Biden announces 800 million in security assistance to Ukraine

NATO chief Jens Stoltenberg said Wednesday the alliance was not planning to send forces to Ukraine, after Poland called for it to deploy a peacekeeping mission. Earlier in the day, in a major address to the US House and Senate, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky sought to persuade Western nations to provide more military aid, as Russia’s war in Ukraine enters a fourth week. Follow our live blog for the latest developments.

• US President Joe Biden on Wednesday said the United States was offering an additional $800 million in security assistance to Ukraine to combat Russia's invasion, with the new package including drones and anti-aircraft systems.
• President Vladimir Putin said Wednesday that his military campaign in Ukraine was a success and that he would not allow the country to become a “springboard” used to threaten Russia. 
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky addressed US Congress on Wednesday while US President Joe Biden is expected to announce $800 million of military aid to Ukraine.
• Explosions rocked the western part of Kyiv early Wednesday, injuring two people and damaging residential buildings in Shevchenkivskyi district, according to emergency services.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Wednesday said peace talks with Russia were sounding “more realistic”. Hours later, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the peace talks were “not easy” but added that there was hope for compromise.
• The prime ministers of Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia safely returned to Poland Wednesday after undertaking a dangerous train journey to Kyiv, where they met with President Zelensky and senior Ukrainian officials.
• UNHCR, the UN refugee agency, said on Wednesday that 3,063,095 Ukrainians have fled the country since the war began on February 24, a figure up 93,495 since Tuesday’s update. UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, said around half of those who have fled are children.