boeing, GE Aerospace and Al Rabban Capital.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in comments broadcast Sunday that the need to use nuclear weapons in Ukraine had not arisen and that he hopes it will not. In a preview of an upcoming interview with Russian state television, published on Telegram, Putin said Russia has the strength and the means to bring the conflict in Ukraine to a “logical conclusion.” Responding to a question about Ukrainian strikes on Russian territory, Putin said: “There has been no need to use those (nuclear) weapons ... and I hope they will not be required.” “We have enough strength and means to bring what was started in 2022 to a logical conclusion with the outcome Russia requires,” he said, AP reports. Putin signed a revamped version of Russia’s nuclear doctrine in November 2024, spelling out the circumstances that allow him to use Moscow’s atomic arsenal, the world’s largest. That version lowered the bar, giving him that option in response to even a conventional attack backed by a nuclear power. Russia and Ukraine are at odds over competing ceasefire proposals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Friday, in comments made public Saturday, that Moscow’s announcement of a 72-hour ceasefire next week in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II is merely an attempt to create a “soft atmosphere” ahead of Russia’s annual celebrations. Israeli ministers to vote on whether to expand Gaza offensive Zelenskyy instead renewed calls for a more substantial 30-day pause in hostilities, as the US had initially proposed. He said the proposed ceasefire could start anytime as a meaningful step toward ending the war. Putin on Monday declared a unilateral 72-hour ceasefire in Ukraine to mark Victory Day in World War II, as the US presses for a deal to end the 3-year-old war. The Kremlin said the truce, ordered on “humanitarian grounds,” will run from the start of May 8 and last through the end of May 10 to mark Moscow’s defeat of Nazi Germany in 1945 — Russia’s biggest secular holiday. Meanwhile, 11 people were wounded in a Russian drone attack overnight on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, Ukraine’s State Emergency Service said Sunday. Two children were among the wounded.

Former President Donald Trump said Friday that peace negotiations between Ukraine and Russia are reaching a critical stage, and insisted neither side is manipulating him as he pushes to end the war. His remarks came shortly after Secretary of State Marco Rubio warned that the U.S. could soon pull back from mediation efforts if progress isn't made, following months of fruitless discussions. “If either side continues to make things difficult, we’ll just say, ‘You’re being foolish,’ and walk away,” Trump said. “But hopefully, it won’t come to that.” Rubio's statement followed high-level talks in Paris between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials, which showed some signs of progress. Another meeting is set for next week in London, which Rubio said may determine whether the U.S. stays involved. “We’re at the point where we need to decide if peace is even achievable,” Rubio told reporters. “If not, we’ll step back. It’s not our war — we have other issues to focus on.” He said a decision could be made within days. Rubio repeated this message in a call with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, saying the U.S. would withdraw from peace efforts if no path to resolution emerges soon. Trump agreed with Rubio’s assessment but stopped short of saying he was ready to abandon the process. “We want to see this war end,” he said. While pressure mounts for both sides to come to an agreement, the U.S. and Ukraine have made progress on a long-awaited deal granting American access to Ukraine’s rich mineral resources — a deal Trump sees as part of the broader peace initiative. On Thursday, he confirmed the deal was moving forward, and Ukraine’s economy minister said a memorandum of intent had been signed with the U.S. Treasury. The agreement is expected to attract significant investment and modernize infrastructure in Ukraine. Talks had previously stalled after a tense Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vice President JD Vance, and President Zelenskyy. Russia's Position Despite signs of impatience from Washington, Rubio described the Paris discussions as constructive. He said he had briefed Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov on the outcomes, though he didn't share Lavrov’s response. