Ukrainian officials say at least one person was killed after Russia fired missiles at capital during UN chief’s visit.
- Ukrainian rescue officials say at least one person has been killed and 10 others injured after two explosions hit the capital during UN chief Antonio Guterres’ visit.
- Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba denounces the attack in Kyiv as a “heinous act of barbarism”.
- Guterres says the United Nations is working to secure evacuations from a steel plant in the besieged port city of Mariupol.
- US President Joe Biden asks Congress for $33bn to support Ukraine.
Here are all the latest updates:
‘Heinous act of barbarism’: Ukraine FM says of Kyiv attack
Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba has denounced attacks on the capital Kyiv as a “heinous act of barbarism”.
Ukrainian officials said at least one person had been killed and at least 10 others injured after Russia fired two missiles at the city.
“By this heinous act of barbarism Russia demonstrates once again its attitude towards Ukraine, Europe and the world,” Kuleba tweeted. Defence Minister Oleksiy Reznikov also said it was “an attack on the security of the Secretary General and on world security”.
Russia stroke Kyiv with cruise missiles right when UN Secretary General @antonioguterres and Bulgarian PM @KirilPetkov visit our capital. By this heinous act of barbarism Russia demonstrates once again its attitude towards Ukraine, Europe and the world.
— Dmytro Kuleba (@DmytroKuleba) April 28, 2022
US House passes military lend-lease bill to speed Ukraine aid
The US House of Representatives has given final passage to legislation that would streamline a World War II-era military lend-lease program to more quickly provide Ukraine and other Eastern European countries with American equipment to fight the Russian invasion.
The measure, which passed by an overwhelming 417-10 vote, now goes to the White House for Biden to sign into law.
House Foreign Affairs Committee Gregory Meeks of New York said with unified support from the US Congress, “Ukraine will win”.
Russia maintains Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol must lay down weapons
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov has said Russian President Vladimir Putin had been quite clear that while civilians could leave the steel plant in Mariupol, Ukrainian fighters had to lay down their arms.
“What could be the topic of negotiations in this case?” the Tass news agency quoted Peskov as saying.
Peskov’s comment comes after local governor Pavlo Kyrylenko said Russia was preventing wounded Ukrainian fighters from being evacuated from the plant in the besieged port city in southern Ukraine.
Zelenskyy thanks Biden for funding request
Zelenskyy has thanked Biden for the proposed $33bn in funding for Ukraine, calling it “a very important step” by Washington.
“I am thankful to the American people and personally to President Biden for it. I hope that Congress will quickly approve this request for help to our state,” the Ukrainian president said in a late night video address.
Canada training Ukrainian troops on howitzer artillery
Canada’s Defence Minister Anita Anand has said Canadian troops were training their Ukrainian counterparts on how to use howitzer artillery.
The US has been training a small number of Ukrainian forces on howitzers and some other systems outside of Ukraine.
“Canadian soldiers are now training their Ukrainian counterparts in the use of these weapons,” Anand said during a news conference in Washington, without specifying where the Canadian training was taking place.
White House expects other countries to step up assistance to Ukraine
The White House expects other countries to step up and continue to provide a range of assistance to Ukraine, press secretary Jen Psaki has said.
“Other countries, we expect them to step up as well as this is going to be a sustained effort,” Psaki said.
Her comments came hours after US President Joe Biden said he was asking Congress for $33bn in additional funding to support Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion.
Welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the war in Ukraine.
Read all the updates from Thursday, April 28 here.
