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The United States on Friday called for Russia to respect Moldova's neutrality but said it did not believe Moldova or Romania were targeted by missiles that crossed their airspace, Agence France-Presse reported.
The cruise missiles flew over the two countries as they landed in Ukraine on Friday as Russia pursues its nearly year-old invasion, Kyiv's military chief said.
"At this time, we have no indication of a direct military threat by Russia against Moldova or Romania," State Department spokesman Vedant Patel told reporters. "More broadly, we support Moldova's sovereignty and territorial integrity as well as its constitutionally guaranteed neutrality," he said.
Moldova is militarily neutral but is led by pro-European President Maia Sandu. Romania is a member of NATO. If confirmed, such an incursion would be the first violation of Romanian airspace since the beginning of the war.
The World Bank said Friday that it has approved an initial $50 million grant to help restore Ukraine's transport network, as war rages on nearly a year since Russia launched its invasion.
The new project aims to repair Ukraine's transport infrastructure to help with immediate humanitarian relief, while boosting the capacity of trade routes, Agence France-Presse reported, quoting a statement by the development lender.
It is expected that added funding of up to $535 million will follow shortly, the bank said.
"Russia's invasion of Ukraine continues to have devastating economic and humanitarian consequences," said Anna Bjerde, World Bank Vice President for Europe and Central Asia.
She added that "Ukraine needs urgent investments to repair damaged essential transport routes."
The project "will help to restore essential bridges and railways to relink communities and improve westward transport linkages to mitigate impacts of Black Sea shipping disruptions," said the World Bank.
A new exhibition of anti-war posters in St. Petersburg by the veteran Russian artist and activist Yelena Osipova has been closed the day after it opened after police confiscated all the works. Speaking to , she said her protests against Russia's invasion of Ukraine would continue.
Switzerland has rejected a request from Spain to allow it to re-export Swiss-made anti-aircraft guns to Ukraine, the Bern government said on Friday, .
Madrid had made the request in January to allow two 35mm anti-aircraft guns, which were made in Switzerland, be sent to Ukraine.
Switzerland has previously vetoed requests from Denmark and Germany who wanted to send Swiss-made armored vehicles and ammunition to help Ukraine in its war against Russia.
Serbia's refusal to impose sanctions on its ally Russia remains the main obstacle to a speedier European Union accession bid, Prime Minister Ana Brnabic said on Friday, describing the move as the "condition above all conditions" set by the bloc, Reuters reported.
Serbia has long performed a delicate balancing act between its European aspirations, partnership with NATO and its centuries-old religious, ethnic and political alliance with Russia.
After a speech marking 100 days of her cabinet, Brnabic said that Serbia had made progress in EU membership negotiations but that this was not sufficient for Brussels.
The latest Pentagon assessment of the Russian military’s strategic failures, losses and ability to recover in Ukraine came from U.S. Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Celeste Wallander, who spoke Friday morning to the Center for a New American Security. shared the details on Twitter.
Slovakia can start the process of talks on delivering MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine now once Kyiv has officially asked for the planes, Prime Minister Eduard Heger said on Friday, .
Western countries that have provided Ukraine with arms have so far refused to send fighter jets or long-range weapons capable of striking deep inside Russia.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday he had heard from several European Union leaders at a summit that they were ready to provide Kyiv with aircraft, hinting at what would be one of the biggest shifts yet in Western support for Ukraine.
"The Ukrainian president asked me to deliver the MIGs. Now, because this official request has come, the process of negotiations can be started," Heger said.
The negotiations will be both internal and also with the European Commission, because Slovakia could have the delivery reimbursed, Heger said."Our MIGs can save innocent lives in Ukraine," he said.