Ukraine, Briefly

Listen to Today's Edition:

• EU finance ministers approved a European Commission proposal for about $1 billion in financial support to Ukraine in the form of a long-term concessional loan, Politico reported The money will be backed by an EU budget guarantee, and interest payments will be subsidized by the EU budget. The assistance is part of an international effort to fix Ukraine’s budget deficit and prevent the country from becoming a financial disaster.

• The United Nations will investigate the deaths of children caused by Ukraine’s war, said UN Secretary-General António Guterres, adding to the mounting worldwide criticism of Russia’s war and its attacks on civilians, according to the New York Times.

• A petition in Ukraine advocating for the legalization of same-sex marriage has gathered enough signatures for the president to consider the idea, the BBC noted. The petition received more than 28,000 signatures, meaning President Volodymyr Zelenskyy now has 10 days to respond. Homosexuality is not illegal in the country but same-sex marriages and civil unions are not recognized.