U.S. defense secretary Lloyd Austin makes an announced visit to Kyiv
Source: CNN
On Monday, U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin arrived in Kyiv for an announced visit, as the future supplies of U.S. aid to Ukraine hang in the balance ahead of the upcoming presidential elections in the United States. The visit comes at a critical time, with Russia making steady gains on the frontlines.
During his visit, Austin is set to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to discuss Ukraine’s ongoing military needs, particularly in terms of weaponry and continued U.S. support for the Ukrainian army in the coming year.
A senior U.S. defense official revealed that Austin’s visit will also provide a chance for the Secretary to “step back” and review the trajectory of U.S.-Ukraine relations over the course of the war, which has now lasted for over two and a half years.
Amendments to Ukraine’s enforcement proceedings legislation, initiated by the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine, have entered into force. Among other measures, the reform provides for the automated lifting of attachments on bank accounts immediately after debts in enforcement proceedings have been fully settled. The main practical benefit for citizens is the complete elimination of the need to contact an enforcement officer in person and wait for paper decisions once the debt has been paid.
The 157th Separate Mechanized Brigade has received another batch of supplies as part of Rinat Akhmetov’s Steel Front military initiative. This time, the military received seven quad bikes and four mobile shower and bath units.
In my previous column, I wrote about social innovations in Ukraine. Those innovations are part of civic resilience and the democratization of security, which Europe is paying close attention to right now. The EU is trying to work out how to spread responsibility for its own security across society as a whole, rather than leaving it to institutions alone. It is looking for concrete ways to bring ordinary people into the work of defense and resistance.
Petro Poroshenko’s lawyers have appealed to the High Anti-Corruption Court demanding that NABU be obligated to register proceedings regarding the fact of exerting influence on the court and to recognize Petro Poroshenko as a victim in the case of the Deputy Head of the Office of the President, Iryna Mudra, due to her pressure on Supreme Court judges who were considering a lawsuit to overturn sanctions.
Internationally recognized brands and financial institutions should direct capital to Ukraine now, not waiting for the hostilities to end. This was emphasized by Rinat Akhmetov, president of FC Shakhtar, during a working visit to UEFA headquarters in Nyon, Switzerland, where he met with UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin.