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STORY: "We are very grateful to our partners, that they are helping, but this is happening so slow." Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told Reuters in an exclusive interview on Monday that his Western allies are taking too long to make key decisions on sending military support to Ukraine. "Every decision takes ages. We arrive at this decision later on, but it's like one year too late." Zelenskiy also said he was pushing Western partners to get more directly involved in the war by helping to intercept Russian missiles and to allow Ukraine to use Western weapons against enemy military equipment at the border and further inside Russian territory. "I'm sure we can have a proper dialogue and we can reach the consensus [regarding] the long-range missiles to hit the weapons of Russians located alongside the Ukrainian border. I believe we will reach this decision. Because the same happened with giving us tanks and armored vehicles, Patriots, right?" The United States has resisted Ukrainian calls to use its missiles against internationally recognized Russian territory, reflecting concerns in the West about the risk of escalation. "Everybody is afraid of escalation. So Ukrainians are dying. Well, everybody got used to that. That's not escalation." Zelenskiy's remarks come at a perilous time for his forces. They are outnumbered and outgunned by Russia's army, which recently crossed the border into the city of Kharkiv. Zelenskiy acknowledged Ukraine was losing territory in the northeast but he said the situation on the battlefield had improved. "Today the situation is controlled. A week ago it was more difficult." The United States finally passed a bill to provide military aid to Ukraine in late April, but it had been held up for months by opposition from some Republicans in Congress. Zelenskiy said he didn't see big risks to future aid if Republican Donald Trump, a Ukraine aid skeptic, wins the November election, but that didn't mean there were no concerns. "Both parties supported this package, which is why I wouldn't say that as of today I don't see some maximal risks. I don't believe that Republicans are against support for Ukraine, but some messages we can hear from them, well, they are causing concerns, in any case."

ABC News’ James Longman reports on the latest in Ukraine on “This Week.”

A divisive mobilization law in Ukraine came into force on Saturday, as Kyiv struggles to boost troop numbers after Russia launched a new offensive that some fear could close in on Ukraine’s second-largest city. (AP video shot by Alex Babenko)

Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine’s Kharkiv region aims to create a buffer zone but has no plans to capture the city.

STORY: :: Putin tells China's Xi he is grateful for Beijing's efforts to try to solve the Ukraine crisis ::Beijing, China ::May 16, 2024 ::Vladimir Putin, Russian President: “I will of course inform the President of China on the situation around the Ukrainian crisis. We are grateful to Chinese friends and colleagues for the initiatives they put forward to solve this problem.” ::Xi Jinping, Chinese President: “...We both agreed that a political settlement of the Ukrainian crisis is the right direction.” Putin arrived early on Thursday for a two-day state visit including detailed talks on Ukraine, Asia, energy and trade with Xi, his most powerful political backer and fellow geopolitical rival of the United States. The two leaders also oversaw the signing of several bilateral agreements in sectors such as trade and infrastructure. China and Russia declared a "no limits" partnership in February 2022 when Putin visited Beijing just days before he sent tens of thousands of troops into Ukraine, triggering the deadliest land war in Europe since World War Two.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine to help channel the delivery of $60 billion in newly approved U.S. aid. His trip comes as Russian forces push towards Kharkiv. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/Associated Press

STORY: U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian President Volodmyr Zelenskiy in Kyiv on Tuesday, the first visit by a senior U.S. official since Congress passed a long-delayed $61 billion aid package for the country. Blinken acknowledged that the delay had made Ukraine more vulnerable to Russian attacks, but he pledged unwavering U.S. support going forward. "We know this is a challenging time, but we also know that in the near term the assistance is now on the way, some already arrived, more that will be arriving. And that’s going to make a real difference against the ongoing Russian aggression on the battlefield." U.S. military aid had been blocked by Republicans in Congress until they finally allowed a vote last month, when it passed with support from both parties. "...big appreciation from Ukrainians to Americans for this." Zelenskiy said his country was thankful for the bipartisan support but added that more help was needed, as Russia mounts fresh attacks in eastern Ukraine. "The first, the decision on the package was crucial. For us, it’s very important to get it as quick as possible. The second one, point, it's air defense, the biggest deficit for us. I think that’s the biggest problem, yes. We need, really we need today two Patriots for Kharkiv, for Kharkiv region because people there are under attack, civilians and warriors, everybody there is under Russian missiles."  Blinken’s visit comes days after Russia launched a ground incursion into the north of Kharkiv, opening a new front and stretching Ukraine's soldiers. During a speech, Blinken took aim at Russian President Vladimir Putin, and said the U.S. intends to seize Russian assets. "What Putin destroyed, Russia should and must pay to rebuild. [FLASH] Our Congress has given us the power to seize Russian assets in the United States. We intend to use it." Russia now controls about 18% of Ukraine and has been gaining ground since the failure of last year's counter-offensive to make serious inroads against Russian troops.