MARIO DRAGHI

Spain NATO Summit NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference at the end of a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain on Thursday, June 30, 2022. North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state met for the final day of a NATO summit in Madrid on Thursday. Johnson spoke at the end of a NATO summit in Madrid dominated by the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ___Sweden plans to send additional military support to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, support weapons and demining equipment that it says Kyiv had requested. ___Italian Premier Mario Draghi is skipping the last day of the NATO summit in Madrid amid simmering tensions in his coalition government.

Spain NATO Summit NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg speaks during a media conference at the end of a NATO summit in Madrid, Spain on Thursday, June 30, 2022. North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state met for the final day of a NATO summit in Madrid on Thursday. Johnson spoke at the end of a NATO summit in Madrid dominated by the consequences of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ___Sweden plans to send additional military support to Ukraine, including anti-tank weapons, support weapons and demining equipment that it says Kyiv had requested. It is also one of only nine of the 30 NATO members meeting the alliance’s target of spending 2% of GDP on defense.

Spain NATO Summit Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, June 30, 2022. North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state will meet for a NATO summit in Madrid from Tuesday through Thursday. His predecessor, populist 5-Star Movement leader Giuseppe Conte, has been seething over issues including Draghi’s staunch support for more military aid for Ukraine. ___Britain is sending 1 billion pounds’ ($1.21 billion) worth of military support to Ukraine, bringing its total military and economic support since the start of the war to 3.8 billion pounds. Britain is the second-largest contributor of military support to Ukraine, after the United States.

Spain NATO Summit Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez arrives for the NATO summit in Madrid, Spain, on Thursday, June 30, 2022. North Atlantic Treaty Organization heads of state will meet for a NATO summit in Madrid from Tuesday through Thursday. (AP Photo/Manu Fernandez) (Manu Fernandez)MADRID — (AP) — The Latest on the final day of the NATO summit in Madrid:Italian Premier Mario Draghi is skipping the last day of the NATO summit in Madrid amid simmering tensions in his coalition government. Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged allies at a NATO summit in Madrid on Thursday to “dig deep” in support of Ukraine. Britain is the second-largest contributor of military support to Ukraine, after the United States.

NATO Summit Biden Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez listens as President Joe Biden speaks at the Palace of Moncloa in Madrid, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. U.S. President Joe Biden is in Spain for the NATO summit. The three countries’ leaders are due to meet in Madrid, alongside Stoltenberg, later Tuesday. ___German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is defending the decision by Group of Seven leaders to soften their commitments on ending public support for fossil fuel investments. The G-7 countries have set aside $29.5 in Ukraine assistance this year, on top of $60 billion since Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014.

Spain NATO Biden President Joe Biden is greeted by Spain's King Felipe VI as he arrives at Madrid's Torrejon Airport, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. The three countries’ leaders are due to meet in Madrid, alongside Stoltenberg, later Tuesday. ___German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is defending the decision by Group of Seven leaders to soften their commitments on ending public support for fossil fuel investments. The G-7 countries have set aside $29.5 in Ukraine assistance this year, on top of $60 billion since Russia’s annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea region in 2014. ___Group of Seven leaders have agreed to spend $4.5 billion on addressing food security issues around the globe exacerbated by rising grain and food costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

To be effective, however, it would have to involve as many consuming countries as possible, in particular India, where refiners have been snapping up cheap Russian oil shunned by Western traders. The U.S. has already blocked Russian oil imports, which were small in any case. Meanwhile, higher global oil prices have softened the blow to Russia's income, even as Western traders shun Russian oil. From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will move to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders, where fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. ___Follow AP's coverage of the G-7 summit at https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit and of Russia's war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

Spain NATO Biden President Joe Biden is greeted by Spain's King Felipe VI as he arrives at Madrid's Torrejon Airport, Tuesday, June 28, 2022. But Draghi, whose country held the G-20 presidency before handing it off to Indonesia, said Tuesday the G-7 had rallied to support Indonesian President Joko Widodo to organize a successful summit. Asked about the Kremlin’s announcement that Putin would participate, Draghi said: “President Widodo excludes it. Unity in the seven democracies’ confrontation with Putin was a key theme of the summit at a luxury resort in the Bavarian Alps. Erdogan confirmed he plans to meet with the leaders of Sweden and Finland, along with NATO’s secretary general, to continue discussions on Turkey’s objections to the two Nordic countries’ NATO membership bids.

