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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.

Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed gratitude to Xi Jinping for China’s initiatives to resolve the Ukraine conflict at their Beijing summit Thursday where the Chinese leader said China hopes Europe will return to peace and stability soon and that China will play a constructive role.

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: :: Antony Blinken says the U.S. will give Ukraine another $2 billion in military financing :: May 15, 2024 :: Antony Blinken, U.S. Secretary of State :: Kyiv, Ukraine :: "We will provide an additional $2 billion in foreign military financing for Ukraine. And we put this together in a first-of-its-kind defense enterprise fund, and it has three components. One, is to provide weapons today. So this will assist Ukraine in acquiring those weapons. Two, is to focus as well on something that Dmytro (Kuleba) just talked about, investing in Ukraine's defense industrial base, helping to strengthen even more its capacity to produce what it needs for itself, but also to produce for others. And finally, using this fund to help Ukraine purchase military equipment from other countries, not just the United States, for Ukraine's use." :: "Of course, everyone's eyes are focused on the situation in the east and northeast, Kharkiv in particular. And so the newest support that I just announced, but particularly the $60 billion supplemental, we know is coming at a critical time." The top diplomat is the most senior U.S. official to visit Ukraine since the U.S. Congress passed a long-delayed $61 billion aid package last month. A U.S. official said $1.6 billion of the $2 billion was earmarked in the supplemental funding bill signed by U.S. President Joe Biden last month and the remaining $400 million is from existing foreign military financing funds that had not yet been allocated.

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.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pledged that the U.S. would swiftly provide much-needed weapons to Ukraine, highlighting Washington and the West's alliances with Kyiv.

STORY: For some children in Ukraine's Kharkiv, the school day now begins with a twenty feet decent down concrete staircases and through blast doors to classrooms beneath the city. This is the war torn country's first purpose-built underground school designed to protect students from Russian drone and missile attacks. The return to in-person learning in windowless classrooms brings smiles to children's faces and relief to parents. Until now, lessons had been online or frequently interrupted by air raid sirens and evacuations to safe places. Headmaster Ihor Voznyi says the difference is immense. "It is like day and night, our schools do not have shelters, there are basements, underground spaces which are totally inadequate to conduct any teaching. The spaces here are designed to provide quality, modern spaces." The school will eventually operate two shifts over the day for 900 pupils in total. Parents told Reuters they couldn't wait for the opening day. "I am very happy that my kids have the opportunity to come to school, socialize with their class mates and teachers. My elder daughter, a third grader couldn't wait to come here, dress up for the occasion, meet her friends that she missed very much. For my son, who is a first grader, it is like a festive day, a chance to meet his class mates in real life, not online and play with them." Kharkiv has been under relentless Russian attack since Moscow's invasion was halted at its ramparts 26 months ago. In recent weeks the fighting has grown closer and the airstrikes more constant. The city's mayor hopes three more underground schools will be built in the area, as a population under attack continually adapts its daily life.

The U.S. Secretary of State toured various locations in Kyiv, Ukraine on Tuesday, met with Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba at a pizza restaurant, and visited a memorial display in a central square.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv in the highest level U.S. visit for six months and the first since the $61 billion aid package was passed by Congress.

U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken arrived in Kyiv on Tuesday in an unannounced diplomatic mission. He landed in Poland on the way there.

Russia has launched a ground assault in Ukraine's Kharkiv region, attacking new areas to expand the front and stretch Ukraine's forces, says the region's governor.

As Moscow pushes ahead with a ground offensive, a new war front opens in Northeast Ukraine.

Moscow is blaming Ukraine for the attack on the apartment building in Belgorod, Southern Russia, that killed at least 13 people.