African Leaders Visit Kyiv Amidst Ukraine Conflict

African leaders arrived in Ukraine before heading to Russia for peace negotiations and to highlight the impact of the conflict on their continent. Meanwhile, U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and other senior officials from NATO member nations continue a second-day of defense ministerial meetings in Brussels. The Biden administration said it is "comfortable" with a proposal from NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg that would permit Ukraine to forgo a formal candidacy process but not attach a deadline for the country to become a member, aimed at bridging a divide within NATO about how swiftly and under what conditions Ukraine should become a member of the military alliance.