(Reuters) – NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday paid his first visit to Kyiv since Russia’s full-scale invasion, in a show of support for Ukraine as it prepares to launch a counteroffensive.
GRAIN NEGOTIATIONS:
* The European Union is preparing 100 million euros ($109.32 million) in compensation for farmers in five countries bordering Ukraine and plans to introduce restrictions on imports of Ukrainian grains.
* Inspections of ships carrying Ukrainian grain from the Black Sea resumed under a U.N.-brokered deal but Kyiv faces a struggle to secure an extension of the agreement.
WEAPONRY/DIPLOMACY
* The United States announced $325 million in new military aid for Ukraine, including additional ammunition for High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems, advanced missiles and anti-tank mines.
* Ukraine’s defence minister confirmed that Kyiv had taken delivery of Patriot air defence systems, and said this made Ukrainian skies more secure.
* Ukrainian President Zelenskiy is to address Mexico’s Congress on Thursday by video, according to two people familiar with the matter, as he seeks support for Ukraine’s defence against Russia.
* Swedish Defence Minister Pal Jonson said he was hopeful his country would become a member of NATO by the time of a planned summit in July. Sweden and Finland sought membership in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022.
* The United States looks forward to welcoming Sweden as a NATO member and will encourage Turkey and Hungary to ratify accession, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said.
(Compiled by Reuters editors)
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