UN Says Hamas Disrupted Gaza Aid Distribution, Group Denies Allegations 
Russia Launches Missile and Drone Attacks on Kyiv, Zaporizhzhia, and Kharkiv 
Trump, Canada Reach Gordie Howe Bridge Deal Ahead of July 27 Opening 
Iran's Supreme Leader Vows Revenge as Trump Threatens Massive U.S. Military Response 
UK Sanctions 24 Russian-Linked Targets Over Cyberattacks and Election Interference 
Iran Says It Closes Strait of Hormuz After Warning Shot at Vessel 
Trump to Deliver National Address on Declassified 2020 Election Intelligence 
Western Allies Push for More Air Defenses for Ukraine at Paris Summit 
EU Weighs New Trade Restrictions on Israeli West Bank Settlements 
HHS Watchdog Reports $5.56 Billion in Healthcare Fraud Recoveries as Enforcement Actions Decline 
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham Dies at 71, Leaving South Carolina Senate Seat Vacant 
Ann Widdecombe Murder: Police Arrest Second Suspect, Rule Out Terrorism Motive 
DOJ Subpoenas New York Times Journalists Over Air Force One Leak Report 
Iranian Missile Strike on UAE Oil Tankers Kills Indian Crew Member in Strait of Hormuz 
Zelenskiy Plans Ukraine Government Shake-Up as Prime Minister Svyrydenko Set to Step Down 
Iraq PM Visits Washington as U.S. Oil, Gas Deals Take Center Stage 
Israeli Strikes Kill Six in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Continue in Cairo 
While Ukraine is not a NATO member country, the nations under the alliance have been assisting Ukraine in the war waged by Russia, The alliance’s secretary-general Jens Stoltenberg announced that NATO is prepared to support Kyiv for years in its war against Russia.
Reuters reports Stoltenberg announced Thursday that the NATO alliance is ready to support Ukraine in its war against Russia. The support includes helping Kyiv shift from Soviet-era weapons to a modern Western arsenal and systems. Stoltenberg’s announcement follows the Kremlin’s warning that Western countries sending supplies to Ukraine was a threat to the security of Europe while provoking instability in the region.
“We need to be prepared for the long term,” said Stoltenberg during a youth summit in Brussels. “There is absolutely a possibility that this war will drag on and last for months and years.”
“NATO allies are preparing to provide support over a long period of time and also help Ukraine to transit, move from old Soviet-era equipment to more modern NATO-standard weapons and systems that will also require more training,” said the NATO chief.
Stoltenberg also said that the West will continue to increase its pressure on Russian dictator Vladimir Putin to put an end to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine through sets of sanctions while sending economic and military aid to Kyiv. Moscow claims the invasion is a “special military operation.”
Most arms and military equipment countries that were sent to Ukraine are still Soviet-era arms in the inventories of eastern European NATO member countries, but the US and other Western allies have already supplied Kyiv with Western howitzers.
At the same time, the US Congress passed legislation that will make it easier to send more military equipment to Ukraine, which revives a World War II-era US weapons financing program. The US House of Representatives almost unanimously approved the legislation titled “Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act of 2022,” which will be sent to the desk of President Joe Biden for his signature. The bill was passed unanimously by the Senate.
The World War II-era weapons program allowed Washington to lend or lease military equipment to the UK and other allies for a small price. The new proposal will help Ukraine as it fights back against Russia, as well as help Poland and other countries in eastern Europe.
