Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky made a significant appeal to the UK government during his visit to London, urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to allow Ukrainian forces to strike deeper into Russian territory. This request comes amid existing restrictions imposed by the UK, the United States, and other allies on Ukraine's use of Western weapons against Russia.
Zelensky's visit included a rare address to a UK cabinet meeting, marking the first time a foreign leader has done so since Bill Clinton in 1997. During his discussions, he expressed gratitude for Britain's support but emphasized the urgent need for enhanced long-range capabilities to effectively defend Ukraine against Russian advances. He highlighted Ukraine's successful defense in Kharkiv earlier this year as evidence of their ability to halt Russian aggression.
In a separate engagement, Zelensky spoke with former President Donald Trump, condemning a recent assassination attempt in Pennsylvania and underscoring the importance of bipartisan support for Ukraine.
In other news, the state of Louisiana has agreed to delay the display of Ten Commandments posters in public classrooms until mid-November, following a lawsuit from a group of parents. This decision allows legal proceedings regarding the law, which mandates the posting of the Ten Commandments by January 2025, to unfold.
Additionally, in a notable legal development, Alan Weisselberg, the former CFO of the Trump Organization, was released from Rikers Island after serving 100 days of a five-month sentence for perjury related to a civil fraud trial against the company.
Meanwhile, American journalist Evan Gershkovich was sentenced to 16 years in a Russian penal colony after being convicted on espionage charges, a case that the U.S. government has condemned as a sham. Gershkovich's conviction marks a significant moment in U.S.-Russia relations, as he is the first American journalist arrested on such charges since the Cold War.