Continued Russian Attacks on Ukraine; U.S. Senate Leader Emphasizes Ongoing Support for Ukraine

Chuck Schumer, the Majority Leader of the U.S. Senate, emphasized the continued support of the United States for Ukraine ahead of a NATO meeting in the country, calling the Russian missile attack on a children's hospital in the Ukrainian capital 'heartbreaking.' The missile attack by Russia on the largest children's hospital in Kyiv on July 9 resulted in at least 31 deaths and 150 injuries. In his speech on Tuesday, July 10, Schumer stated that the attack by Russian forces on the children's hospital in Ukraine highlighted the necessity of U.S. support for Ukraine. This senior U.S. official warned that Western democracy is likely facing its most serious threat since the Cold War and asserted that the U.S. will never back down from NATO, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The Senate Majority Leader also criticized the efforts of far-right supporters of former President Donald Trump to halt U.S. aid to Kyiv. The NATO leaders' summit is set to open on Tuesday, July 10, in Washington, D.C., and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is expected to attend. NATO leaders are expected to take steps to better coordinate member countries' efforts to assist the Ukrainian military. This assistance includes sending new weapons and air defense systems to Ukraine to counter Russian forces. In recent months, Kyiv has repeatedly called for increased support from its Western allies. The NATO leaders' summit will also address Ukraine's membership process in the international organization. NATO leaders are discussing continued support for Ukraine at the Washington summit. Zelensky promised retaliation for the Russian attack on the children's hospital in Kyiv; the Security Council is convening. NATO Secretary-General: If Putin realizes he cannot win the war in Ukraine, peace can be achieved. The threat from the growing military cooperation between Russia and North Korea is at the center of NATO leaders' discussions in the U.S.