Russian Strike Kills Dozens Waiting to Evacuate in Eastern Ukraine |
A Russian strike hit a Ukrainian railway station (NYT) used to evacuate civilians today, killing at least thirty-nine people and wounding more than ninety, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy denounced the attack, while Russia’s defense ministry said reports blaming Russian forces were a “provocation.” People have rushed to evacuate Ukraine’s east in recent days over fears of a new Russian offensive.
Three senior European officials are in Kyiv today (RFE/RL) for talks with Zelenskyy. Yesterday, the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) agreed to supply Ukraine (FT) with new types of advanced weapons, and the UN General Assembly voted to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, with ninety-three countries voting in favor, twenty-four voting against, and fifty-eight abstaining.
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“It is not too late to help Ukraine defend itself and, in so doing, defend the nonproliferation regime. Ukraine should have everything it needs in terms of armor, air and coastal defenses, aircraft, and intelligence support to successfully repel the Russian invasion and recover its territory,” Harvard University’s Mariana Budjeryn writes for Foreign Affairs.
“As Russian strikes reduce Ukrainian cities to ruin—killing, injuring and terrorizing thousands of civilians—comparisons have been made with the second world war, but there was a much more recent precedent. The tactics, and even some of Russia’s soldiers, have come direct from the civil war in Syria—which Moscow joined in 2015,” the Guardian’s Emma Graham-Harrison and Airwars’ Joe Dyke write for the Guardian.
CFR offers background and fresh analysis on the war in Ukraine. |
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Japan to Move Away From Russian Coal Imports |
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Pakistan’s Top Court Clears Parliament to Proceed With No-Confidence Vote |
The lower house of Parliament will hold (Dawn) a no-confidence vote against Prime Minister Imran Khan tomorrow, despite his efforts to block it.
Sri Lanka: Amid the country’s political and economic crisis, the outgoing finance minister called for restructuring (Reuters) of $1 billion in foreign debt that is due to be repaid in July. |
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Middle East and North Africa |
Kuwait, Saudi Arabia Send Ambassadors Back to Lebanon After Five-Month Rift |
The dispute began when Lebanon’s then information minister said the war in Yemen, where Saudi Arabia leads coalition forces, was “pointless and should stop.” Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati reportedly said he will now work to improve cooperation (Bloomberg) with Saudi Arabia.
Morocco/Spain: Spain’s prime minister, Pedro Sanchez, visited Morocco (AFP) as a yearlong rift between the countries ended. Last month, Madrid backed Rabat’s plan to give the disputed Western Sahara territory limited autonomy. |
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WHO: Up to Two-Thirds of Africans Likely Contracted COVID-19 |
In a new World Health Organization (WHO) study, which is still being peer reviewed, researchers concluded (WHO) that the coronavirus may have infected ninety-seven times more people in Africa than officially reported.
Nigeria: A federal judge ruled that all terrorism trials in the country will be held secretly (Reuters), without media present. |
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France Holds Election Amid Far-Right Surge in Popularity |
France holds the first round of its presidential election on Saturday. Opinion polls show (BBC) that far-right candidate Marine Le Pen could beat President Emmanuel Macron if she faces him in a runoff. |
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Mexico’s Top Court Upholds President’s Changes to Electricity Sector |
The reforms to extend state control (FT) over the energy sector prompted backlash from private companies, including many based in the United States. U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai warned that the reform could be challenged under the U.S.-Mexico-Canada trade agreement.
On The President’s Inbox podcast, CFR’s Shannon K. O’Neil discusses recent developments in U.S.-Mexico relations.
Peru: The central bank hiked interest rates (Bloomberg) to a thirteen-year high following countrywide protests over inflation. Food, fuel, and fertilizer prices have risen due to the war in Ukraine. For Foreign Affairs, Nicholas Mulder explains how sanctions on Russia boost global inflation. |
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Jackson Confirmed as First Black Woman Justice on Supreme Court |
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson was confirmed (NYT) to the court in a 53-47 Senate vote. Three Republicans joined the entire Democratic caucus in backing Jackson, who will be sworn in after Justice Stephen Breyer retires this summer. |
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| | | The New York Times Magazine examines the nationalist faction using appeals to Catholic identity and anti-immigrant sentiment to raise its profile ahead of France’s presidential election. |
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