General News Hop

 WASHINGTON — The United States will send another $800 million security package and an additional $500 million in direct economic assistance to Ukraine as its military fights off a renewed Russian assault , President Joe Biden said Thursday. “This is money the government can help use to stabilize their economy, to support communities that have been devastated by the Russian onslaught and pay the brave workers that continue to provide essential services to the people of Ukraine,” Biden said from the Roosevelt Room of the White House. “With this latest disbursement, I’ve almost exhausted the draw-down authority I have that Congress authorized for Ukraine and a bipartisan spending bill last month,” Biden said, adding that he would send lawmakers a supplemental budget request next week. Biden said he discussed the new assistance package in person with Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal at the White House. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Biden for the additional aid...

  The U.S. ambassador to the U.N. told the United Nations that it has information about Russia compiling a list of Ukrainians “to be killed or sent to camps following a military occupation,” according to a letter obtained by  The Washington Post .  In a letter published by The Post on Sunday , the U.S. ambassador to the U.N. Bathsheba Crocker said intelligence has indicated that Russia would partake in "widespread human suffering" should it launch an incursion on Kyiv. “I would like to bring to your attention disturbing information recently obtained by the United States that indicates that human rights violations and abuses in the aftermath of a further invasion are being planned,” Crocker wrote in her letter.  “These acts, which in past Russian operations have included targeted killings, kidnappings/forced disappearances, unjust detentions, and the use of torture, would likely target those who oppose Russian actions,” according to the letter ...

  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said he doesn't think Russian President Vladimir Putin is bluffing. ABC News chief global affairs correspondent Martha Raddatz asked Austin in an interview, an excerpt of which was posted Friday, about the possibility of a Russian invasion of Ukraine due to the buildup of Russian troops along the border. "This is not a bluff?" Raddatz asked Austin. “Again, I don't believe it's a bluff. I think he's assembled the right kind of - the kinds of things that you would need to conduct a successful invasion,” Austin said.  Raddatz noted that Russians had set up medical tents and had nurses on hand, which she added would not normally indicate a pullback of troops. “Exactly. If they were redeploying to garrison, we wouldn't be seeing the kinds of things in terms of, not only combat power, but also logistical support, medical support, combat aviation that we've seen in the region,” Austin replied. The full interview with Austin wi...