Ukraine: Macron, Scholz and Draghi expected in Kiev on Thursday

French President Emmanuel Macron and his German and Italian counterparts are expected in Kiev on Thursday, where they are expected to say Europe's support for Ukraine at war, after $1 billion in military aid announced by the United States. Without confirming this visit, Mr. Macron, whose country currently chairs the European Union, sent signals to Kiev on Wednesday, visiting a NATO base in Romania.

"I think that we are at a time when we need to send clear political signals, the European Union, towards Ukraine and the Ukrainian people in a context where they have been heroically resisting for several months,” said the French president, when asked about a possible challenge placement in Kiev. For their part, several Italian and German media reported that German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi would visit the Ukrainian capital on Thursday. This visit would be a first for the leaders of the three main countries of the European Union since the start of the Russian invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. The three men are expected to meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to discuss, in addition to military support, Ukraine's request to join the European Union.

United States: Faced with inflation, the Fed makes the largest rate hike since 1994

The American central bank (Fed) raised its key rates by three-quarters of a point, the largest increase since 1994, and its president assured that the institution remained “determined” to fight rampant inflation. This increase “is unusually large,” said Fed Chairman Jerome Powell. This is the third increase in a row in these rates, which are now in a range between 1.50 and 1.75%, and set the tone for loans granted to individuals and businesses. Federal Reserve officials have also raised their inflation projections, now counting on 5.2% in 2022 and 2.6% in 2023, compared with 4.3% and 2.7% respectively in March.

IN SHORT

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John Hinckley, who tried to kill US President Ronald Reagan in 1981 to impress actress Jodie Foster, has regained total freedom, six years after being released from the mental hospital. Now aged 67, he has turned to music.

Basket: Monaco won 82-74 over Asvel Lyon-Villeurbanne at the Astroballe de Villeurbanne in match 1 of the French Elite Basketball Championship final. Match 2 will be played on Friday, again in Villeurbanne, before the third and fourth rounds in the Principality.