The United States is trying to distance itself from an incident in the Russian region of Belgorod, where two heavily damaged U.S.-made Humvees were seen in a video verified by The Washington Post on the Russian side of a border station. Moscow alleged that militias made up of Russians fighting on Ukraine’s side attacked a border post. It is unclear whether the militias used the Humvees and whether Ukrainian forces provided them to the group.
The Pentagon on Thursday is set to host a virtual meeting of military leaders from the dozens of nations providing weapons and other support to Ukraine. Such forums are used to discuss sourcing arms and ammunition and deliberating whether additional capabilities are needed to help the government in Kyiv repel Russia’s ground advance and protect its people from aerial bombardment.
An anticipated provision of F-16 fighter aircraft, and the associated training and maintenance requirements, is likely to be one focal point during the meeting. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark A. Milley are due to brief the media after it concludes.
Here’s the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.
But when it comes to its own commercial deals, Russian oil and gas present more of a dilemma for Ukraine, David L. Stern reports from Kyiv.
Last year, about 300,000 barrels of oil a day passed through the Druzhba pipeline that crosses Ukraine. Ukrainian officials claim that allowing the transit of Russian oil provides leverage over Moscow and gives Ukraine much-needed revenue — though it’s not clear exactly how much, if anything, Russia is paying for the transit.
John Hudson and Isobel Koshiw contributed to this report.
