Ukraine Russia Conflict: Zelenskiy says he is grateful to Joe Biden for his funding of Ukraine aid

Ukraine president Volodymyr Zelenskiy said he is “grateful” to Joe Biden, after the US president signed a support package Saturday providing nearly $40 billion, or £32 billion, in aid for Ukraine. Zelensky said "The leadership of [America], President Biden & the American people in supporting [Ukraine’s] fight against the Russian aggressor is crucial. Look forward to new, powerful defense assistance. Today it is needed more than ever.”

Meanwhile, Russia on 24th February launched the war on Ukraine. And, according to the latest updates, Russia has declared victory in its months-long operation to capture the strategic port of Mariupol after Ukraine ordered the last of its troops holed up in the city’s Azovstal steelworks to lay down their arms. Russian defence ministry spokesman Igor Konashenko said 2,439 Ukrainian personnel had surrendered at the steelworks since May 16, the final 500 on Friday. Zelenskiy said Russia should be made to pay for every home, school, hospital and business it destroys. He called on Ukraine’s partners to seize Russian funds and property under their jurisdiction and use them to create a fund to compensate those who suffered.