DOJ Opens Criminal Investigation Into E. Jean Carroll Over Alleged Perjury 
US Tightens Ebola Controls as Congo Outbreak Sparks Global Concern 
US Condemns Russia’s Oreshnik Missile Strike, Warns Against New Attacks on Kyiv 
Hamas Commander Mohammad Odeh Killed in Gaza as Israel Intensifies Campaign 
Netanyahu Gaza Expansion Plan Sparks Hamas Condemnation and International Concern 
Trump Nears Decision on Iran Ceasefire Extension as Key Disputes Remain 
Flavio Bolsonaro Meets Trump, JD Vance, and Marco Rubio Amid Brazil Political Crisis 
Judge Dismisses Trump Administration Lawsuit Against Boston Sanctuary City Policy 
Netanyahu Orders Expansion of Israeli Control in Gaza to 70% 
Kentucky School District Secures $27 Million in Social Media Addiction Lawsuit Settlements 
Trump Signs Executive Order to Expand Access to Federal Lands in the U.S. 
U.S. Reinstates Sanctions on U.N. Expert Francesca Albanese Amid Legal Battle 
U.S. Lawmakers Back Ukraine’s Request for More Patriot Missiles Amid Rising Russian Attacks 
Iran-U.S. Nuclear Talks Remain Unresolved as Strait of Hormuz Risks Keep Markets on Edge 
US Southern Command Chief Holds Rare Military Meeting With Cuban Officials at Guantanamo Bay 
U.S. Sanctions Iran’s Strait of Hormuz Authority as Global Oil Markets Face Turmoil 
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is approaching its fourth month, with Russian forces continuing to bombard its territories to seize control. Ukraine’s deputy defense minister said Russia’s strategic goal in the war is the complete destruction of Ukraine and Ukrainian statehood.
In a briefing, Ukraine’s deputy defense minister Hanna Malyar said Thursday that the situation on the ground is becoming a challenge for Ukrainian troops, and Russia’s main goal in the war is to take full control of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions. Pro-Russia separatists occupy both regions.
“Russia’s main strategic, military-political, and military-economic goals as regards our state remain the complete destruction of Ukrainian statehood and the nation, as well as the destruction of the military and economic foundations of our state,” said Malyar.
Malyar added that Russia’s military goals also include destroying the weapons and equipment the West has sent over to Ukraine and damaging transport infrastructure that is used to transport military and civilian goods.
Malyar said that any further military action would depend on what Ukraine has at its disposal, referencing the requests by Ukraine to allies to provide more arms and long-range weapons.
French President Emmanuel Macron, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz visited Ukraine Thursday in a show of support and gave hope for Ukraine’s membership in the European Union.
In an interview upon visiting Kyiv, Macron said it would be up to Ukraine on which territories it decides to cede to Russia in an end to the war.
“This is up to Ukraine to decide,” said Macron. “I think it is our duty to stand by our values, by international law, and thus by Ukraine.”
Ukraine has repeatedly maintained that it does not intend to surrender any part of its territory to Russia.
In a call with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, US President Joe Biden said the US will provide an additional $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine for its efforts in the Donbas region, where the fighting is the most concentrated.
In a statement from the White House, the additional support will include additional military and defense weapons and ammunition for artillery and advanced rocket systems.
