Ukraine updates: France to summon Russia's ambassador

Former US President Donald Trump urged on Monday Republicans to reject a $118 billion (€109.5 billion) bipartisan bill aimed at bolstering border security as well as providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.

The legislative package includes around $20 billion for US border security measures, $60 billion for Ukraine and $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel. US President Joe Biden said he strongly supported the bill. 

Republicans in Congress had insisted on linking the issue of border migration with the international assistance, refusing to support Ukraine unless this was part of the deal and delaying the process for weeks. 

Trump, however, seemed on Monday to argue that the border and immigration policies should not be coupled with the foreign aid after all. 

"Don't be STUPID!!! We need a separate Border and Immigration Bill. It should not be tied to foreign aid in any way, shape, or form!" said Trump. "This Bill is a great gift to the Democrats, and a Death Wish for The Republican Party," Trump added. "It takes the HORRIBLE JOB the Democrats have done on Immigration and the Border, absolves them, and puts it all squarely on the shoulders of Republicans."

Trump and Biden are widely expected to compete once again for the top job in the US later this year, in a rematch of the 2020 presidential election.

The Netherlands' defense minister said on Monday the country was preparing another 6 US-made F-16 combat planes for delivery to Ukraine. 

"The Netherlands Ministry of Defense is readying six additional F-16 fighter aircraft for delivery to Ukraine," Defense Minister Kajsa Ollongren wrote online. "This brings the total number to 24 F-16s. Ukraine's aerial superiority is essential for countering Russian aggression."

Ukraine's allies only agreed to send US fighter aircraft to Kyiv comparatively recently, with a deal agreed in principle last August. Earlier in the conflict, some European countries sent Soviet-era MiGs to Kyiv.

Moscow is "unlikely" to meet its planned revenue target for the year 2024, the British Ministry of Defence said in its daily intelligence update on Monday.

"It is likely the government will need to consider other policy measures to fund its planned expenditure," the ministry said on X, the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

Those policy measures could include reducing contributions to the National Wealth Fund and increasing domestic taxes and debts, the ministry said.

"These policies will almost certainly have adverse effects on the economy in the medium to long term by maintaining inflationary pressures or constraining future economic growth," it added.

The British ministry argued that while the National Wealth Fund was set up "for the long-term economic welfare of the Russian people," it was now being increasingly used to fund Russia's war on Ukraine. The value of the Fund's assets fell by 10% last year, it added. 

US senators announced a $118 billion (€109.5 billion) bipartisan bill on Sunday aimed at bolstering border security as well as providing aid to Ukraine and Israel.

But it faces an uncertain future amid opposition from hardline Republicans.

The legislative package includes around $20 billion for US border security measures, $60 billion for Ukraine and $14.1 billion in security assistance for Israel.

The proposal also includes $10 billion in humanitarian aid for civilians in Gaza, the West Bank and Ukraine.

US President Joe Biden said he strongly supports the bill. 

"Now we've reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades," he said in a statement.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer plans a preliminary vote for Wednesday, but it remains to be seen if the deal would find enough backers to pass the Democratic-controlled Senate.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said he was considering replacing several senior officials, and not only within the military.

Speaking in an interview broadcast on Sunday, Zelenskyy said the move would help determine who is to lead the country.

"A reset is necessary, I am talking about a replacement of a number of state leaders, not only in the army sector," Zelenskyy told Italian state RAI television when asked about commander-in-chief of Ukraine's military, Valerii Zaluzhnyi.

News reports suggested Zelenskyy had tried to sack the senior commander last week, a decision many said would be unpopular.

"I am reflecting on this replacement. [It] is a question for the entire leadership of the country," he added. "I have in mind something serious that does not concern a single person but the direction of the country's leadership."

Zelenskyy rowed back on the threat to dismiss Zaluzhnyi after the top general refused to resign and potential replacements declined to take on the role. Media reports also suggested that the Ukrainian president was under pressure from the US and the UK.

France plans to summon Russia's ambassador to Paris on Monday, following the death of two French humanitarian workers in Ukraine, after a Russian strike.

"France will reiterate its condemnation of the Russian strikes," said a French diplomatic source.

The source added that the ministry will also "denounce an upsurge in disinformation targeting France." Days ago, French defense chiefs pointed out a "coordinated Russian scheme" to spread false information.

France's relations with Russia have further deteriorated in recent weeks, with Paris promising to send Kyiv more long-range cruise missiles and President Emmanuel Macron scheduled to visit the Ukrainian capital.

At the end of January, Paris denied having mercenaries operating in Ukraine, after Russian lawmakers condemned French "mercenaries" in Ukraine in a resolution. 

France has also accused Russian President Vladimir Putin of relaying false information. Putin had suggested that a French air defense system had downed a Russian plane carrying Ukrainian prisoners of war.