Thursday Briefing: An E.U. summit on aid for Ukraine

Also, Iran said it was "not looking for war."

View in browser|nytimes.com Continue reading the main story February 1, 2024 By Jonathan Wolfe Good morning. We're covering an E.U. summit on aid for Ukraine and developments in the conflict in the Middle East. Plus: The power of cute. Residents collecting aid in Chasiv Yar, Ukraine. Finbarr O'Reilly for The New York Times An E.U. summit on aid for Ukraine E.U. leaders will meet today in Brussels to try to reach an agreement on a $54 billion, multiyear aid package to Ukraine that would help keep the country afloat for the next four years. Without more aid, analysts say, Ukraine will face an all-but-certain economic crisis that could severely undermine its ability to successfully fight Russia. The talks are gridlocked, and E.U. leaders are trying to strike an agreement with Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary, who is blocking the deal. Orban is a close ally of President Vladimir Putin of Russia. Critics say Orban is simply angling to extend his power and use his country's veto as leverage to unfreeze billions of euros in E.U. funding that has been held up over Hungary's breaches of the union's rules. If Orban blocks the aid package, as he did in December, E.U. leaders have made it clear that they are ready to do whatever is necessary to support Ukraine and are prepared to work around him — or even punish him. Details: The aid would cover about a quarter of Ukraine's budget this year, paying for things like teacher salaries, pensions and health care. Prisoner swap: Russia and Ukraine announced an exchange of hundreds of prisoners of war yesterday, a week after Moscow accused Kyiv of shooting down a plane that it said was carrying dozens of Ukrainian prisoners of war. Hossein Salami, the head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards. Arash Khamooshi for The New York Times Iran said it was 'not looking for war' The head of Iran's Revolutionary Guards said yesterday that the country was "not looking for war," appearing to signal that it would not escalate tensions with the U.S. But he also said that Iran was prepared to respond if attacked. The comments came after President Biden said that he had decided on a response to the weekend drone attack that killed three American soldiers and injured more than 40 others in Jordan. Biden has not said what the response would be. The U.S. said the strike in Jordan had come from an Iranian-backed militia in the region. Iran has denied ordering attacks on U.S. forces. West Bank: Anger and resentment are mounting in the territory, where Israelis and Palestinians live worlds apart but are often separated only by a single road — or roadblocks. Jeffrey Donaldson, the head of the D.U.P., left, defended the deal but said, "Is it perfect? No, it isn't." Paul Faith/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images A deal to end Belfast's political paralysis Britain's exit from the E.U. was felt sharply in Northern Ireland, leading to years of political gridlock, decision-making paralysis and rising tensions. But yesterday, the British government published the details of a deal to restore the power-sharing government in Belfast, raising hopes that one of Brexit's most poisoned legacies has been eased — at least for now. Under the agreement, the Democratic Unionist Party, or D.U.P., has agreed to end the party's boycott of the power-sharing assembly in Belfast. There would be fewer checks on goods entering Northern Ireland from Britain, addressing the biggest source of tension within the D.U.P. Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT THE LATEST NEWS Around the World Emmanuel Dunand/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images French lawmakers voted to enshrine abortion rights in the Constitution, a first step in a long legislative process. China's government is censoring criticism of its struggling economy. Imran Khan, Pakistan's former prime minister, was sentenced to 14 more years in prison yesterday, a day after he been handed a 10-year sentence in a separate case. U.S. News Kenny Holston/The New York Times In a dramatic Senate hearing on children's online safety, Mark Zuckerberg told parents of victims of online harassment and exploitation that he was "sorry" for what they had experienced. The F.B.I. director warned Congress that China was preparing to hack essential infrastructure in the U.S. in the event of a conflict over Taiwan. The PGA Tour said it had reached a $1.5 billion deal with U.S. investors, prompting new questions about whether its proposed alliance with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf was still necessary. A Morning Read Adam Riding for The New York Times Matt Fitzgerald, a distance runner, public speaker and coach, has finished 50 marathons. But a bout with long Covid ended his days as an endurance athlete and forced him to reshape who he is and what he does. In the process, he has found vicarious joy by opening the doors of his home in Arizona and creating a fantasy camp for runners with a dream. SPORTS NEWS A soccer legend under investigation: Samuel Eto'o is accused of match-fixing, physical threats and inciting violence. Preparing at full speed: Team Andretti's bullish Formula 1 plans. The latest major signing: Tyrrell Hatton is leaving the PGA Tour for LIV Golf. We hope you've enjoyed this newsletter, which is made possible through subscriber support. Subscribe to The New York Times. ARTS AND IDEAS Neil Hall/EPA, via Shutterstock The power of cute Cuteness is the subject of a dazzling new exhibition, simply called "Cute," at the Somerset House in London. The show, sponsored by the Japanese company that created Hello Kitty, is an exploration of the unsettling power of apparently powerless things and why cuteness has come to saturate our world. It contains stuffed animals and lots of kittens, of course, but also more subversive art that examines the way cuteness can be used to soften or disguise the ugly. The exhibition's brilliance, writes the citric Rosa Lyster, lies in walking the line between a highly Instagrammable celebration of cuteness and an absorbing exploration of its morally ambiguous character. It illuminates what the cultural theorist Sianne Ngai has called "the surprisingly wide spectrum of feelings, ranging from tenderness to aggression, that we harbor toward ostensibly subordinate and unthreatening commodities." Continue reading the main story ADVERTISEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS David Malosh for The New York Times Cook: Somen noodles with poached egg, bok choy and mushrooms is a perfect salve for cold winter days. Read: Our correspondent in France recommends "Station Eleven," about a traveling troupe performing Shakespeare after a pandemic decimates 99.9 percent of humanity. Listen: This week's Popcast is a breakdown of the Grammys and its most interesting competitions. Design: Here's how to maximize space in your bedroom. Care: When exercising, experts say it's crucial to listen to your body to avoid injury. Warm up: These are the best touch-screen gloves for winter. Play the Spelling Bee. And here are today's Mini Crossword and Wordle. You can find all our puzzles here. That's it for today's briefing. See you tomorrow. — Jonathan You can reach Jonathan and the team at briefing@nytimes.com. Continue reading the main story Need help? Review our newsletter help page or contact us for assistance. 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