US delivering some weapons to Ukraine after pause
The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday.
Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine.
The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration.
Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight.
The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement.
Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday.
Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace".
But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives".
Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion.
The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted.
It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together.
Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18.
The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time.
The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv.
The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday.
Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine.
The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration.
Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight.
The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement.
Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday.
Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace".
But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives".
Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion.
The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted.
It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together.
Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18.
The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time.
The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv.
The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday.
Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine.
The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration.
Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight.
The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement.
Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday.
Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace".
But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives".
Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion.
The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted.
It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together.
Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18.
The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time.
The United States is delivering artillery shells and mobile rocket artillery missiles to Ukraine, days after President Donald Trump's administration had halted shipments of some critical weapons to Kyiv.
The pause in some weapon shipments last week appears to have been tied to concerns that US military stockpiles might be too low, two officials said on Wednesday.
Since then, Trump said he did not know who ordered the pause and that he would send more weapons to Ukraine, primarily defensive ones, to help the war-torn country defend itself against intensifying Russian advances.
The officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 155mm artillery shells and GMLRS (mobile rocket artillery) missiles were now being provided to Ukraine.
The officials did not say how many weapons were being sent and whether the shipment was complete. It was also unclear whether the new shipment represented any change in policy by the administration.
Russia targeted Ukraine with a record 728 drones overnight.
The attack, which follows a series of escalating air assaults on Ukraine in recent weeks, showed the need for "biting" sanctions on the sources of income Russia uses to finance the war, including on those who buy Russian oil, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Telegram.
Ukraine's military downed almost all the drones but some of the six hypersonic missiles launched by Russia had caused unspecified damage, air force spokesman Yurii Ihnat said on Ukrainian television.
Meanwhile, Pope Leo has told visiting Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy that the Vatican is willing to host Russia-Ukraine peace talks.
The Pope, meeting the Ukrainian leader for the second time in his two-month-old papacy, also discussed "the urgent need for a just and lasting peace," the Vatican said in a statement.
Zelenskiy and Leo held talks in Castel Gandolfo, a small Italian hill town not far from Rome, where the Pope is having a two-week holiday.
Zelenskiy said on X that holding talks with Russia in the Vatican would be "entirely possible, with the goal of stopping Russian aggression and achieving a stable, lasting, and genuine peace".
But he said Russia had rejected such proposals, "as it has turned down all other peace initiatives".
Russian officials have told Reuters in the past that they did not see the Vatican as a serious venue for talks because it is surrounded by NATO military alliance member Italy which has supported Ukraine.
The Ukrainian leader is in Italy to attend a conference on July 10-11 dedicated to Ukraine's recovery and long-term reconstruction following Russia's invasion.
The Vatican did not say how long the meeting between Leo and Zelenskiy lasted.
It released video showing Leo, the first US-born pontiff, asking Zelenskiy "How are things going?" in English as they sat in a large room together.
Leo, who has made appealing for peace in world conflicts a major theme of his young papacy, previously met Zelenskiy at the Vatican on May 18.
The Pope also held a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin on June 4, during which the Vatican said Leo had asked Putin to take concrete steps to end Russia's three-year war on Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump suggested in May that Leo had offered to host Ukraine-Russia peace talks although the pontiff did not discuss it publicly at the time.
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The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticised parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014, and damages trust with international partners. It accused authorities of "dismantling" Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture. Zelenskiy said the new law clears out "Russian influence" from the fight against corruption and ensures punishment for those found guilty of it, after what he said were years-long delays in criminal proceedings involving huge amounts of money. "The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated," Zelenskiy said in a Telegram post. "For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason - in very nice countries and without legal consequences - and this is not normal." He didn't provide examples of what he said was Russian interference. 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He said all government agencies agreed to work constructively and respond to public expectations for fairness and effectiveness. A detailed joint action plan is expected within two weeks, aimed at addressing institutional weaknesses, removing legal hurdles, and ensuring justice across the board, he said. Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday evening to urge Zelenskyy to veto the controversial bill. After Zelenskyy approved it, activists called on social media for another demonstration in Kyiv on Wednesday evening. The legislation tightens government oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies. Critics say the step could significantly weaken the independence of those agencies and grant Zelenskyy's circle greater influence over investigations. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in its fight against Russia's three-year invasion. "Limiting the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agency hampers Ukraine's way towards the EU," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned in a post on X EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, also on X, noted: "In war trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons - difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership." The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticised parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014, and damages trust with international partners. It accused authorities of "dismantling" Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture. Zelenskiy said the new law clears out "Russian influence" from the fight against corruption and ensures punishment for those found guilty of it, after what he said were years-long delays in criminal proceedings involving huge amounts of money. "The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated," Zelenskiy said in a Telegram post. "For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason - in very nice countries and without legal consequences - and this is not normal." He didn't provide examples of what he said was Russian interference. Ukrainian activists have called for further protests against a law they say weakens anti-corruption watchdogs, following the first major demonstration against the country's government in more than three years of war. The legislation has also drawn rebukes from European Union officials and international rights groups. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, under pressure as the change threatened to endanger his public support at a critical time in the war, convened the heads of Ukraine's key anti-corruption and security agencies in a response to the outcry against his decision to approve the new law that was passed by parliament. "We all hear what society says," Zelenskiy wrote on Telegram after the meeting. But he insisted the new legal framework was needed to crack down harder on corruption. "Criminal cases should not drag on for years without verdicts, and those working against Ukraine must not feel comfortable or immune from punishment," the Ukrainian leader said. He said all government agencies agreed to work constructively and respond to public expectations for fairness and effectiveness. A detailed joint action plan is expected within two weeks, aimed at addressing institutional weaknesses, removing legal hurdles, and ensuring justice across the board, he said. Thousands of people gathered in Kyiv and other cities across Ukraine on Tuesday evening to urge Zelenskyy to veto the controversial bill. After Zelenskyy approved it, activists called on social media for another demonstration in Kyiv on Wednesday evening. The legislation tightens government oversight of two key anti-corruption agencies. Critics say the step could significantly weaken the independence of those agencies and grant Zelenskyy's circle greater influence over investigations. Fighting entrenched corruption is crucial for Ukraine's aspirations to join the EU and maintain access to billions of dollars in Western aid in its fight against Russia's three-year invasion. "Limiting the independence of Ukraine's anti-corruption agency hampers Ukraine's way towards the EU," German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul warned in a post on X EU Defence Commissioner Andrius Kubilius, also on X, noted: "In war trust between the fighting nation and its leadership is more important than modern weapons - difficult to build and to keep, but easy to lose with one significant mistake by the leadership." The Ukrainian branch of Transparency International criticised parliament's decision, saying it undermines one of the most significant reforms since what Ukraine calls its Revolution of Dignity in 2014, and damages trust with international partners. It accused authorities of "dismantling" Ukraine's anti-corruption architecture. Zelenskiy said the new law clears out "Russian influence" from the fight against corruption and ensures punishment for those found guilty of it, after what he said were years-long delays in criminal proceedings involving huge amounts of money. "The cases that have been lying dormant must be investigated," Zelenskiy said in a Telegram post. "For years, officials who have fled Ukraine have been casually living abroad for some reason - in very nice countries and without legal consequences - and this is not normal." He didn't provide examples of what he said was Russian interference.
