Axios

President Biden on Friday said there is a "possibility" he could visit Saudi Arabia on a trip to the Middle East, but he is not "going to change" his "views on human rights" in the kingdom.

Driving the news: The president was responding to questions from reporters about whether he was planning to visit Saudi Arabia and meet with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who U.S. intelligence has concluded is responsible for the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi — an allegation Saudi officials reject.

In part five of How it Happened: Putin’s Invasion, Axios' Dave Lawler zooms into the frontlines of the war, seen through the eyes of a journalist who has been covering the war there and a soldier who has been fighting there, both since 2014.

• Why it matters: The battle to defend this region, which has been partially controlled by pro-Russian separatists since 2014, will determine the outcome of this war.

A House committee has launched an investigation into former Trump White House adviser Jared Kushner and a $2 billion investment in his private equity company from a wealth fund controlled by Saudi Arabia's crown prince.

Why it matters: House Committee on Oversight and Reform chair Carolyn Maloney (D-N.Y.) wrote to Kushner on Thursday, saying the panel was investigating "whether your personal financial interests improperly influenced U.S. foreign policy during the administration of your father-in-law, former President Trump." Kushner denies any wrongdoing.

A network of Twitter accounts previously linked to the Chinese government is targeting female journalists of Chinese heritage who work for western news outlets in a campaign of online harassment, according to a new report.

Why it matters: The campaign appears to be part of the Chinese government's efforts to silence criticism of Beijing abroad through coercion, intimidation, and retaliation.

100 days into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, no end to the bloodshed is in sight and neither side seems poised for a decisive victory.

The big picture: Vladimir Putin failed to take Kyiv, but he's now moving toward his stated goal of "liberating" the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine, and experts say Ukraine is unlikely to force Russian forces out of the country entirely.

100 days, thousands dead, millions displaced, billions in destruction, countless lives touched: Russia's war in Ukraine looks less likely to end today than it did when it began on Feb. 24.

The big picture: With the prospect for meaningful peace talks virtually non-existent, the war appears set to continue for weeks or months longer.

Related: The first 100 days of war in Ukraine could be just the beginning

Kuwait's government said it summoned a senior U.S. diplomat after the American Embassy posted a pair of tweets supporting LGBTQ+ rights in English and Arabic to mark Pride Month on Thursday.

Why it matters: Rights for LGBTQ+ people are severely restricted in Kuwait, but the embassy tweeted that President Biden is a "champion for the human rights" of LGBTQ+ people and "all human beings should be treated with respect and dignity and should be able to live without fear no matter who they are or whom they love."

Ukraine is entering the next 100 days of the war without the same online attention it had going into the first 100, according to NewsWhip data exclusively provided to Axios.

Why it matters: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told Axios' Jonathan Swan last week that global attention has been crucial for Ukraine, but he worries people will get "fed up" and "cynical" and "wants something new." As attention wanes, so will the pressure on world leaders to help Ukraine and punish Russia.

Some Latino Democrats say their party needs a Spanish-language campaign to counter GOP messaging and misinformation around guns, mass shootings and other threats to democracy.

Driving the news: The killing last week of 19 children and two teachers in Uvalde, Texas, renewed calls for gun control measures.

OPEC and its allied producers agreed Thursday to boost oil production by over 200,000 more barrels a day than expected in July and August.

Why it matters: The move may help ease surging oil prices and rising inflation over the high-demand summer months.

The U.S. Treasury Department unveiled a new spate of sanctions on Thursday targeting the network of individuals and entities that enable Kremlin elites to anonymously use their money abroad and make use of their luxury assets.

Why it matters: The move further builds on previous moves by the U.S. to sanction Russia's elites and seize their assets abroad.

Queen Elizabeth II kicked off four days of festivities on Thursday to celebrate her Platinum Jubilee, the 70-year anniversary of her ascension to the throne.

Why it matters: The event — a first in British history, since she's the longest-serving monarch — could be the last major public event of her reign.

Russian forces have taken over most of Severodonetsk, the last remaining major city in the Luhansk region of the Donbas under Ukrainian control, according to the regional governor and British intelligence officials.

What's happening: Luhansk region Gov. Serhiy Haidai told Reuters Ukrainian forces were holding less than a fifth of the key city in eastern Ukraine on the 99th day of Russia's invasion, and he expressed concern for civilians sheltering from Russian shelling under a chemical plant that may be storing toxic substances.

The U.S. Transportation Department lifted Trump-era flight restrictions to Cuba on Wednesday.

Why it matters: The move making U.S.-Cuba travel easier is part of a wider Biden administration drive to bolster support for the Cuban people, one year after the largest anti-government protests on the island in decades occurred, per Axios' Shawna Chen.

The Biden administration is expecting a commitment from Spain — set to be announced at next week's Summit of the Americas — to resettle refugees from the Western Hemisphere for the first time ever, according to internal planning documents reviewed by Axios.

Why it matters: The pledge — along with other expected commitments from Canada — could provide a political boost to President Biden, whose administration has continued to grapple with unmanageable volumes of asylum seekers at the southern border.