Latest Russia-Ukraine War news: Live updates - The Washington Post

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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky welcomed a delegation of Republican senators led by Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) to Kyiv on Saturday, praising the visit as “a strong signal of bipartisan support for Ukraine.”

The other GOP senators visible in a video, which shows Zelensky greeting them on a Kyiv street, were John Barrasso (Wyo.), Susan Collins (Maine) and John Cornyn (Tex.). Though the Senate has been delayed in approving nearly $40 billion in additional funding for Ukraine, Zelensky said he was looking forward to “the United States’ support for further sanctions.”

Russia’s foreign minister, meanwhile, characterized Western support for Ukraine as a “total hybrid war” against Moscow. The wide-ranging sanctions directed against Russia would have long-lasting consequences, Sergei Lavrov said in a speech.

In Mariupol, another round of evacuees left the city after waiting for three days. The Azovstal steel plant continues to be bombarded, Ukrainian fighters said, as Ukrainian officials negotiate with Russia to evacuate 60 medics and “seriously wounded” people. Zelensky described the negotiations as “very difficult” late Friday.

Here’s what else to know

• Finnish President Sauli Niinisto told Vladimir Putin on Saturday that Russia’s “massive invasion of Ukraine” and its demands late last year that NATO deny membership to former Soviet states “have altered the security environment of Finland.”
• U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is traveling to Berlin to join a NATO foreign ministers’ meeting attended by Sweden and Finland after both countries’ leaders indicated they wanted to join the military alliance.
• The Institute for the Study of War, a Washington-based think tank, assessed that Ukraine “appears to have won the Battle of Kharkiv,” adding that the Kremlin has “likely decided to withdraw fully” from its positions around the city amid spirited Ukrainian counterattacks and limited reinforcements.
• Ukrainian Health Minister Viktor Lyashko said 32 billion hryvnias, or more than $1 billion, was needed to help rebuild the hospitals damaged or destroyed by Russia during the invasion.
• The Washington Post has lifted its paywall for readers in Russia and Ukraine. Telegram users can subscribe to our channel.

Ukraine favored to win Eurovision song contest at Saturday final

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At the end of their performance in Europe’s most popular song contest, the Ukrainian band Kalush Orchestra, hands to their hearts, made a passionate plea.

“I ask for all of you," frontman Oleh Psiuk said, “please help Ukraine, Mariupol. Help Azovstal right now.”

Kalush Orchestra, which made it to Saturday’s grand final of this year’s Eurovision, a flamboyant performance watched by nearly 200 million people, is favored by bookmakers to win with their performance of the folk-rap mash-up “Stefania."

The Ukrainian contender is one of 25 acts that will compete in the last round of Eurovision, the world’s longest-running televised music competition, which draws on votes from viewers and once helped launch Abba. The band was one of the most-watched on YouTube among this year’s 40 national entries and was invited to the show in Turin, Italy.

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