Your Tuesday Briefing

Signs of a counteroffensive in Ukraine

Ukrainian forces have increased artillery strikes and ground assaults in several areas along the front line, with the military action beginning on Sunday. U.S. officials have suggested that this move may signal the beginning of Kyiv’s long-expected counteroffensive against Russia. Yesterday, Russian authorities announced that major Ukrainian attacks had begun at five locations in Donetsk.

Ukraine has not formally announced the start of its counteroffensive, but over the weekend, the Ukrainian military released a video calling for operational silence regarding the imminent counteroffensive, with the slogan “Plans love silence.” Military analysts and Western officials have predicted that the counteroffensive will primarily focus on southern Ukraine, aimed at severing the land routes connecting Russia and occupied Crimea. The operation is expected to involve thousands of Ukrainian troops, including those trained by NATO forces and equipped with advanced Western technology.

Far-right iconography: Some Ukrainian soldiers have been seen wearing symbols that were associated with Nazi Germany. Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin has made false accusations that Ukraine is a Nazi state, contributing to questions about these symbols.

In other news: President Biden welcomed Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen to the White House to discuss security initiatives, including the provision of military assistance to Ukraine.

Dozens killed in flooding in Haiti

At least 42 people have died, with another 85 injured and thousands more displaced following heavy rainfall and widespread flooding in Haiti. According to the country’s disaster response agency, over 13,000 homes have been waterlogged, displacing people across the Caribbean nation.

Videos circulating on social media show dramatic scenes of flooded roadways that resemble flowing rivers with floating vehicles.

The highest death toll occurred in Léogâne, a port city west of the capital Port-au-Prince, where 19 people died, according to authorities. As of yesterday afternoon, there were no reports of deaths or injuries in Port-au-Prince, but approximately 4,500 homes were affected by the flooding, authorities said.

Context: Flooding is the latest natural disaster to hit the beleaguered country, where a magnitude-7 earthquake in 2010 killed over 200,000 people and destroyed many parts of Port-au-Prince, leaving long-lasting effects on the nation’s infrastructure and economy.

Classified documents inquiry against Trump nears an end

Lawyers for former President Donald Trump met with Justice Department officials yesterday to discuss their concerns about the investigations into his handling of classified documents. As the inquiry comes to a close, Trump’s advisers have concluded that there is little time left to avoid charges.

Shortly after their visit, Trump posted a message on his social media platform, Truth Social, suggesting that his legal team had discussed the possibility of an indictment. “How can DOJ possibly charge me, who did nothing wrong?” he wrote in all capital letters.

Prosecutors are expected to question a new witness in front of a federal grand jury sitting in Florida this week, people familiar with the matter said. At least one other witness has already appeared before the Florida grand jury, which is separate from the one that has been sitting for months in Washington.

Trump on tape: The case includes a 2021 recording of Trump discussing a sensitive military document that he claimed to have kept after leaving the White House, which underscores the weight of the evidence in this case.

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