The Indonesian presidency of the Group of 20 nations has ruled out in-person participation by Russian President Vladimir Putin at the November meeting of the group in Bali, Italian Premier Mario Draghi said Tuesday. The Nov. 15-16 summit had risked awkward diplomatic encounters if Putin were to have come, or the specter of Western leaders not even showing up given Russia's war in Ukraine. The issue was a topic at the smaller Group of Seven summit in Germany that wrapped up Tuesday and included leaders from five major emerging democratic economies — India, Indonesia, Senegal, South Africa and Argentina — which don't all share the G-7's views on the war in Ukraine or on sanctions against Russia.

He said Tuesday the prices are putting European economies in an “untenable” situation. ___German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is defending the decision by Group of Seven leaders to soften their commitments on ending public support for fossil fuel investments. Asked by reporters at the start of a Tuesday meeting at the Group of Seven summit what was being done to solve the problem, Johnson said officials were trying to find a solution. ___U.S. President Joe Biden is leaving the Group of Seven summit in Germany earlier than scheduled due to bad weather. From there, he would fly via Air Force One to Madrid for the NATO summit.

The leaders say the war in Ukraine means time-limited support for new natural gas extraction projects may be necessary. His comments came at the start of a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. ___U.S. President Joe Biden is leaving the Group of Seven summit in Germany earlier than scheduled due to bad weather. From there, he would fly via Air Force One to Madrid for the NATO summit. Ahead of his early departure, Biden met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi and summit host Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The annual event is taking place in Germany

The summit host, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, said he "once again very emphatically set out the situation as Ukraine currently sees it." Agreement on some of the complexities of the oil price cap — such as whether it would apply only to Russia or to other oil producers — could be left for further discussions beyond the summit. From the secluded Schloss Elmau hotel in the Bavarian Alps, the G-7 leaders will continue straight to Madrid for a summit of NATO leaders — where fallout from Russia's invasion of Ukraine will again dominate the agenda. All G-7 members other than Japan are NATO members, and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida has been invited to Madrid. ___Follow AP's coverage of the G-7 summit at https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summit and of Russia's war in Ukraine at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The White House said Biden “looks forward” to seeing Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Madrid. His comments came at the start of a meeting with U.S. President Joe Biden, French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi. ___U.S. President Joe Biden is leaving the Group of Seven summit in Germany earlier than scheduled due to bad weather. From there, he would fly via Air Force One to Madrid for the NATO summit. Ahead of his early departure, Biden met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi and summit host Chancellor Olaf Scholz.

The Group of Seven leading economic powers are meeting in Germany for their annual gathering Sunday through Tuesday. From there, he would fly via Air Force One to Madrid for the NATO summit. Ahead of his early departure, Biden met with British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, Italy’s Prime Minister Mario Draghi and summit host Chancellor Olaf Scholz. The talks in Germany, which draw to a close Tuesday, want to make sure that Russia pays a high price for its invasion. They also intend to set priorities for the coming decade, with a new focus on checking China’s growing international ambitions.

Leaders of the world’s wealthiest democracies have struck a united stance to support Ukraine for “as long as it takes” as Russia’s invasion grinds on.

The cap also would limit the impact of higher oil prices on inflation in consuming countries, with the cost of gasoline and diesel squeezing consumers and businesses. But much would depend on whether Asian countries like India would go along with the price cap. EU countries, however, need time to line up new sources of oil and are under pressure from the high price of crude. And some Russian oil sales have simply gone off the books. Since European refiners started shunning Russian oil in late February, Russian crude oil imports to Europe fell from 2.04 million barrels per day to 1.49 million between March and May, according to Rystad Energy.

Leaders of the world's biggest developed economies are looking for ways to cut off Russian President Vladimir Putin's oil money, which is helping finance the war against Ukraine.

