US president says large help bundle will assist Ukraine ‘defend democracy’ amid Russia’s ongoing invasion.
- US President Joe Biden applauds Congress for approving a $40bn help bundle for Ukraine.
- The Biden administration pronounces an extra $100m in safety help to Kyiv, together with artillery, radars and different tools.
- Ex-Russian President Dmitry Medvedev says the West shouldn’t anticipate Russia to proceed meals provides if it slaps Moscow with devastating sanctions.
- Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says “no” to Sweden and Finland becoming a member of NATO, as Turkish officers emphasised Ankara’s safety considerations.

Listed below are all the most recent updates:
Russia’s former president denounces ‘insane’ sanctions
Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has stated the West shouldn’t anticipate Russia to proceed meals provides if it slaps Moscow with devastating sanctions over the warfare.
“Our nation is able to fulfil its obligations in full. However it additionally expects help from buying and selling companions, together with on worldwide platforms,” Medvedev, who now serves as deputy chairman of Russia’s Safety Council, stated on messaging app Telegram.
“In any other case, there’s no logic: on the one hand, insane sanctions are being imposed in opposition to us, alternatively, they’re demanding meals provides. Issues don’t work like that, we’re not idiots,” he stated.
His feedback come as world leaders together with UN Secretary-Common Antonio Guterres have raised severe considerations over world meals provides, warning that curbs on grain exports from Ukraine ports may result in shortages and even famine.
Washington pronounces further $100m in navy help to Kyiv
The Biden administration has introduced an extra $100m in weapons and different navy tools for Ukraine.
Biden stated in an announcement that the help consists of further artillery, radars, and different tools.
“This brings complete US navy help to Ukraine to roughly $3.9 billion in arms and tools since Russia launched its brutal and unprovoked full-scale invasion of Ukraine on February 24,” Secretary of State Antony Blinken additionally stated.
NATO membership for Sweden, Finland will ‘strengthen collective safety’: Biden
NATO’s collective safety can be strengthened by the membership of Sweden and Finland, Biden has stated, after assembly with the leaders of the 2 Nordic nations on the White Home.
In an announcement after the discussions, the White Home stated the US president “warmly welcomed [Sweden and Finland’s] functions for NATO membership, which can strengthen our collective safety”.
“At this historic second for each Finland and Sweden, the President underscored his dedication to assist each international locations as they search formal NATO accession, together with by working with NATO Allies and Congress to welcome them into the Alliance as rapidly as attainable,” the assertion learn.
Biden says US help bundle will assist Ukraine ‘defend their democracy’
US President Joe Biden has applauded Congress for passing a virtually $40bn navy and humanitarian help bundle for Kyiv, saying it sends “a transparent bipartisan message to the world that the US stands with Ukraine”.
The invoice, beforehand handed by the Home of Representatives, handed within the Senate by an amazing 86-to-11 vote.
“This bundle will enable us to ship much more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom.”
I applaud Congress for passing the safety bundle I requested and for sending a transparent bipartisan message to the world that the U.S. stands with Ukraine. This bundle will enable us to ship much more weapons and ammunition to Ukraine as they defend their democracy and freedom.
— President Biden (@POTUS) May 19, 2022
Good day and welcome to Al Jazeera’s persevering with protection of the warfare in Ukraine.
Learn all of the updates from Thursday, Might 19 right here.