Russia-Ukraine updates: Russian missiles hit close to nuclear reactors: IAEA director

The Biden administration announced a new $270 million weapons package for Ukraine, which includes more HIMARS and drones. The administration is also in the very early stages of considering whether to send Ukraine fighter jets to counter Russia’s military, John Kirby, the National Security Council coordinator for strategic communications at the White House, said Friday

Kirby stressed that this is "not going to be something that they're going to be able to execute immediately or even in the short term," because these are advanced U.S. aircrafts and not ex-Soviet aircrafts.

"You’ve got to think about things like training, sustainment, maintenance that these aircraft would be required, you know, spare parts. There's a whole supply chain that goes with keeping any airframe in the air and all that has to be factored in," he said.

For now, Kirby said, the U.S. will continue to provide weapons and equipment through security packages like the new one announced Friday.

This package includes four more HIMARS advanced rocket systems, additional ammunition for those systems, anti-armor systems, vehicles and 36,000 rounds of artillery ammunition to go with the howitzers Ukrainians are using.

-ABC News’ Justin Gomez

Russia and Ukraine have signed agreements to restart grain exports from Ukraine, said United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres.

The agreement between the two countries was mediated with Turkey and the United Nations.

The blockade on exporting grain from Ukraine had triggered fears of global famine.

The agreement "opens a path for commercial food exports from Ukraine in the Black Sea. It will help avoid a food shortage catastrophe for millions worldwide," Guterres tweeted. "It is a beacon of hope, possibility & relief."

The deal will allow for the transport of grain from three Ukrainian ports. Under the deal Ukraine will not de-mine its ports; instead there will be safe channels for cargo ships to sail through.

The agreement lasts for 120 days with the possibility of an extension.

According to Russian media, in exchange for agreeing to sign the deal, Russia received a guarantee from the U.N. to work on lifting sanctions on Russian agricultural and fertilizer exports.

-ABC News' Patrick Reevell

Ukrainian first lady Olena Zelenska spoke to members of Congress on Capitol Hill Wednesday, saying, "Usually the wives of president are exclusively engaged in peaceful affairs: education, human rights, equality, accessibility. And maybe you expected for me to speak on those topics. But how can I talk about them when an unprovoked invasive terrorist war is being waged against my country?"

Zelenska said this marks the first time the wife of a president of a foreign county addressed members of Congress on the Hill.

Zelenska showed members of Congress several images and stories of carnage impacting civilians, including a photo of 4-year-old Liza who was killed by a Russian missile attack last week.

Liza's mother was seriously hurt, and "for several days, nobody dared to tell her that Liza has died," Zelenska said.

She highlighted an Odesa family who lost three generations of women to one missile, and a 96-year-old who survived Nazi concentration camps only to be killed in Kharkiv.

The first lady asked Congress to supply more air defense systems.

"Will my son be able to return to school in the fall? I don't know, like millions of mothers in Ukraine. Will my daughter will be able to go to university at the beginning of the academic year and experience normal student life? I cannot answer," she said. "We will have answers if we had air defense systems."

"America, unfortunately, knows from its own experience what terrorist attacks are and has always sought to defeat terrorists. Help us to stop this terror against Ukrainians," she said.

Zelenska received a standing ovation after her remarks.

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Ukraine’s first lady addresses CongressUkrainian first lady Olena Zelenska delivered remarks to members of Congress on Congress on Capitol Hill.

ABCNews.com

The U.S. will send four more HIMARS advanced rocket systems to Ukraine as part of the new presidential drawdown package coming later this week, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin announced Wednesday.

Once these four long-range rocket artillery systems arrive, Ukraine will have a total of 16 HIMARS at its disposal.

Austin said these advanced rocket systems “have made such a difference on the battlefield.”

The new package will also include more ammunition for the HIMARS and for the 155 mm artillery weapons the U.S. and other countries have sent to Ukraine, Austin said at the fourth Ukraine defense contact group meeting, with leaders from roughly 50 nations in virtual attendance.

Austin praised the United Kingdom, Germany and Poland in particular for helping Ukraine boost its ability to hit faraway targets.

-ABC News’ Matt Seyler