In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for Kyiv to help Ukraine fight back against Vladimir Putin’s aggression. Leaders were finalizing the deal to seek a price cap during their three-day G-7 summit in the German Alps. The G-7 leaders began Monday's session of their three-day summit with a focus on Ukraine. Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron have tried to facilitate that through active conversations with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Zelenskyy, while also supplying weapons to Ukraine. ___Follow AP's coverage of the G-7 summit: https://apnews.com/hub/g-7-summitFollow AP's coverage of the Russia-Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

G7 Explainer From left, Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi, Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, France's President Emmanuel Macron, Germany's Chancellor Olaf Scholz, US President Joe Biden, Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Japan's Prime Minister Fumio Kishida pose for a group photo at Castle Elmau in Kruen, near Garmisch-Partenkirchen, Germany, on Sunday, June 26, 2022. It's a group of wealthy democracies with large, advanced economies and high standards of living. Annual summits give leaders a chance to hash out common approaches on pretty much anything they want to talk about. The G-7 are also looking for ways to facilitate grain shipments out of Ukraine and to alleviate global food inflation and shortages. The G-7 has faced several criticisms over the years - for excluding developing economies and for its lack of a formal institutional setup.

In 1975, leaders of the world’s wealthy democracies gathered outside Paris to deal with an energy crisis sparked by a war and rampant inflation.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has underscored the urgency of helping his country’s military improve its position against Russia during a video meeting with leading economic powers.

Many of the papers lead on the summit of rich nations as leaders urge continued support for Ukraine.

About 4,000 protesters have gathered in Munich as the Group of Seven leading economic powers are set to hold their annual gathering in the Germany's Bavarian Alps.

Italy’s political landscape has shifted after Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio formalized his departure from the 5-Star Movement.

The European Central Bank has sought to stave off the danger of a sovereign-debt storm with the promise of a new tool to curb market stress after Italian bond yields breached 4% on June 14, the highest since the market turmoil of 2014. Investors are viewing the renewed push to tackle so-called fragmentation as evidence policy makers will fight to prevent borrowing costs in the union from diverging excessively. That’s a dynamic that threatened to rip the euro-zone apart during the crisis a decade

Russia has reduced natural gas to Europe again as countries have worked to ease their dependence on Russian supplies amid the war in Ukraine.

(Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) (Ludovic Marin)KYIV, Ukraine — (AP) — Four European Union leaders say they support fast-tracking Ukraine becoming an official candidate to join the bloc. KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Four European leaders visited Ukraine on Thursday, denouncing the brutality of the Russian invasion in a high-profile show of support amid Kyiv's fears that Western resolve to help the embattled country could wane as the war grinds on. Many in Ukraine hoped that the leaders’ visit could mark a turning point by opening the way to significant new arms supplies — particularly as the officials surveyed the war’s devastation. Several air raid sirens rang out while the European leaders were in their hotel preparing for the rest of their visit, and Kyiv authorities urged people to seek shelter. In Ukraine, Macron responded to criticism of France's response, including his recent comment that Russia shouldn’t be “humiliated,” which deeply angered Ukrainians.

The European Union's executive arm is preparing its recommendation on Ukraine’s request to join the EU.

Many in Ukraine hoped that the leaders’ visit could mark a turning point by opening the way to significant new arms supplies — particularly as the officials surveyed the war’s devastation. Macron, Scholz and Draghi, representing the three largest economies in the European Union, traveled to Kyiv together on a special overnight train provided by the Ukrainian authorities. A number of other European leaders have already made the long trip overland to show solidarity with a nation under attack, even in times when the fighting raged closer to the capital than it does now. Several air raid sirens rang out while the European leaders were in their hotel preparing for the rest of their visit, and Kyiv authorities urged people to seek shelter. In Ukraine, Macron responded to criticism of France's response, including his recent comment that Russia shouldn’t be “humiliated,” which deeply angered Ukrainians.

"And that says a great deal about the brutality of the Russian war of aggression, which is simply out for destruction and conquest. Several air raid sirens rang out while the European leaders were in their hotel preparing for the rest of their visit, and Kyiv authorities urged people to seek shelter. In Ukraine, Macron responded to criticism of France's response, including his recent comment that Russia shouldn’t be “humiliated,” which deeply angered Ukrainians. He has frequent discussions with Zelenskyy and has spoken on the phone several times with Russian President Vladimir Putin since Putin launched the invasion in late February. ___Leicester reported from Kyiv, Ukraine and Corbet from Paris.

