Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said there was “no positive response” (Moscow Times) to Russia’s main ask regarding Ukraine when the United States and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) submitted responses to Russia’s security demands yesterday. However, he said the reply yielded “hope for the start of a serious conversation” on other issues.
 
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington maintained its refusal (NYT) to guarantee that Ukraine would never join NATO. It instead offered “transparency measures regarding force posture in Ukraine,” as well as confidence-building and arms control measures in Europe. Separately, French, German, Russian, and Ukrainian officials agreed yesterday to uphold a 2014 cease-fire agreement (DW, AFP) in eastern Ukraine.

The World Trade Organization (WTO) ruled that China has the right to impose tariffs (Bloomberg) on $645 million in U.S. goods in response to U.S. anti-subsidy duties.
 
This Backgrounder discusses what’s next for the WTO.
 
China: During a call with U.S. Secretary of State Blinken yesterday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi criticized U.S.-Taiwan relations (SCMP) and what he called U.S. interference in the upcoming Beijing Olympics. Wang said U.S. actions are inconsistent with a pledge both countries made in November to improve their relationship
 
This In Brief explains the debate over boycotting the Winter Olympics in Beijing.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is convening virtually (Nikkei) with leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan today. They are expected to discuss regional security in light of the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan.
 
China/India: The Chinese army returned an Indian teenager (Express News Service) who had apparently entered Chinese territory last week, an Indian official said.

Qatar’s foreign minister, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani, met with Iranian officials today (Reuters) and will meet with U.S. officials tomorrow. The visits come after Iran’s top diplomat said Tehran is ready to consider direct nuclear talks with Washington.
 
Jordan: The military said it killed twenty-seven suspected drug smugglers (Al Jazeera) who were attempting to enter the country from Syria.

President Lazarus Chakwera reappointed ten ministers (AFP) who were among the thirty-three he fired on Monday. The firings came after civic and religious groups said Chakwera hasn’t done enough to fight corruption.
 
Sudan: U.S. President Joe Biden plans to nominate (Sudan Tribune) career diplomat John Godfrey to be the first U.S. ambassador to Sudan in almost twenty-five years.

The European Union (EU) sued China (Politico) at the WTO over new trade bans that China imposed against Lithuania for deepening ties with Taiwan.

U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris is attending today’s inauguration (NPR) of Honduran President Xiomara Castro. Washington has voiced hopes of working with Castro on corruption and migration issues in Central America.
 
For Foreign Affairs, Dan Restrepo writes that migrants from Central America are fleeing bad governments.
 
Chile: The country’s central bank hiked interest rates 1.5 percent (Buenos Aires Times, AFP) yesterday, its largest increase in twenty years, due to concerns over inflation.

The liberal justice’s expected announcement (NYT) of his retirement would give President Biden a chance to fulfill a campaign promise to nominate a Black woman justice.