JOHN KIRBY

Germany G7 Summit U.S. President Joe Biden, right, waves as he walks past Bavarian mountain riflemen and traditional costumers after his arrival at Franz-Josef-Strauss Airport near Munich, Germany, Saturday, June 25, 2022, ahead of the G7 summit. Biden is in Germany to attend a Group of Seven summit of leaders of the world's major industrialized nations. Biden arrived in Germany's picturesque Bavarian alps early Sunday morning for the annual meeting of the leading democratic economies, where the reverberations from the brutal war in Ukraine will be front and center in the discussion. He and the allies aim to present a united front in support of Ukraine as the conflict enters its fourth month. Officials were also to discuss how to maintain commitments to address climate change while also solving critical energy supply needs as a result of the war.

President Joe Biden and Western allies at a three-day summit in the Bavarian Alps say they're intent on keeping economic fallout from the war in Ukraine from fracturing the global coalition working to punish Russia’s aggression.

President Joe Biden is aiming to sustain the global alliance punishing Russia for its invasion of Ukraine as he embarks on a five-day trip to Europe.

The families of 27-year-old Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh and 39-year-old Alexander Drueke fear the men may be Russian prisoners of war.

The families of 27-year-old Andy Tai Ngoc Huynh and 39-year-old Alexander Drueke fear the men may be Russian prisoners of war.

Two U.S. veterans from Alabama who were in Ukraine assisting in the war against Russia haven’t been heard from in days and are missing.

Efforts are underway at the Idaho-Oregon border to ensure safe travel for women seeking out-of-state abortions in a post-Roe v. Wade America.

Efforts are underway at the Idaho-Oregon border to ensure safe travel for women seeking out-of-state abortions in a post-Roe v. Wade America.

U.S. to send long-range artillery systems to Ukraine

When Russia invaded Ukraine on Feb. 24, it had hoped to overtake the country in a blitz lasting only days or a few weeks.

Pentagon Kirby Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Alex Brandon)WASHINGTON — (AP) — President Joe Biden on Friday named Pentagon press secretary John Kirby to be the new National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications. Kirby "will coordinate interagency efforts to explain United States policy and will serve as a senior administration voice on related matters," the White House said in a statement. Kirby has been a fixture on cable news, particularly during the Ukraine crisis, and is valued in the administration for seeming to handle even the thorniest foreign policy questions with ease. The NSC under Biden has not previously had someone in a dedicated, high-level strategic communications role.

President Joe Biden has named Pentagon press secretary John Kirby to be the new National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications.

The veteran Defense Department spokesman will appear at White House briefings occasionally, in the same manner as other top officials like national security adviser Jake Sullivan.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy devoted his nightly video address to Ukraine’s demand that Russia be held financially responsible for the damage its forces are inflicting on Ukraine.

Pentagon Kirby Pentagon spokesman John Kirby speaks during a media briefing at the Pentagon, Thursday, May 19, 2022, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) (Alex Brandon)Pentagon press secretary John Kirby is joining the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter, adding star power to the President Joe Biden's National Security Council. The person familiar with the matter confirmed Kirby's move to the White House on the condition of anonymity before it was announced publicly. Kirby is expected to be working closely with new press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre, including making occasional appearances in the White House briefing room, the person said. He was said to have been one of the contenders to replace former White House press secretary Jen Psaki.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby is joining the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter, adding star power to the West Wing’s foreign policy communications team.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby is joining the White House, according to a person familiar with the matter, adding star power to the President Joe Biden's National Security Council. Kirby, who also served as the top spokesman at the Pentagon and the State Department during the Obama administration, is expected to take handle strategic communications for the NSC, as the West Wing navigates a range of foreign policy challenges, from Russia's invasion of Ukraine to North Korea's nuclear program. Kirby has been a fixture on cable news, particularly during the Ukraine crisis, and is valued in the administration for seeming to handle even the thorniest foreign policy questions with ease.

Placeholder while article actions loadPentagon spokesman John Kirby will move to the White House in a senior communications role, according to two people familiar with the personnel move. Kirby’s move to the White House comes after Karine Jean-Pierre took over as White House press secretary from Jen Psaki, who left the administration last week. Kirby met with President Biden at the White House the day after he offered the press secretary job to Jean-Pierre. On May 16 White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre said “representation matters” during her first, historic briefing serving in the role. (Video: The Washington Post)Kirby is expected to be heavily involved in White House communications, including working closely with the National Security Council.