Ukraine Russia War Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, left, and French President Emmanuel Macron watch debris as they visit Irpin, outside Kyiv, Thursday, June 16, 2022. “Look at that, ‘Make Europe, not war,’” Macron said, pointing and reading the words out loud in English. The tour preceded a meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He called Irpin, which Ukrainian forces retook as Russian troops retreated from around Kyiv, “a heroic town.”“This is where the Ukrainians stopped the Russian army,” he said. ___Follow AP's coverage of the Ukraine war at https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraineCopyright 2022 The Associated Press.

The leaders of France, Germany and Italy travel to Kyiv to show their support for Ukraine, though some critics say Europe is not doing enough.

Before meeting Ukraine's president, three European leaders took a tour of the devastation wrought by Russia.

Ukraine Russia War French President Emmanuel Macron, third left, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi, second left, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, right, visit Irpin, Ukraine, Thursday, June 16, 2022. (Ludovic Marin, Pool via AP) (Ludovic Marin)IRPIN, Ukraine — (AP) — French President Emmanuel Macron said Thursday that there are signs of war crimes in a Kyiv suburb following “massacres” by Russian forces. The four European leaders arrived earlier in Kyiv to the sound of air raid sirens as they made a high-profile show of collective European support for the Ukrainian people as they resist Russia’s invasion. Several air raid sirens rang out while the European leaders were in their hotel preparing for the rest of their visit, and Kyiv authorities urged people to seek shelter. ___Corbet reported from Paris and Leicester from Kyiv, Ukraine.

Their visit comes as Ukraine is in negotiations to begin the process of joining the European Union and as Russia nears total control of a key eastern region.

Roman Petrenko - Thursday, 16 June 2022, 10:59 Russian leader Vladimir Putin decided to launch missiles during the Kyiv visit of French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi and Romanian President Klaus Iohannis.

PARIS — (AP) — The French presidency said Thursday that French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Premier Mario Draghi were on their way to Kyiv. The Europeans leaders are expected to meet with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy as they prepare for a key European Union leaders’ summit in Brussels next week and a June 29-30 NATO summit in Madrid. The French presidency did not provide other details. The leaders are scheduled to consider Ukraine’s request for EU candidate status. Macron is deeply involved in diplomatic efforts to push for a cease-fire in Ukraine that would allow future peace negotiations.

The French presidency says French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Premier Mario Draghi are on their way to Kyiv

Four European leaders expressed support for Ukraine while meeting in Kyiv with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, vowing to back the country’s candidacy to eventually join the European Union and offering more weapons to fend off Russia’s invasion.

The European Central Bank has vowed to come up with a new, unspecified market backstop that could be used to buffer some countries against bond market turmoil similar to what shook the 19-country eurozone during a debt crisis more than a decade ago.

European leaders visiting Israel expressed hope that natural gas supplies from the eastern Mediterranean could help reduce dependence on Russia

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz declined to comment Monday on reports that he is planning to visit Ukraine together with his counterparts from France and Italy soon.

An adviser to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office says Russian troops have changed their tactics in the battle for Sievierodonetsk.

(Ukrainian Presidential Press Office via AP) (Uncredited)ROME — Russia’s ambassador in Rome has been summoned to the Italian foreign ministry, following anti-Italy remarks by Russian government officials. The foreign ministry said in a statement on Monday that Ambassador Sergey Razov was summoned on instructions on Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and “in concert” with the office of Italian Premier Mario Draghi. Last month, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov derided Di Maio’s peace plan, which had been relayed to the United Nations. The foreign ministry statement said Secretary General Ettore Francesco Sequi “firmly rejects accusations of amorality” aimed at some heads of Italian institutions and media. The fight in Ukraine is about honoring these veterans of World War II,” he said.

The chairman of the African Union, Senegal’s President Macy Sall, has told Russian President Vladimir Putin that the fighting in Ukraine and Western sanctions had worsened food shortages, He appealed to other countries to ensure grain and fertilizer exports aren’t blocked.

