BERLIN — President Joe Biden leaves Thursday for what is likely to be his final trip as president to Europe, where Germany will bestow its highest honor on him for spearheading global efforts to protect Ukraine as European leaders strategize for a potential future in which the United States could be less engaged in the transatlantic alliance.

U.S. President Joe Biden takes off for Berlin on Thursday for a rapid visit to discuss Russia's invasion of Ukraine with the leaders of Germany, France and Britain as Kyiv urges its western allies to take urgent steps to end the fighting.

Australia will give 49 of its aging M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine. Australian Defense Minister Richard Marles said Thursday that his government is giving Ukraine most of its American-made M1A1 tanks, which are valued at $163 million.

Conroy provides more detail on donation of 49 Abram tanks to Ukraine The defence industry minister, Pat Conroy, has been speaking with ABC RN following the announcement Australia would donate 49 Abrams tanks to Ukraine.

Australia is set to transfer nearly 50 American-made M1A1 Abrams tanks to Ukraine, officials confirmed on Wednesday.

Ukraine says North Korean military engineers have been sent to Russia to check how well missiles are launching.

Ukraine called on its allies on Wednesday to impose new sanctions on Pyongyang after it said North Korea had become a de facto participant in the war in Ukraine on Russia's side. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy told parliament in a speech to outline his victory plan that his spy services had confirmed North Korea's supply of both weapons and people to Russia,

The Department of Defense will send military aid totaling $425 million to Ukraine to assist with its defense against Russian military aggression.

U.S. President Joe Biden announced $425 million in new security assistance for Ukraine during a phone call with President Volodymyr Zelensky on Oct. 16. Biden and Zelensky spoke on the phone after the U.