DHS Shutdown Delays World Cup Security Planning Despite Full Funding Release 
Justice Jackson Slams Supreme Court's Growing Use of Shadow Docket 
Trump Pushes for Lebanon-Israel Dialogue Amid Renewed Hezbollah Conflict 
House Republicans Near Deal on FISA Extension with Limited Reforms 
Ukraine Advances With Drone-Infantry Warfare Model, Reclaims Territory in the South 
Trump Administration Eyes Erica Schwartz as Next CDC Director Amid Leadership Overhaul 
Russia Launches Deadly Missile and Drone Strikes Across Ukraine, Killing Three Including a Child 
IMF and World Bank Resume Ties with Venezuela, Opening Door to Billions in Funding 
Russia Unleashes Massive Drone and Missile Barrage on Ukraine, Killing Civilians 
South Korea Denies U.S. Intelligence Restrictions Over North Korea Nuclear Site Disclosure 
Myanmar Grants Amnesty to Over 4,000 Prisoners Under New President Min Aung Hlaing 
Ukraine's Svyrydenko Returns from U.S. With Renewed Support and Diplomatic Momentum 
France and Britain Lead 40-Nation Talks to Reopen Strait of Hormuz 
Federal Judge Dismisses DOJ Lawsuit Attempting to Block Hawaii's Climate Case Against Oil Giants 
Iran Offers Partial Strait of Hormuz Access Amid U.S. Peace Talks 
Trump Warns Iran on Nuclear Weapons Amid Ongoing Feud with Pope Leo 
The leaders of the United States and France have pledged to hold Russia accountable as the war it wages on Ukraine is in its tenth month. The European Union has also tentatively agreed on an oil price cap in order to further reduce the money available for Russia’s war efforts.
Following joint talks on Thursday, US President Joe Biden and French President Emmanuel Macron issued a joint statement saying that they will hold Russia accountable for its actions on Ukraine.
Biden told reporters that he was willing to talk to Russian leader Vladimir Putin should he be interested in ending the war but added that Putin had not shown any sign. Macron also said he would continue to speak with Putin to prevent any further escalation from taking place on the ground in Ukraine.
The two leaders stressed “their steadfast resolve to hold Russia to account for widely documented atrocities and war crimes, committed both by its regular armed forces and by its proxies, including mercenary entities such as Vagner and others, through support for international accountability mechanisms, including the International Criminal Court, the Ukrainian prosecutor general, UN Human Rights Council Commission on Inquiry, and the OSCE Moscow Mechanism, sanctions, and other means,” according to the statement.
Biden said that the US and France are “facing down” Putin’s “grasping ambition for conquest” and defending democratic values and human rights.
The European Union also tentatively agreed on a $60 oil price cap per barrel on Russian seaborne oil, according to diplomats. The measure would need the approval of all EU governments in a written procedure on Friday.
There have been no political talks taking place to end the war, which Russia calls a “special military operation.” Ukraine and the West have called Russia’s invasion an imperialist land grab that has killed thousands of civilians and soldiers on both sides. Macron said that they would never urge Ukraine to compromise in the war.
On the same day, the Russian defense ministry and the Ukrainian presidential administration chief announced a prisoner swap of 50 personnel in the latest exchange between the two sides. Andriy Yermak, the chief of the Ukrainian presidential administration, said that prisoner exchanges will continue “until the liberation of the last Ukrainian.”