Italy has become the only country in Europe to increase Russian crude oil imports in an unintended consequence of European Union sanctions against Russia.

African countries imported 44% of their wheat from Russia and Ukraine between 2018 and 2020, according to the U.N. ___KYIV, Ukraine — Ukraine has welcomed the European Union’s decision to block most imports of Russian oil. “The oil embargo will speed up the countdown to the collapse of the Russian economy and war machine,” Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said in a statement. He said he had agreed with Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis to draw up a similar deal after a European Union summit. ___Russia’s top diplomat has again blamed the hampering of exports of Ukrainian grain and a global food crisis on Kyiv and the West.

Families across Africa are paying about 45% more for wheat flour as Russia's war in Ukraine blocks exports from the Black Sea.

A roundup of key developments and the latest in-depth coverage of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Finland's state-owned energy company says Russia will cut off natural gas to Finland after the Nordic country that applied for NATO membership this week refused President Vladimir Putin’s demand to pay in rubles.

Giorgia Meloni’s party sprang from the ashes of fascism. She’s now the favorite to succeed Mario Draghi.

United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Wednesday he's in “intense contacts” with Russia and other countries to stop escalating global hunger exacerbated by the war in Ukraine by allowing the export of grain stored in Ukrainian ports and ensuring Russian food and fertilizers have unrestricted access to world markets.

Russia Ukraine War Energy Competition FILE - A view of hardware of the Jauniunai Gas Compressor station, near Vilnius, Lithuania, ON May 5, 2022. They're trying to fill underground reserves while still cutting use of Russian natural gas over the war in Ukraine. While those deals offer a long-term boost, they likely will have little impact on the crucial winter supplies that will be decided in the next several months. The EU's executive commission has proposed conservation, renewable development and other measures to reach that goal, with Germany and other countries heavily dependent on Russian gas opposing calls for an immediate gas cutoff. S&P Global Insight expects that Europe won't eliminate most Russian gas until 2027.

Europeans are basking in the warmth of spring, but their governments are in a race against winter.

While Russia makes Brexit spats look petty, the new “shrinkflation” — slowing growth and rising inflation — poses a similar challenge to UK and EU central bankers.

US Italy Biden President Joe Biden and Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi meet in the Oval Office of the White House, Tuesday, May 10, 2022, in Washington. Biden did not echo Draghi's comments, and U.S. officials appear openly skeptical that there's a way to restart talks at this point. Biden and Draghi still emphasized their two countries' deep ties and their work on Ukraine. “You’ve been a good friend and a great ally,” Biden said, adding that the allies had “all stepped up” to confront Russia. Echoing comments that Biden has often made, Draghi added that Putin “thought he could divide us.

President Joe Biden has hosted Italian Premier Mario Draghi at the White House as the U.S. works to maintain trans-Atlantic unity over the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

Italy US Ukraine FILE - U.S. President Joe Biden, left, shakes hands with Italy's Prime Minister Mario Draghi prior to a ceremony at the Chigi Palace in Rome, Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. Still, there are differences in tone over the war, and public sentiment in Italy against sending arms to Ukraine is growing. Italy gets 40% of its natural gas from Russia, and economic trade last year amounted to 20 billion euros. “There is the position of the countries that see in the war in Ukraine the possibility, or the hope, of the diminishment of Russian power. But Draghi can also point to parliament’s overwhelming support to aid Ukraine last month to play down any friction within his broad-based coalition.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi meets with U.S. President Biden this week in Washington as Europe faces another “whatever it takes” moment, with war raging on its eastern flank in Ukraine.

The U.S. also announced new sanctions against Russia for its invasion of Ukraine.

French President Emmanuel Macron's reelection has bolstered his standing as a senior player in Europe.

President Joe Biden is set to announce plans to send additional military aid to help Ukraine fight back against the Russian invasion.

Draghi said the killings in Bucha reflected a "horror of war" that is "completely independent of the words and phone calls that are made" with Russia.

