Vox Sentences - Biden's off to Asia

President Biden makes his first diplomatic trip to Asia; G7 commits nearly $20 billion for Ukraine.

Tonight's Sentences was written by Natasha Ishak.

President Biden heads east on first Asia trip since taking office

Kim Min-Hee/Getty Images

• President Joe Biden departed Friday for a five-day diplomatic tour in Asia, the president’s first visit to the region since taking office last year. [Al Jazeera / Zaheena Rasheed]

• Biden’s Asia trip agenda is focused on strengthening partnerships with Asian leaders as part of the US strategy of uniting allies against China’s growing influence in the Indo-Pacific. [The Hill / Morgan Chalfant and Laura Kelly] 

• Biden’s first stop is South Korea, a longtime US ally. The visit is meant to reinforce security relations between the two countries and potentially address supply chain problems hitting American consumers. [New York Times / Zolan Kanno-Youngs and Peter Baker]

• Sunday, Biden heads to Japan to meet with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. The president is expected to launch the United States' much-anticipated economic plan for the Indo-Pacific region while in Tokyo. [Deutsche Welle]

• In Japan, Biden will also meet with leaders from India and Australia. Together the four countries make up the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue — known as the Quad — an international strategic security alliance. [The National / Taniya Dutta]

G7 countries pledge nearly $20 billion in aid to Ukraine

• The Group of Seven leading economies, known as G7, agreed Friday to provide $19.8 billion in economic aid to Ukraine during the group’s meeting in Germany. [Associated Press / Fatima Hussein and Geir Moulson]

• The $19.8 billion will be separate from other financial commitments to provide Ukraine with weapons and humanitarian aid to defend itself against Russia. [ABC News]

• In addition to the financial aid from G7 countries — which includes Germany, Japan, Italy, and the US, among others — Ukraine will receive an additional $9.5 billion from the European Union. [Politico / Johanna Treeck and Paola Tamma]

• The International Monetary Fund estimated in April that Ukraine needs $5 billion per month, over the span of at least three months, to maintain government services and to keep its economy afloat. [Reuters / Francesco Guarascio]

• Saturday, the G7 demanded Russia end its “illegal war” against Ukraine and stated it would not recognize new borders stemming from Russia’s invasion. [Axios / Jacob Knutson]

The 50-50 Senate split and Vice President Kamala Harris’s role as the chamber’s vote tie-breaker are making it difficult for her to execute other parts of her job, aides say. [Politico / Eugene Daniels]

• Nobel winner and East Timor’s ex-President Jose Ramos-Horta, who led the country’s fight for independence from Indonesia, was sworn in as its president for a second time on Thursday. [Al Jazeera]

• SpaceX paid a former flight attendant at the company $250,000 after founder and CEO Elon Musk allegedly exposed himself to her and propositioned her for sex. [ Insider / Rich McHugh]

• A judge ruled the Argentine government is guilty in the massacre of over 400 Indigenous people nearly a century ago, ordering reparations for the communities in a landmark trial decision Friday. [BBC]

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