Biden packs $325m aid as Pentagon says Abram tanks ‘on schedule’ – Ukraine war live

ICYMI: Azerbaijan’s launch of reportedly intense artillery firing in the Nagorno-Karabakh region on Tuesday raised fears that another full-scale conflict with Armenia could be under way:

“The American people are determined to see to it that we do all we can to ensure the world stands with you,” Joe Biden assured Volodymyr Zelensky, as the pair met in the White House.

“That is our overwhelming objective.”

Russia’s leverage over Ukraine’s export of grain via the Black Sea is likely to erode in weeks to come as more ships are able to leave Ukrainian ports and rising costs could prompt Moscow to reconsider its abandonment of the grain deal, a senior US State Department official said.

James O’Brien, head of the State Department Office of Sanctions Coordination, said leaders at the UN General Assembly this week discussed efforts to revive the deal, which Russia abandoned in July.

Western countries have accused Russia of using food as a weapon of war by quitting the Black Sea deal, which had helped bring down global food prices, and then carrying out repeated air strikes on Ukrainian ports and grain stores.

“ I fired 140 rounds that day, our guns were hot in our hands. The Russians were no more than 10 [or] 15 meters away, it was all a bit crazy.”

A British former soldier with the International Legion recalls his brutal close-quarters battles with Russian soldiers and the friends he has lost:

A top European Union official has backed President Zelensky’s call for reform of the UN, saying Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has exposed an urgent need for changing the “sclerotic and hobbled” global decision-making.

Charles Michel, the president of the European Council of EU leaders, expressed support for calls to limit veto powers at the UN Security Council under emergency conditions and to broaden the body’s global representation.

“For the last 19 months, a permanent member of the Security Council — Russia — without any shame, has been undertaking a war to conquer its neighboring country,” Michel said, speaking on the third day of the annual UN General Assembly meeting of world leaders.

The European Union is a permanent observer at the UN.

“It can even abuse his veto rights to prevent sanctions against itself and even use the Security Council to disseminate propaganda, disinformation and lies — let’s be honest,” he said.

On Wednesday, Mr Zelensky said humankind could no longer rely on the UN to defend any national borders.

Russia’s military hierarchy must be aware “an actual and not fictitious war” with Nato is possible if they overdo things in Ukraine, according to a former Nato secretary general:

Volodymyr Zelensky appealed for the United States to continue to support his country as he visited Congress, amid a fight among Republicans about whether to continue US support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia.

The Ukrainian leader said he felt “trust” between himself and top American officials and expressed gratitude for the defence support that has allowed his armed forces to “combat Russian terror” as he capped his visit to Washington with an Oval Office meeting alongside President Joe Biden.

Volodymyr Zelensky worked to shore up US support for Ukraine on a whirlwind visit to Washington, delivering an upbeat message on the war’s progress.

The Ukrainian leader received a far quieter reception than the hero’s welcome he got last year, but also won generally favourable comments on the aid he says he needs to stave off defeat.

Mr Zelensky went to the Capitol with a firm message in private talks with Republican and Democratic leaders.

The Ukrainians have a solid war plan, and “are winning,” politicians quoted him as saying.

Mr Zelensky also spoke with military leaders at the Pentagon, where defence secretary Lloyd Austin greeted him without the usual ceremonial band or fanfare typical of a high-level visit.

At Congress, House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, who faces opposition among far-right Republicans aligned with former President Donald Trump on support for Ukraine, notably chose not to join House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries in greeting the Ukrainian president when he arrived at the Capitol.

President Zelensky and his wife, Olena Zelenska, received a warm greeting from his US counterpart, Joe Biden, and his wife, Jill, at the White House.

The four posed for photographs before going indoors for talks.

Earlier, the Ukrainian leader met US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell