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Ukraine faces difficult weeks in its fight to stem Russian advances on the battlefield despite the passage this weekend of a long-awaited U.S. funding bill, according to officials, soldiers and Ukrainian military analysts.
The US House of Representatives passed a $60 billion military aid package on Saturday evening, after months of delays that left Ukraine short of critical weapons in the face of Russian advances.
American weapons and ammunition will begin flowing into Ukraine in the coming days if the bill is approved by the US Senate this week, as is widely expected.
But troops on the front line told the FT during a visit this month that they were barely holding on in the face of relentless Russian attacks to which they were unable to respond in kind. Learn more about Ukraine’s race against time to deploy US funding.
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Notice: The vote to provide additional funds to Ukraine, along with separate votes providing substantial aid to Israel and Taiwan, provide a clear picture of how America – and its key allies in Europe and in Asia – now see the world. Gideon Rachman explains why Ukraine is on the front lines of a much larger conflict.
And here’s what I’m keeping an eye on today:
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Election in India: The country will resume voting in 11 polling stations in Manipur after reports of violence and damage to voting machines in the northeastern state. (Reuters)
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Chinese Navy: China is hosting foreign naval officials from dozens of countries, including the United States, at the Western Pacific Naval Symposium in Qingdao. (Reuters)
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Trump’s hush money trial: Opening arguments begin in the criminal trial of former US President Donald Trump.
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Iran-Pakistan relations: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi begins a three-day visit to Pakistan.
Five other headline news
1. Exclusive: Singapore offered international banks an unusual series of high-level briefings on geopolitics as it seeks to reassure them that the financial center can remain stable and neutral at a time of growing tensions between China and the West. The meetings took place with U.S. and European financial institutions, including Citigroup and Standard Chartered, as well as some local banks, according to people familiar with the negotiations. Here’s what else we know.
2. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken will warn China that the US will take punitive measures unless it stops sending weapons-related technologies to Russia. Blinken will raise the issue during a visit to China this week, but he has no plans to reveal what steps the United States will take. But several people familiar with the matter said Washington was considering sanctions against Chinese financial institutions and other entities.
3. Western pharmaceutical groups warn of worsening disruptions in supply chains due to certification issues at manufacturing sites in China. “A large number” of German factory inspectors, Europe’s largest inspection service, refuse to travel to China for fear of arrest, according to the German Association of Medicine Manufacturers.
4. The United States should blacklist a controversial Israeli military unit for alleged human rights violations against Palestinians. in the occupied West Bank, as part of its first sanctions against the Israeli Defense Forces. The sanctions would prohibit the transfer of U.S. military weapons or any other assistance to the Netzah Yehuda Battalion, an all-male IDF infantry unit made up of ultra-Orthodox Jewish and religious nationalist recruits.
5. Indonesia’s sovereign wealth fund aims to invest up to $1 billion this year, with green energy one of its priorities. The Indonesia Investment Authority is in talks over potential investments in the electric vehicle ecosystem and geothermal energy, as the Southeast Asian country aims to become a green transition hub thanks to its vast nickel reserves.
Explanation
Who pulls the strings of power in Iran? While the country appears to be under the strict control of a single cleric, the Islamic Republic’s ruling elite has actually entered a period of significant change as factions prepare for battle to succeed the aging supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. Political change has become a crucial factor for security in the Middle East, as Iran’s decades-long enmity toward Israel has reached dangerous new heights in recent weeks.
We also read. . .
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The danger of the very serious person: Adults are needed in these troubled times, but they need to do a better job on the climate problem, writes Pilita Clark.
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Kant and the arguments for peace: Three centuries after his birth, the Prussian philosopher’s arguments in favor of rational and lucid pacifism are more relevant than ever.
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Markets: Although the reaction to the latest Iran-Israel hostilities has been muted, the global economy is too fragile for a new crisis, writes Mohamed El-Erian.
Chart of the day
India is bracing for “severe heatwaves” in its general election, which will take place over the next six weeks in staggered rounds of voting ending on June 1. The extended period of outdoor gatherings, roadshows and voting will coincide with temperatures expected to exceed 45C in places.
Take a break from the news
If you’re still having trouble not looking at yourself when you’re in a Zoom meeting, then you’re not alone. The FT’s Elaine Moore explains why the rise of video calls has given rise to a whole new set of problems for tech companies – and for us.
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