An update on the Russia/Ukraine War

🇺🇦 The battle for eastern Ukraine rages on. Fighting reportedly remains fierce in Severodonetsk, the epicenter of conflict in Ukraine’s Donbas region. Russian forces are believed to control about 80% of the city, which was fully cut off from the outside earlier this week after its last bridge was destroyed. Ukraine’s military is suffering up to 1,000 casualties per day in Donbas, a top official said yesterday, which is a roughly five-fold increase compared to two weeks ago.

🗣️ French, Chinese leaders suggest peace talks. Chinese President Xi Jinping re-emphasized support for Moscow yesterday in a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, but said both parties should push for an “appropriate settlement” of the ongoing conflict. Newly reelected French President Emmanuel Macron said yesterday that while he hopes Ukraine wins the fighting, “at some point the gunfire will have to cease and talks will have to resume.”

💰🪖 US and allies commit to more support for Ukraine. President Biden announced $1 billion in new military assistance for Ukraine yesterday, along with $225 million in humanitarian aid. In addition, NATO members and other US allies pledged new weapons and military systems to Ukraine at a meeting held in Brussels.