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that negotiations with the U.S. are ongoing and complex, but Russia remains open to dialogue while protecting its interests. He acknowledged that a previously agreed 30-day ceasefire — supported by both Russia and Ukraine — had expired, but did not comment on future actions. Both sides accused each other of violating the ceasefire terms almost immediately after talks with U.S. officials in Saudi Arabia. Rubio noted that European allies — particularly the U.K., France, and Germany — have recently played a more productive role in the peace process. However, European leaders are increasingly worried about Trump’s potential shift toward a closer relationship with Russia. The Paris summit marked the first major meeting between U.S., Ukrainian, and European officials since Trump returned to office, with discussions also focusing on future security guarantees for Ukraine. Rubio declined to reveal what role the U.S. might play in those guarantees. Rubio and presidential envoy Steve Witkoff have been leading U.S. efforts to broker peace. Witkoff has met three times with President Putin, and several rounds of negotiations have already taken place in Saudi Arabia. However, Russia has rejected a full ceasefire plan proposed by Trump and supported by Ukraine, unless Ukraine halts mobilization and the West stops arms shipments — conditions Ukraine refuses to accept. Asked if Putin was deliberately stalling, Trump replied, “I hope not. We’ll find out soon.” Former National Security Council advisor Thomas Wright criticized Trump’s approach, saying it places undue pressure on Ukraine. He warned that withdrawing support from Kyiv would only benefit Russia, not end the war. “The only way to bring this conflict to a close is by increasing pressure on Putin, and that means maintaining strong support for Ukraine,” Wright said. Continued Attacks in Ukraine While diplomatic talks continue, Russia has intensified its attacks on Ukrainian cities. In Kharkiv, one person was killed and 98 injured — including six children — when Russian forces used cluster munitions in a residential area, according to Mayor Ihor Terekhov. In Sumy, Russian drones hit a bakery, killing one customer and injuring an employee. Photos from the scene showed destroyed walls and Easter cakes covered in dust. These attacks follow deadly missile strikes earlier in April. On Palm Sunday, 34 people were killed in Sumy. On April 4, 20 civilians — including nine children — died in Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih.

Russian special forces walked kilometers (miles) inside of a gas pipeline to strike Ukrainian units from the rear in the Kursk region, Ukraine’s military and Russian war bloggers reported, as Moscow moves to recapture parts of its border province that Kyiv seized in a shock offensive. Ukraine launched a daring cross-border incursion into Kursk i n August, in what marked the largest attack on Russian territory since World War II. Within days, Ukrainian units had captured 1,000 square kilometers (386 square miles) of territory, including the strategic border town of Sudzha, and taken hundreds of Russian prisoners of war. According to Kyiv, the operation aimed to gain a bargaining chip in future peace talks, and force Russia to divert troops away from its grinding offensive in eastern Ukraine. But months after Ukraine’s thunder run, its soldiers in Kursk are weary and bloodied by relentless assaults of more than 50,000 troops, including some from Russia's ally North Korea. Tens of thousands of Ukrainian soldiers run the risk of being encircled, open source maps of the battlefield show. More than 1,000 people dead in clashes between Syrian govt forces and Asad loyalists According to Telegram posts by a Ukrainian-born, pro-Kremlin blogger, Russian operatives walked about 15 kilometers (9 miles) inside the pipeline, which Moscow had until recently used to send gas to Europe. Some Russian troops had spent several days in the pipe before striking Ukrainian units from the rear near the town of Sudzha, blogger Yuri Podolyaka claimed. The town had some 5,000 residents before the February 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, and houses major gas transfer and measuring stations along the pipeline, once a major outlet for Russian natural gas exports through Ukrainian territory. Another war blogger, who uses the alias Two Majors, said fierce fighting was underway for Sudzha, and that Russian forces managed to enter the town through a gas pipeline. Russian Telegram channels showed photos of what they said were special forces operatives, wearing gas masks and moving along what looked like the inside of a large pipe. Ukraine’s General Staff confirmed on Saturday evening that Russian “sabotage and assault groups” used the pipeline in a bid to gain a foothold outside Sudzha. In a Telegram post, it said the Russian troops were “detected in a timely manner” and that Ukraine responded with rockets and artillery. “At present, Russian special forces are being detected, blocked and destroyed. The enemy’s losses in Sudzha are very high,” the General Staff reported.