Russia is Italy’s biggest supplier of natural gas, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. Europe is trying to cut its reliance on Russian natural gas imports quickly, with leaders recognizing that their payments help fund Moscow's war. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes, and power industry. The tiny Baltic state of Lithuania, a former Soviet republic, recently cut itself off entirely from Russian gas imports, the first of the European Union's 27 nations using Russian gas to break its energy dependence on Moscow. The 27-nation bloc has reached a deal with the United States to receive more boatloads of liquefied natural gas, or LNG.

Russia is Italy’s biggest supplier, representing 40% of total imports, followed by Algeria, which provides some 21 billion cubic meters of gas via the Trans-Mediterranean pipeline. The new deal would add an additional 9 billion cubic meters of gas from Algeria, just eclipsing Russia’s 29 billion cubic meters a year. Europe is trying to cut its reliance Russian natural gas imports quickly, with leaders recognizing that their payments help fund Moscow's war. Natural gas is used to generate electricity, heat and cool homes and power industry. Lithuania has been planning that move for years, and the task is more difficult for economic powers like Germany and Italy, which have gotten most of their natural gas from Russia.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi has secured a deal for more natural gas across a Mediterranean pipeline from Algeria.

Russia Ukraine War An elderly woman walks by an apartment building destroyed in the Russian shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. ___BERLIN — A game park in Germany says it's renaming a wild boar called “Putin” because of the war in Ukraine. ___ATHENS, Greece — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country needs anti-aircraft defense systems, artillery systems, munitions and armored vehicles to hold Russia’s invasion at bay. Arriving at NATO headquarters Thursday for talks with the military organization’s foreign ministers, Kuleba said: “My agenda is very simple… it’s weapons, weapons and weapons.”Kuleba says that “we know how to fight. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to be held accountable for what Schumer said were war crimes against Ukraine.

Russia Ukraine War An elderly woman walks by an apartment building destroyed in the Russian shelling in Borodyanka, Ukraine, Wednesday, April 6, 2022. (AP Photo/Efrem Lukatsky) (Efrem Lukatsky)ROME — Italian Premier Mario Draghi says the EU could consider a price cap on Russian gas as a way to limit Europe’s financing of the war in Ukraine without imposing a boycott altogether. ___ATHENS, Greece — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country needs anti-aircraft defense systems, artillery systems, munitions and armored vehicles to hold Russia’s invasion at bay. Both bills have been bogged down in the Senate, frustrating lawmakers who want to ratchet up the U.S. response to Russia’s war against Ukraine. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Russian President Vladimir Putin needs to be held accountable for what Schumer said were war crimes against Ukraine.

The European Union is banning Russian coal imports.

The cost of living hit another record high in the euro zone, raising further questions about how the ECB can stabilize such rapidly rising consumer prices.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is warning his people that retreating Russian forces are creating “a complete disaster” outside the capital as they leave behind many mines, even around homes and corpses.

Russia Ukraine War Territorial Defense of the Armed Forces, 21-year-olds Svitlana, right, and Myroslava, pose for a photograph, in Lviv, western Ukraine, Thursday, March 31, 2022. Austrian Chancellor Karl Nehammer noted that several central and eastern European countries depend to one extent or another on Russian gas deliveries. Putin talked tougher, saying Russia will start accepting ruble payments starting Friday for Western countries that imposed sanctions over its conflict with Ukraine. European leaders had rejected paying for deliveries in rubles, saying it would undermine sanctions imposed because of the war in Ukraine. ___CANBERRA, Australia — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has appealed directly to Australian lawmakers for more help in Ukraine's war against Russia including armored vehicles and tougher sanctions.

The decree Putin signed and published by state news agency RIA Novosti says a designated bank will open two accounts for each buyer, one in foreign currency and one in rubles. The buyers will pay in foreign currency and authorize the bank to sell that currency for rubles, which are placed in the second account, where the gas is formally purchased. That sent already high gas prices even higher amid fears it could be a prelude to a natural gas shutoff, which could disrupt Europe's economy and hurt Russia's finances. “We — Germany and Italy, along with other countries that are importers of gas, coal, grains, corn — are financing the war. “For this reason, Italy along with other countries, are pushing for a cap on the price of gas.

