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Russian Officials Blame West for Moscow Drone Strike
After the first military strike to hit civilian areas in Moscow, Russian officials denounced Ukraine’s allies for not condemning the attack, claiming it was proof that Russia’s real war was with the West. Britain’s foreign secretary, while not endorsing the drone strike, has stated that Kyiv had “the right to project force beyond its borders.” The US did not criticize the drone strike, despite Ukrainian officials stating that they were not directly involved in it.
According to Dmitri Medvedev, the deputy head of Russia’s National Security Council and a former President, by providing military support to Ukraine, Britain “de facto is leading an undeclared war against Russia,” and he believes that any British official can be considered a legitimate military target.
Context: Although Russia has denied targeting nonmilitary sites, it has repeatedly hit civilian areas of Ukraine during the war. In recent weeks, Russia has turned up the barrage of missiles and attack drones aimed at Kyiv, resulting in the deaths of thousands of Ukrainian civilians, including children, from Russian airstrikes and artillery bombardments, according to U.N. officials.
Other News from the War:
Battery Subsidies Attract Investors to the US
The Biden administration is investing hundreds of billions of dollars in the fight against climate change. However, European leaders are concerned that Washington’s approach will lure away many of the new investments in electric car and battery factories not already destined for China, South Korea, or other Asian countries, potentially causing economic harm to US allies.
Competition between the US and Europe has intensified as each tries to acquire the building blocks of electric vehicle manufacturing to avoid becoming reliant on China. The US has offered significant incentives to companies in that sector, putting pressure on Europe to follow suit.
Biden administration officials claim that US and European policies are complementary and that government and private money invested in electric cars and batteries will reduce prices for consumers and lead to greater numbers of emission-free vehicles on the roads.
US House Passes Debt Ceiling Bill
In a 314-117 vote, House lawmakers agreed to suspend the $31.4 trillion borrowing limit until January 2025, preventing an economically devastating default.
After far-right Republicans threatened to derail the bill, which will cut federal spending by $1.5 trillion over a decade, a bipartisan coalition rallied to support the President’s compromise. Funding for the military and veterans’ programs will continue to grow, while most domestic programs will remain untouched.
Next Step: This bill now heads to the Senate, where leaders in both parties have expressed support.
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