During an unannounced visit to Ukraine, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin reaffirmed the United States' commitment to supporting the country amid ongoing conflict with Russia. Meeting with President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv, Austin announced an additional $400 million in military assistance, emphasizing the importance of Ukraine's resilience and military strategy. However, he did not address Ukraine's request for Western-supplied weapons to strike deeper into Russian territory, nor did he provide insights into the U.S. stance on Zelensky's proposed victory plan. Austin stressed that there is \"no silver bullet\" to change the course of the war, highlighting the significance of Ukraine's combined military capabilities and strategic focus.

In a separate development, Moldovan voters narrowly approved a referendum to pursue European Union membership, amidst allegations of Russian interference in the voting process. Moldova's application to join the EU came shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine in 2022, a move that Russia has denied any involvement in.

In legal news, the men formerly known as the Central Park 5 have filed a lawsuit against Donald Trump, claiming defamation following remarks he made during a recent presidential debate. The men assert that Trump's statements, which suggested they were guilty of a crime they did not commit, are false. A spokesperson for Trump dismissed the lawsuit as frivolous.

On Wall Street, stock performance was mixed, with the Dow Jones Industrial Average losing nearly 350 points, ending a three-day winning streak. The Nasdaq gained approximately 50 points, while the S&P 500 saw a slight decline of about 10 points.

In cultural news, President Biden awarded the National Medals of Arts at a private ceremony at the White House, honoring notable figures such as Missy Elliott, Idina Menzel, Queen Latifah, Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, and Ken Burns. The event also included the presentation of National Humanities Medals to 19 distinguished writers, historians, educators, and filmmakers.