The price for Brent crude hit $139 per barrel (FT) today after reports that the United States and its allies are considering banning imports of Russian oil to pressure Moscow against fighting in Ukraine. The United States is also working with Poland (FT) on a plan to send fighter jets to Ukraine.
 
Russian forces continued to shell (BBC) the Ukrainian city of Mariupol on Saturday, despite agreeing to a cease-fire there. The United Nations said more than 1.7 million people have fled Ukraine (AFP) since the war began. A Ukrainian government spokesperson called a Russian plan (RFE/RL) to allow refugees to evacuate to Russia and Belarus “completely immoral.” Russian and Ukrainian delegates are meeting for their third round of talks today.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told reporters (SCMP) that Taiwan’s situation is “fundamentally different” from Ukraine’s because it is a “purely domestic affair” and not a dispute between countries. He also said that Russia is China’s “most important strategic partner” (AP) and did not condemn the invasion of Ukraine.
 
For the Asia Unbound blog, CFR’s David Sacks writes that Russia’s aggression against Ukraine threatens China’s hopes for Taiwan.
 
Australia: Prime Minister Scott Morrison unveiled a plan to construct (Nikkei) a $7.4 billion nuclear submarine base in Australia’s east.

More than one hundred Rohingya refugees from Myanmar arrived by boat (Reuters) in Indonesia, which is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention and is usually seen as a transit country.
 
Pakistan: The self-declared Islamic State claimed responsibility (PTI) for an attack on a mosque in Peshawar on Friday that killed at least sixty-two people.

People are struggling to reach markets, schools, and health-care centers as the fuel shortage raises demand for public transportation (Reuters) in the capital, Sanaa, and other areas controlled by the Houthi rebels.

This Backgrounder explains Yemen’s conflict.

Syria: State media reported that an Israeli missile attack killed two civilians (Al Jazeera) on the outskirts of Syria’s capital, Damascus. Israel did not comment on the attack.

Nigeria’s foreign ministry made the announcement (BBC) following reports that Nigerians had volunteered to fight for Ukraine.
 
South Africa: Former President Jacob Zuma announced that he supports Russian President Vladimir Putin (Daily Maverick) in his invasion of Ukraine, calling Putin a “man of peace.”

A referendum set for June 1 will consider overturning (Guardian) the country’s rejection of the common European Union (EU) defense policy.
 
At this event, CFR’s Charles A. Kupchan and former Ukrainian Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk discuss war in Europe.

The parties discussed the possibility of easing U.S. sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports, and U.S. officials pushed for the release of six detained former executives of Citgo Petroleum Corporation, the Washington Post reported.
 
Brazil: The country is seeking new fertilizer suppliers (WSJ) after Russia called for a broad suspension of its fertilizer exports. Some 17 percent of the fertilizer used in Brazil comes from Russia.

Led by a group of truckers, the protesters drove slowly (NYT) around the nation’s capital.