US President Joe Biden has urged Congress to expedite the approval of a $90 billion foreign aid package, of which $60 billion is designated for Ukraine. This request comes as the Senate has passed the bill, but the House of Representatives has yet to set a vote date. Concurrently, Biden announced an additional $300 million in weapons aid to support Ukraine amidst Russia’s ongoing invasion. In a meeting with Irish Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, both leaders underscored the importance of international support for Ukraine, with Biden emphasizing the need for a united transatlantic response to deter Russian aggression. Varadkar assured to promote the aid package in discussions with Congressional and EU leaders.

In related news, Odesa, a southern port city in Ukraine, was subjected to a fatal missile attack by Russia, resulting in at least 20 deaths and over 70 injuries. This “double tap strike” marked a grim escalation in the ongoing conflict, with casualties including emergency response personnel. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has promised a “fair response” to the aggression. The city has faced repeated assaults in recent weeks, underscoring the intensifying nature of the conflict. Amid these developments, Ukrainian retaliatory measures against Russian targets have been reported. The volatile situation remains closely monitored by the international community as the conflict between Russia and Ukraine persists.