US House Approves $40bn in Aid to Ukraine; Zelensky Eyes Kharkiv Counteroffensive

LOCAL NEWS

• US House approves $40bn in additional aid to Ukraine as US intelligence says the conflict has reached a ‘bit of a stalemate.’
  • Pentagon Spox Kirby says Russia is making marginal progress in the Donbas, but have taken no major milestones. Following Putin’s victory Day speech, analysts have come to a consensus that Putin is preparing for a prolonged campaign in Ukraine – RTRS, Tass
• Overnight, Zelensky said Russian forces were being pushed back from the city of Kharkiv with troops being driven out of four villages to the northeast. In separate comments, the permanent representative of the Crimea region believes that Kherson will become part of Russia.
  • Argues that the southeastern territories, "gifted" once to Ukraine , as well as the lands of historical Taurida, have always been Russian, a close Russian-speaking population lives there and the RUB is successfully entering economic life in the region.
    • Secretary of the General Council of "United Russia" Andrei Turchak said earlier that Russia has come to the Kherson region forever, there should be no doubt about this - RIA
• Ukrainian gas operator GTSOU says transport of Russian gas via the Sokhranivka entry port will cease due to the actions of Russian troops. Roughly a third of all Russian gas to the EU goes via this route – BBG, Sky