Prelude to the Russian invasion of Ukraine

The Greek Ministry of Foreign Affairs issued an announcement condemning the Russian missile attack on several Ukrainian cities on Monday. 

Russia warned the United States on Friday its reconnaissance drone flights over the Black Sea raised the risk of "direct confrontation" between Moscow and NATO, days after the Kremlin blamed Washington for a deadly missile strike on Crimea.

US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement to bolster Ukraine's defenses against Russian aggression, according to Reuters. The agreement, signed during the G-7 summit in Italy, is seen as a step towards Ukraine's eventual NATO membership.

Germany is reportedly considering sending a fourth Patriot anti-aircraft missile battery to Ukraine, according to Bloomberg TV. This consideration comes in response to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's urgent request for additional equipment to counter the new Russian offensive.

US President Joe Biden has personally extended an apology to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky for the delayed delivery of arms earlier this year. The passage of over 60 billion USD in military aid faced hurdles in the US Congress, primarily due to opposition from Republicans in the House of Representatives.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg affirmed today that Ukraine possesses the legal right, as per international law, to target military sites within Russia as a measure of self-defense.

NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Friday that there were "no immediate military threat" against any member of the alliance, after the Kremlin has accused the West of potentially escalating the war in Ukraine.

Stoltenberg's statements follows heightened tensions between Russia and NATO members.

The United States is set to provide Ukraine with a new military aid package valued at 225 million USD, primarily consisting of ammunition, including HIMARS, according to the US military.

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said that the alliance had no plans to deploy forces to Ukraine, despite many of its members supplying Kiev with weapons since Russia's invasion.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a warning to countries allowing Ukraine to utilize their weapons against targets within Russia. Speaking to foreign journalists at Gazprom's new headquarters in St.