The U.S. military committed a number of procedural mistakes in the aftermath of a 2019 airstrike in Syria that killed dozens, including women and children, but a new investigation has concluded that U.S. troops did not violate the law of war or deliberately cause civilian casualties.

Russia Ukraine FILE - In this photo provided by the Russian Defense Ministry Press Service, Russian navy missile cruiser Moskva is on patrol in the Mediterranean Sea near the Syrian coast on Dec. 17, 2015. (Russian Defense Ministry Press Service via AP, File) (Uncredited)WASHINGTON — (AP) — The Biden administration sought Friday to downplay the role of American intelligence in the high-profile sinking of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva, distancing itself from any direct role in one of the greatest embarrassments for Russia since it attacked Ukraine. “We had no prior knowledge of Ukraine’s intent to target the ship,” White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said. “The Ukrainians have their own intelligence capabilities to track and target Russian naval vessels, as they did in this case. As the war has gone on, the White House has ramped up its military and intelligence support, removing some time and geographic limits on what it will tell Ukraine about potential Russian targets.

The Pentagon says it provided intelligence to Ukraine before the Russian missile cruiser Moskva was struck by missiles and sank last month.

President Joe Biden on Friday authorized the shipment of another $150 million in military assistance for Ukraine for artillery rounds and radar systems in its fight against Russia’s invading forces.

The U.S. says it shared intelligence with Ukraine about the location of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva before the strike that sank the warship.

The Biden administration sought Friday to downplay the role of American intelligence in the high-profile sinking of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva, distancing itself from any direct role in one of the greatest embarrassments for Russia since it attacked Ukraine.

Dozens more civilians have been rescued from the tunnels under the besieged steel plant where Ukrainian fighters in Mariupol are making their last stand.

Intelligence the U.S. provided showed the location of the Moskva, but the U.S. had no role in the decision to strike it.

Intelligence the U.S. provided showed the location of the Moskva, but the U.S. had no role in the decision to strike it.

The United States provided Ukraine with intelligence that helped Kyiv add: identify, attack and sink the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea fleet, the Moskva, in one of the most dramatic battlefield successes of the 71-day old war, according to people familiar with the matter.

Pentagon says Russia's attempts to hit Western weapons flowing into Ukraine having 'no impact'

President Joe Biden is crediting the assembly line workers at a Javelin missile plant for doing lifesaving work in building the antitank weapons that are being sent to Ukraine.

With Western military aid flowing into Ukraine, a Pentagon official said Russia’s assault on the Donbas is meeting strong resistance.

Pentagon press secretary John Kirby on Friday became visibly emotional as he talked about the horrors that have been unfolding in Ukraine since Russia invaded in February.

The Ukrainian military says it destroyed a Russian command post in Kherson, a southern city that fell to Russian forces early in the war.

The U.S. has committed $3.4 billion to Ukraine since the start of the invasion about two months ago.

That is an extraordinary total of U.S. military aid for a country to which the United States has no defense treaty obligation. A look at the U.S. assistance and U.S. expectations for what it will accomplish:WHY IS ARTILLERY SO IMPORTANT NOW? Heavy weapons such as artillery are shaping up as a key feature of the unfolding battle for Ukraine's eastern region known as the Donbas. U.S. officials say the Russians are trying to adjust their approach in Ukraine after early setbacks, suggesting the fight could be a long one. Kirby said the drones are especially well suited for the terrain on which the Ukrainians are fighting in the Donbas.

The Biden administration’s decision to dramatically ramp up delivery of artillery guns to Ukraine eight weeks into the war signals a deepening American military commitment at a pivotal stage of fighting for the country’s industrial heartland.

The Russian military says it has successfully performed the first test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon President Vladimir Putin said would make the West “think twice” before harboring any aggressive intentions against Russia

The Russian military says it has successfully performed the first test of a new intercontinental ballistic missile, a weapon President Vladimir Putin said would make the West “think twice” before harboring any aggressive intentions against Russia.

Ukrainian soldiers bolster their fortifications in the eastern region of Lugansk as Moscow steps up its military assault on the Donbas.

The U.S. military will be training Ukrainians outside Ukraine on using U.S.-provided Howitzers in coming days.

The U.S. military will be training Ukrainians outside Ukraine on using U.S.-provided Howitzers in coming days.

A barrage of missile strikes across the country also hit the city of Lviv in western Ukraine.

