Western troops on the ground in Ukraine not ‘ruled out,’ Macron says
PARIS — French President Emmanuel Macron said Monday that sending Western troops on the ground in Ukraine is not “ruled out” in the future after the issue was debated at a gathering of European leaders in Paris, as Russia’s full-scale invasion grinds into a third year.
The French leader said that “we will do everything needed so Russia cannot win the war” after the meeting of over 20 European heads of state and government and other Western officials.
“There’s no consensus today to send in an official, endorsed manner troops on the ground. But in terms of dynamics, nothing can be ruled out,” Macron said in a news conference at the Elysee presidential palace.
Biden hopes Gaza cease-fire can take effect by Monday
NEW YORK — President Joe Biden said Monday that he hopes a cease-fire between Israel and Hamas can take effect by early next week.
Asked when he thought a cease-fire could begin, Biden said: “Well I hope by the beginning of the weekend. The end of the weekend. My national security adviser tells me that we’re close. We’re close. We’re not done yet. My hope is by next Monday we’ll have a ceasefire.”
Biden commented in New York after taping an appearance on NBC’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers.”
Sweden cleared for NATO after Hungary gives OK
BUDAPEST, Hungary — Hungary’s parliament voted Monday to ratify Sweden’s bid to join NATO, ending more than 18 months of delays.
The vote, which passed 188-6, was the culmination of months of wrangling by Hungary’s allies to persuade its nationalist government to lift its block on Sweden’s membership.
Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said his country was “now leaving 200 years of neutrality and nonalignment behind us.”
Sideways lunar lander expected to stop working
CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. — A private U.S. lunar lander is expected to stop working Tuesday, its mission cut short after landing sideways near the south pole of the moon.
Intuitive Machines, the company that built the spacecraft, said Monday it will continue to collect data until sunlight no longer shines on the solar panels. Officials expect that to happen Tuesday morning.