The Ukrainian Weekly (https://www.ukrweekly.com/uwwp/category/ukraine/news/page/2/)
WASHINGTON – In an ongoing effort to implement a series of reforms that are needed for Ukraine to gain entry into the European Union and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said that the country’s civil society will be a key partner in the reform process.
KYIV – The National Security and Defense Council (NSDC) of Ukraine on June 18 announced sanctions against Dmytro Firtash, a Ukrainian oligarch who has been indicted by the United States for corruption. Mr. Firtash is currently living in Vienna and fighting extradition to the U.S.
European Union leaders gathered in Brussels on June 24 for a two-day summit during which they were scheduled to discuss a new strategy to manage relations with Russia amid signs of a split with some members pushing for a meeting with President Vladimir Putin, and others opposed given their deep-seated distrust of Russia’s head of state.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has insisted the U.K. Navy was “entirely right” to defend freedom of navigation following an incident with Russia in the Black Sea, while Moscow warned it was prepared to fire on warships entering territorial waters it claims around Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula.
Ukraine becoming a member of NATO would be a “red line” for Russia, the Kremlin has said after U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin held their first summit in Geneva on June 16.
KYIV – Two legislative bills, one on indigenous people and the other on Ukrainian-language usage on television and in cinema, have sparked the ire of both Moscow and state-building activists.
KYIV – After a 15-month hiatus, the head of the largest organization representing U.S. citizens of Ukrainian heritage visited Ukraine on a fact-finding mission where he discussed “concrete issues” with high-level government, security and diplomatic officials, as well as a member of parliament.
KYIV – Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s invitation to the White House in July comes as Kyiv is reeling from what it says is not reciprocal support from its Western partners, including from the U.S., amid escalating Russian belligerence and being shunned from the high-level summit in Brussels at the headquarters of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO).
U.S. President Joe Biden has invited Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to visit the White House this summer in a show of support for the Eastern European country.
Mr. Biden extended the invitation during a phone call with Mr. Zelenskyy on June 7, national-security adviser Jake Sullivan said during a press conference. It was the second call between the leaders since Mr. Biden took office in January.
KYIV – A bipartisan Congressional delegation of three U.S. Senators visited Ukraine on June 2 to reaffirm bicameral legislative support for Ukraine amid Russian aggression and efforts to implement pro-democratic reforms.