February 22, 2022

Daily News Brief

February 22, 2022

Top of the Agenda

World Responds After Putin Orders Troops to Breakaway Ukrainian Regions

Germany suspended the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline (AP) amid a raft of international responses to Russian President Vladimir Putin ordering troops to separatist regions in eastern Ukraine. In a speech yesterday, Putin recognized the independence of the self-declared republics of Donetsk and Luhansk and challenged Ukraine’s nationhood (Moscow Times).

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Putin’s order violates Ukraine’s sovereignty, and the UN Security Council held an emergency meeting last night. The United States announced new sanctions (NYT) on Donetsk and Luhansk and said more will follow later today. European Union (EU) leaders are also preparing sanctions. Global stock markets fell in early trading (CNN) and Brent crude prices rose to more than $99 per barrel today, an increase of nearly 4 percent.

Analysis

“Finding it difficult to imagine Putin pauses for long, content with a bigger foothold in eastern Ukraine. His ‘speech’ Monday strongly suggests his ambitions are to reintegrate Ukraine into Russia, one way or another,” CFR President Richard Haass tweets.

“[The United States] could include a coordinated regime of individual sanctions, asset seizures, travel restrictions, frozen funds, and a broader denial of access to any of the trappings the oligarchs and their families enjoy or require in the West,” the Atlantic Council’s Arun Iyer writes.

This In Brief visualizes how the militaries of Russia and Ukraine stack up.

Pacific Rim

Beijing Winter Olympics Wrap Up

The games were marked by diplomatic boycotts by some countries and tight COVID-19 restrictions, which so far appear to have prevented a major outbreak. In the United States, NBCUniversal recorded its lowest-ever prime-time viewing audience (WSJ) for any Olympics.

In this virtual event, experts join CFR’s Yanzhong Huang and Carl Minzner to discuss China’s preparation for the Winter Olympics.

Thailand: The government and rebels from the country’s south will meet in Malaysia on March 7 to resume talks on ending their decades-long conflict, the Star reported. They last met in January.

South and Central Asia

EU Announces New Sanctions on Myanmar’s Junta

The sanctions target twenty-two individuals and four entities (Bloomberg), including a state-owned oil and gas company.

Afghanistan: The Taliban are working to incorporate (AFP) officers and troops who served in the former government’s military into the Taliban’s forces, a top military official said. The United Nations has reported that more than one hundred people linked to the previous military have been killed since the Taliban took over.

Middle East and North Africa

Leaders of Iran, Qatar Hold Talks

Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi arrived in Doha, Qatar, yesterday. He and Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, are expected to sign agreements (Al Jazeera) on trade, air travel, and building an underwater tunnel between the countries.

Middle East: The U.S. Navy will launch one hundred unmanned drones (AP) to jointly patrol the region’s waters with allied countries. 

Sub-Saharan Africa

Mali’s Parliament Approves Junta Rule for Five Years at Most

The plan was approved despite sanctions that the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) imposed on the junta for delaying elections, AFP reported.

Africa/Turkey: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan is making a three-day visit (Hurriyet) to the Democratic Republic of Congo, Guinea-Bissau, and Senegal to boost commercial ties.

Europe

United Kingdom Announces End to COVID-19 Isolation Requirements, Free Testing

Prime Minister Boris Johnson said those who test positive for COVID-19 will no longer be required (Guardian) to isolate at home beginning on Thursday and that free COVID-19 testing for the public will end on April 1.

This In Brief discusses when COVID-19 will become endemic.

Americas

Colombia’s Top Court Decriminalizes Abortion

The court ruled that abortions in the first twenty-four weeks of pregnancy are no longer a crime (NYT). The decision follows similar measures made in Argentina and Mexico since late 2020.

Guatemala: Five members of the anticorruption prosecutor’s office quit this month (Reuters), the Public Ministry said. One of those who resigned cited a campaign of persecution against prosecutors aimed at “guaranteeing impunity to criminal networks.”

For Foreign Affairs, Claudia Escobar Mejía argues that Washington needs to get tough on Central American kleptocrats.

United States

U.S. Soccer Agrees to Equalize Pay Between Men’s, Women’s Teams in Settlement

The settlement ends a legal battle (NYT) and will award $24 million in payments from the U.S. Soccer Federation, the majority of which will go to back pay for current and former women’s national team players.

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