In a win for Ukraine on the third anniversary of Russia’s invasion, the U.N. General Assembly on Monday refused to approve a U.S.-backed resolution that urged an end to the war without mentioning Moscow's aggression. Instead, it approved a European-backed Ukrainian resolution demanding Russia immediately withdraw its forces, which the Trump administration opposed. It was a setback for the Trump administration in the 193-member world body, whose resolutions are not legally binding but are seen as a barometer of world opinion. But it also showed some diminished support for Ukraine, whose resolution passed 93-18, with 65 abstentions. That’s lower than previous votes, which saw more than 140 nations condemn Russia’s aggression and demand its immediate withdrawal. The United States had tried to pressure the Ukrainians to withdraw their resolution in favor of its proposal, including a last-minute appeal by U.S. deputy ambassador Dorothy Shea. Ukraine refused, and the assembly approved three European-proposed amendments adding language to the U.S. proposal making clear that Russia invaded its smaller neighbor in violation of the U.N. Charter. The vote on the amended U.S. resolution was 93-8 with 73 abstentions, with Ukraine voting “yes,” the U.S. abstaining and Russia voting “no.” Ukrainian Deputy Foreign Minister Mariana Betsa said her country is exercising its “inherent right to self-defense” following Russia’s invasion, which violates the U.N. Charter’s requirement that countries respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of other nations. “As we mark three years of this devastation — Russia’s full invasion against Ukraine — we call on all nations to stand firm and to take … the side of the Charter, the side of humanity and the side of just and lasting peace, peace through strength,” she said. President Donald Trump has often stated his commitment to bringing “peace through strength.” U.S. envoy Shea, meanwhile, said multiple previous U.N. resolutions condemning Russia and demanding the withdrawal of Russian troops “have failed to stop the war,” which “has now dragged on for far too long and at far too terrible a cost to the people in Ukraine and Russia and beyond.” “What we need is a resolution marking the commitment from all U.N. member states to bring a durable end to the war,” Shea said. The dueling resolutions reflect the tensions that have emerged between the U.S. and Ukraine after Trump suddenly opened negotiations with Russia in a bid to quickly resolve the conflict. They also underscore the strain in the transatlantic alliance over the Trump administration’s extraordinary turnaround on engagement with Moscow. European leaders were dismayed that they and Ukraine were left out of preliminary talks last week, and the assembly met as Trump was hosting French President Emmanuel Macron in Washington.. In escalating rhetoric, Trump has called Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy a “dictator," falsely accused Kyiv of starting the war and warned that he “better move fast” to negotiate an end to the conflict or risk not having a nation to lead. Zelenskyy responded by saying Trump was living in a Russian-made “disinformation space.” The Trump administration then not only declined to endorse Ukraine's U.N. resolution, but at the last minute proposed its own competing resolution. Russia launches unprecedented drone attack on Ukraine The U.S. also wants a vote on its proposal in the more powerful U.N. Security Council, where resolutions are legally binding and it has veto power along with Russia, China, Britain and France. China, which holds the council presidency this month, has scheduled it for Monday afternoon. A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity because the council had not yet taken up the U.S. resolution, said the United States would veto any amendments by Russia or the Europeans. The General Assembly has become the most important U.N. body on Ukraine because the 15-member Security Council, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has been paralyzed by Russia’s veto power. Since Russia forces stormed across the border on Feb. 24, 2022, the General Assembly has approved half a dozen resolutions that have condemned the invasion and demanded the immediate pullout of Russian troops. The very brief original U.S. resolution acknowledges “the tragic loss of life throughout the Russia-Ukraine conflict” and implores "a swift end to the conflict and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.” It never mentions Moscow’s invasion. France’s U.N. ambassador, Nicolas De Riviere, on behalf of more than 20 European countries, proposed the three amendments, which he said “reflect the real situation in Ukraine — that of a war of aggression led by Russia against its neighbor.” The first replaces “Russia-Ukraine conflict” with “full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation.” The second reaffirms the assembly’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity within its internationally recognized borders. The third calls for a just, lasting and comprehensive peace in Ukraine that respects the U.N. Charter and the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity. Russia’s U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, told reporters last week that the original U.S. resolution was “a good move.” He proposed an amendment that would add the phrase “including by addressing its root causes” so the final line of the U.S. resolution would read, “implores a swift end to the conflict, including by addressing its root causes, and further urges a lasting peace between Ukraine and Russia.” The General Assembly also approved that amendment Monday, but Russia didn't support the amended resolution because it points a finger clearly at Moscow for starting the war. The Ukraine resolution refers to “the full-scale invasion of Ukraine by the Russian Federation” and recalls the need to implement all previous assembly resolutions “adopted in response to the aggression against Ukraine.” It singles out the assembly’s demand that Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine within its internationally recognized borders.” It stresses that any involvement of North Korean troops fighting alongside Russia’s forces “raises serious concerns regarding further escalation of this conflict.” The resolution reaffirms the assembly’s commitment to Ukraine’s sovereignty and also "that no territorial acquisition resulting from the threat or use of force shall be recognized as legal.” It calls for “a de-escalation, an early cessation of hostilities and a peaceful resolution of the war against Ukraine” and it reiterates “the urgent need to end the war this year.”