Draghi said Russian President Vladimir Putin assured him during a 40-minute phone call Wednesday evening that “existing contracts remain in force. The Italian leader indicated that Russia still had a desire for payments in rubles but that it might handle the currency conversion. “We — Germany and Italy, along with other countries that are importers of gas, coal, grains, corn — are financing the war. “For this reason, Italy along with other countries, are pushing for a cap on the price of gas. There is no substantial reason that the price of gas is so high for Europeans.”Draghi noted that Russia has no other market for its gas, giving Europe room to maneuver.

Russian President Vladimir Putin insisted Thursday that the country’s natural gas must be paid for with rubles, a demand apparently intended to help bolster the Russian currency but one that European leaders say they will not comply with because it violates the terms of contracts and sanctions.

MILAN — (AP) — Italian Premier Mario Draghi has met with Italy’s president after a key party in Italy's governing coalition has put in question its support for Italy’s commitment to raise its military spending in response to Russia's invasion of Ukraine. A government official confirmed the meeting Tuesday evening, after Draghi met privately with the head of the 5-Star Movement, former Premier Giuseppe Conte, who reportedly has balked at Italy’s intention to raise military spending to 2% of GDP in line with other NATO members. The official noted that while Conte was premier, Italy increased its military spending 17%, from 21 billion euros to 24.6 billion euros. Mattarella, as head of state, has the role of guarantor of Italy’s stability, and is also commander-in-chief of the armed forces. A key ally in that government, right-wing leader Matteo Salvini, openly admired Russian President Vladimir Putin and has boasted close ties with Russia.

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.

President Vladimir Putin’s threat to have “unfriendly” countries pay for Russian natural gas exports only in rubles from now on has got the not-so-friendly treatment from European Union nations.

Italian Premier Mario Draghi has hosted leaders from three fellow Mediterranean countries to push for a common European response to the energy crisis that has been worsened by Russia's war in Ukraine.

Italy is marking the second anniversary of a tragic milestone of the coronavirus pandemic.

A U.S. official says Russia has asked China for military equipment to use in its invasion of Ukraine.

Italian paper mills that make everything from pizza boxes to furniture packaging have ground to a halt as the Russian war in Ukraine sent natural gas prices skyrocketing.

The European Union is seeking to fully phase out its dependency on Russian energy “well before 2030” to ensure the 27-nation bloc no longer faces difficult decisions about hurting their own economies in geopolitical crises like the invasion of Ukraine.

The gas is still flowing from Russian even as bullets and missiles fly in Ukraine.

Thousands of Ukrainians are fleeing from war by crossing their borders to the west in search of safety.

Spiking energy prices are raising utility bills from Poland to the United Kingdom, leaving people struggling to make ends meet and small businesses uncertain about how much longer they can stay afloat.

Prosecutors in Florence have requested trial indictment for former Italian Premier Matteo Renzi for alleged illegal political party funding.

President Sergio Mattarella received an astounding 55 rounds of applause from an otherwise divided Italian parliament Thursday during a wide-ranging speech that underlined the need for national unity after he was sworn in to a second term in office.

Italian President Sergio Mattarella has been pulled away from his impending retirement and reelected to a second seven-year term as the country’s head of state, ending days of political impasse as party leaders struggled to pick his successor.

Insistence by Italy's center-right bloc that their candidate becomes the nation's president has backfired.

Lawmakers and regional representatives have failed again to find consensus on a new Italian president.

The third round of voting for a new Italian president ended has again ended inconclusively, sending political parties into yet more intense negotiations to come up with a viable candidate to replace President Sergio Mattarella, whose term expires next week.

Leaders across Italy's political spectrum have been struggling to nail down an agreement on who should be the country's next president.

A first round of voting to elect Italy's next president has failed as expected amid a political impasse.

Former premier Silvio Berlusconi has bowed out of Italy’s presidential election set for next week.

Italy is poised to elect a new president, a figure who is supposed to serve as the nation’s moral compass and foster unity by being above the political fray.

Pope Francis has issued a plea on behalf of prison inmates, saying they should never be deprived of hope and always have the opportunity to redeem themselves.

Italy is targeting the unvaccinated with a host of new coronavirus restrictions.

Italy has set Jan. 24 as the start date to begin voting for a new Italian president.