The next chapter of the war in Ukraine could see Russia bringing in greater numbers of battle-hardened fighters from Syria, observers say.

Russia still claims that damage to the Moskva was caused by a fire onboard. The ship later sank.

President Biden on Wednesday authorized an additional $800 million in security assistance for Ukraine, arms transfers that will come with U.S.-provided training for small groups of Ukrainian troops.

This the latest in a series of U.S. security assistance packages valued at a combined $2.6 billion that has been committed to Ukraine.

The White House announced the new assistance as part of an $800 million aid package for Ukraine on Wednesday.

President Joe Biden approved $800 million in new military assistance to Ukraine, including artillery and helicopters, to bolster its defenses against an intensified Russian offensive in the country’s East.

Western weaponry pouring into Ukraine helped blunt Russia’s initial offensive and seems certain to play a central role in the approaching battle for Ukraine’s contested Donbas region.

President Vladimir Putin has vowed that Russia’s bloody offensive in Ukraine would continue until its goals are fulfilled.

U.S. intelligence has observed a massive Russian military convoy making its way south toward Izyum, a strategically important town in northeast Ukraine that Russia seized earlier this month and may use now as a staging point to carry out assaults on larger cities to the south, the Pentagon said Monday.

If Russia were to have used chemical weapons, it would signal a major escalation of its botched invasion of Ukraine, which has stalled after more than a month.

Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, acknowledged in an interview published on Thursday that Russia had sustained “significant losses of troops” and called it a “huge tragedy.” The remarks, which were made to Sky News, are a rare acknowledgement from Moscow of the difficulties Russia has confronted in its invasion of Ukraine. Russia…

"We're able to get it into Ukraine and often into the fight within 48 hours sometimes. I mean, that's incredibly fast," a US official said Wednesday.

The Pentagon said Wednesday the U.S. has given some training to Ukrainians who were in the U.S. already.

Kyiv was a Russian defeat for the ages.

WASHINGTON — In a bid to help Ukrainian forces fighting Russia’s invasion, the U.S. Department of Defense confirmed on Friday that the United States will provide $300 million in additional security assistance to Ukraine, including drones, armored vehicles and machine guns, among other support. >> Read more trending newsIn a news release, the department stated that it had notified Congress of “additional assistance activities under authority provided by the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative.”The initiative allows the U.S. to procure arms directly from manufacturers instead of delivering weapons from its own stockpiles to Ukraine, Pentagon press secretary John Kirby told The Washington Post on Friday. The package includes tactical secure communications systems, a counter-unmanned aerial system, nonstandard machine guns and other defense systems, The Hill reported. According to the Post, the Pentagon has committed more than $1.6 billion in security assistance for Ukraine since Russia invaded the neighboring country on Feb. 24. Most notably, the new aid will include the provision of Puma unmanned aerial systems, which are hand-launched lightweight drones that can fly for about two hours with a range of about a dozen miles, the Post reported.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says Ukrainian troops retaking areas around Kyiv and Chernihiv are not allowing Russians to retreat without a fight, but are “shelling them.

Officials see Mariupol as the linchpin for the conflict.

Experts expect the Wagner Group will supplement Russia's military forces in Ukraine as the invasion continues.

Experts expect the Wagner Group will supplement Russia's military forces in Ukraine as the invasion continues.

WASHINGTON — (AP) — The U.S. military needs to adjust its planning, training, targeting and use of weapons in order to better avoid widespread civilian deaths and damage such as the devastating 2017 battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State militants, a new RAND report said Thursday. “No other military works as hard as we do to mitigate civilian harm, and yet we still cause it,” said Kirby. Initially the U.S.-led coalition estimted that it was responsible for 38 incidents involving 240 civilian casualties — including 178 who were killed. U.S. troops on the ground could have provided better targeting and civilian information, including on Islamic State militants' efforts to use civilians as human shields, the report said. RAND recommended that the U.S. military provide more extensive training and guidance on the need to avoid civilian harm, and plan and execute operations in ways to achieve those goals.

A new report says the U.S. military needs to adjust its planning, targeting and use of weapons in order to better avoid widespread civilian deaths and damage such as the devastating 2017 battle to liberate the Syrian city of Raqqa from Islamic State militants.

The Russians are pulling some troops away from Ukraine's capital Kyiv. But what exactly does this mean? U.S. and Ukrainian officials suspect Moscow may just be pausing before another big offensive.

Ukrainian authorities at the Chernobyl nuclear power plant say Russian forces have left the damaged plant.

