Australia and Japan Strengthen Defence Cooperation Amid Rising Regional Tensions 
U.S. Justice Department Orders Intensified Probe Into Antifa and Domestic Extremist Groups 
U.S. Repatriation Flight Carrying 266 Venezuelan Migrants Lands in Caracas 
Honduras Election Turmoil Deepens as Nasralla Alleges Fraud in Tight Presidential Race 
U.S.-Russia Talks Leave Ukraine Peace Efforts Uncertain 
Michael Dell Pledges $6.25 Billion to Boost Children’s Investment Accounts Under Trump Initiative 
UN General Assembly Demands Russia Return Ukrainian Children Amid Ongoing Conflict 
Taiwan Signals Openness to Renew Ties with Honduras as Election Unfolds 
China’s Expanding Maritime Military Presence Alarms Taiwan and Japan 
Taiwan Opposition Criticizes Plan to Block Chinese App Rednote Over Security Concerns 
Drones Spotted Near Zelenskiy’s Flight Path in Ireland Trigger Security Alert 
UN Chief Says Gaza Operation “Fundamentally Wrong” as Concerns Over War Crimes Grow 
Trump and Lula Discuss Trade, Sanctions, and Security in “Productive” Phone Call 
Trump’s Name Appears on U.S. Institute of Peace Ahead of Rwanda–Congo Deal Signing 
IMF Deputy Dan Katz Visits China as Key Economic Review Nears 
Hong Kong Faces Low Turnout in “Patriots-Only” Election Amid Public Grief After Deadly Fire 
Ukraine is under pressure in the midst of a Russian offensive as Moscow focuses on capturing its eastern territory. The pressure also comes as NATO’s Secretary-General said this week that Russia must not win the war that has been going on for five months.
This week, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said the country’s forces are under a lot of pressure in the Donbas region in eastern Ukraine, describing the situation as “hell.”
Zelenskyy added that the fighting was intense around the area of Adiivka and the fortified village of Pisky, as Kyiv acknowledged that Russian forces made gains.
Ukrainian forces said Thursday that Russia was able to carry out two assaults in Pisky, but they were able to repel them. This comes as Kyiv has spent the last eight years fortifying its defensive positions in Pisky, deeming it as a buffer zone against pro-Russian separatists who control Donetsk 10 kilometers to the southeast.
Speaking at a news conference, General Oleksiy Hromov said Ukrainian forces recaptured two villages around Sloviansk, but were forced to abandon a coal mine that was also a defensive position.
Russia has denied targeting civilians in its assault on Ukraine and has sought to take control of the wider Donbas region to ensure its security in what Moscow calls an unjustified expansion of NATO.
The United States said Thursday that Russian officials are expected to try and frame Ukrainian forces for an attack on the front-line town of Olenivka last week that killed prisoners detained by pro-Russia separatists.
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday that the alliance’s member countries are working with defense companies to make sure Ukraine has more supplies of weapons and equipment in preparation for a long-term war with Russia.
“We are providing a lot of support but we need to do even more and be prepared for the long haul,” Stoltenberg told Reuters.
“Therefore we’re now also in close contact and working closely with the defense industry to produce more and to deliver more of different types of ammunition, weapons, and capabilities,” added Stoltenberg.
In a separate speech in Norway, Stoltenberg said the war Russia is waging on Ukraine has created the most dangerous moment for Europe since World War II and that Russia must not be allowed to win.
