Ukraine’s presidential advisor says the war is unlikely to end by fall
Local boys sit on a swing in the yard of an apartment building destroyed by the Russian army airstrike in Ukraine May 13, 2022. The war in Ukraine is expected to continue through the summer and possibly beyond, presidential advisor Oleksii Arestovych said, cited by NBC News.
Maxym Marusenko | Nurphoto | Getty Images
The war in Ukraine is likely to continue through the summer and possibly beyond, despite signs that some parts of the country are returning to some normalcy, Ukraine’s presidential advisor Oleksii Arestovych said, NBC News cited.
“It is quite clear to me that this war is unlikely to end by the fall,” Arestovich said on Ukrainian TV, according to NBC News.
This comes as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy seeks to extend martial law for another 90 days, NBC News reported.
Since the war started on Feb. 24, martial law has been extended twice, with the current order set to end on May 25.
— Chelsea Ong
Biden optimistic about Finland and Sweden joining NATO, despite Turkey’s concerns
U.S. President Joe Biden sounded optimistic that Turkey can be persuaded to support Finland and Sweden in their bids to join NATO.
“I think we’re gonna be okay,” Biden told reporters when asked if he could convince Turkey to change its mind.
Biden’s remark came two days after Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan doubled down on his country’s opposition to the two new candidates for the international security alliance.
The White House nevertheless echoed Biden’s optimism at a press briefing.
“We’re confident that at the end of the day, Finland and Sweden will have an effective and efficient accession process, [and] that Turkey’s concerns can be addressed,” said Biden’s national security advisor Jake Sullivan.
He noted that U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in talks with his Turkish counterpart. “We feel very good about where this will track to,” Sullivan said.
— Kevin Breuninger
U.S. reopens embassy in Kyiv after closing it for three months
Employees rise up the flag outside the US embassy in Kyiv on May 18, 2022, as the embassy reopens after closing it for three months due to the Russian invasion.
Sergei Supinsky | AFP | Getty Images
The U.S. reopened its embassy in Kyiv after closing it for three months before and during Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
“When we suspended operations at the embassy, we made the point clear: while we would relocate U.S. embassy personnel for their safety and security, this would in no way prevent our engagement with and support for, the Ukrainian people, government and civil society as well as our allies and partners,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken wrote in a statement.
As it raised the American flag over the compound, the U.S. became the latest Western country to resume diplomatic operations in Kyiv.
Blinken said the U.S. enhanced security measures and protocols at the embassy ahead of the reopening and return of American diplomats.
— Amanda Macias
