Several leaders of African nations arrived in Ukraine on Friday before heading to Russia on a diplomatic tour aimed to encourage peace negotiations and highlight the impact of the conflict on their continent. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa posted a video of his arrival by train from Poland into Kyiv where he and leaders from Senegal, Egypt, Zambia and the Comoros are expected to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, before traveling on to Russia for talks with President Vladimir Putin on Saturday.
In Europe, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior officials from NATO member nations continue a second-day of defense ministerial meetings in Brussels, as Ukraine pushes on with its counteroffensive.
Here’s the latest on the war and its impact across the globe.
Amid NATO divisions, U.S. backs incremental step for Ukraine’s entry: The Biden administration said it is “comfortable” with a proposal from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that would permit Ukraine to forgo a formal candidacy process but not attach a deadline for the country to become a member, Missy Ryan reports. The idea is aimed at bridging a divide within NATO about how swiftly and under what conditions Ukraine should become a member of the military alliance.
U.S. officials said the proposal goes beyond the preferred course of NATO countries that fear Ukrainian membership could intensify the West’s standoff with Russia. But the proposal would still require Ukraine to carry out reforms and, contrary to the wishes of NATO members in Eastern Europe, would not attach any time frame for Ukraine’s accession.