Russian President Vladimir Putin's advisers may be afraid to tell him the ward is going badly, U.S. officials said.

The U.S. intelligence community has concluded that Putin was unaware his military was using - and losing - conscripts in Ukraine.

The American-made guided missiles are part of a new military arms package for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is at a “turning point” in the war with Russia.

The Russian military has begun to move some of its troops in Ukraine away from the areas around Kyiv to positions elsewhere in Ukraine.

The Black Sea port of Odesa is mining its beaches and rushing to defend itself from a Mariupol-style fate.

Russian forces in Ukraine appear to have shifted their focus from a ground offensive aimed at Kyiv to instead prioritizing what Moscow calls liberation of the contested Donbas region.

Lack of communication leaves the world’s two largest nuclear powers in the dark about explanations for military movements.

NATO is estimating that 7,000 to 15,000 Russian soldiers have been killed in a month of fighting in Ukraine.

Ukraine is fighting to 'regain territory,' Pentagon says

As it continued its barrage of the besieged city of Mariupol, Russia demanded that Ukrainians put down their arms and raise white flags on Monday in exchange for safe passage out of town.

More than three weeks into his invasion of Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin's initial aim of an easy change in government in Ukraine is long gone.

President Joe Biden’s national security adviser has warned a top Chinese official about China’s support for Russia in the Ukrainian invasion — even as the Kremlin denies anew that it has requested Chinese military equipment.

Greater collaboration with European allies could be required as the U.S. attempts to keep Ukraine fighting with weapons they know or can learn quickly.

As Russia intensifies its assault on Ukraine, it is getting a helping hand from China in spreading inflammatory and unsubstantiated claims that the U.S. is financing biological weapons labs in Ukraine.

The United States has accused Russia of using a U.N. Security Council meeting for “spreading disinformation” as part of a potential false-flag operation by Moscow for the use of chemical or biological agents in Ukraine.

Some say more protests and clandestine operations will come as the conflict progresses, and the use of different weaponry could come into play.

Some say more protests and clandestine operations will come as the conflict progresses, and the use of different weaponry could come into play.

The U.S. Treasury Department is placing new sanctions on three Russian companies after North Korea tested parts of its biggest intercontinental ballistic missile in two recent launches.

The Biden administration is warning that Russia might seek to use chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine as the White House rejected Russian claims of illegal chemical weapons development in the country it has invaded.

Russian airstrikes have hit three hospitals in Ukraine, including two west of the capital and a maternity hospital in Mariupol, where 17 people were wounded.

Hundreds of Ukrainians living in towns occupied by Russian troops in the outskirts of Kyiv have fled.

Two weeks into its war in Ukraine, Russia has achieved less and struggled more than anticipated at the outset of the biggest land conflict in Europe since World War II.

The Defense Department says it will permanently close the Navy’s massive Hawaii fuel tank facility that leaked petroleum into Pearl Harbor’s tap water.

A massive Russian military convoy has sat, largely stalled about 15 miles (25 kilometers) outside the Ukrainian capital.

Russia’s failure thus far to win complete control of Ukrainian airspace has been a surprise, given Russian military strength and the importance of dominating the skies.

The Pentagon has approved the deployment of 700 unarmed National Guard troops to Washington, D.

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says the Ukraine crisis has grown into “the most dangerous moment” for Europe in decades, while his top diplomat held icy talks with her Moscow counterpart who said the Kremlin won’t accept lectures from the West.

Reporters covering the Pentagon and U.S. military are protesting what they say is a refusal to allow access to the thousands of U.S. troops being deployed in Europe in response to rising tensions between Russia and Ukraine.

White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan says Russia could invade Ukraine “any day," launching a conflict that would come at an “enormous human cost."

When helicopters carrying some 50 U.S. commandos landed in Syria an hour after midnight, the raiders confronted a houseful of extremists and children.

The U.S. is accusing the Kremlin of an elaborate plot to fabricate an attack by Ukrainian forces that Russia could use as a pretext to take military action against its neighbor.

President Joe Biden says the leader of the Islamic State group has been killed in Syria during an operation by an elite U.S. military force.

The Pentagon says Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered about 8,500 U.S. troops on heightened alert, preparing for possible deployment to Europe, if needed, to reassure NATO allies in the face of Russian aggression on the border of Ukraine.

Officials and activists say Kurdish-led fighters advanced slowly under the cover of U.S.-led coalition air power in Syria’s northeast.