Good evening. This is your Russia-Ukraine war briefing, a weekly guide to the latest conflict news and analysis.
$33 billion to arm Ukraine
President Biden today asked Congress to approve an additional $33 billion to provide Ukraine with more ammunition, artillery and other supplies.
“The cost of this fight is not small, but giving in to aggression will be more expensive if we allow it,” Biden said. “Either we support the Ukrainian people when they defend their country, or we stand by when the Russians continue their atrocities and aggression in Ukraine.”
The massive aid package is twice the size of a measure approved by Congress last month. It would dwarf all previous US spending on the war and suggests the White House expects the conflict to drag on for months.
There is broad bipartisan support for more aid on Capitol Hill, but it could get caught up in negotiations over other spending measures.
Biden said he’s also looking at new ways to punish the wealthy tycoons who support Russian President Vladimir Putin with proposed legislation that would make it easier to confiscate their yachts, planes and other assets. Proceeds would be used to help Ukraine fight Russia.
updated
Apr 28, 2022 5:38pm ET
Increased military aid from the US and its allies is one of several factors contributing to fears that the conflict could escalate into a larger war beyond Ukraine’s borders.
Gas depots and a missile factory in Russia have mysteriously caught fire or been directly attacked by Ukrainian forces in recent days. Britain’s defense secretary today said Ukraine had the right to use Western weapons to attack military targets in Russia, drawing immediate criticism from Kremlin officials.
“We’re not attacking Russia,” Biden insisted from the White House. “We are helping Ukraine defend itself against Russian aggression.”
Russia-Ukraine War: Key Developments
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Conspiracy theories have taken hold in Russia and appear to be the driving force behind the Kremlin’s decisions, writes Ilya Yablokov, a historian of Russian media.
Thank you for reading. I’ll be back tomorrow – Adam