Russia Begins Large-Scale Assault on Eastern Ukraine
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Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov declared that “another phase” of the war had begun (NYT) as Russia’s troops bombarded targets along the three-hundred-mile eastern front in Ukraine. They seized Kreminna (Reuters), a town in the region of Luhansk, its governor said. For a third consecutive day, Ukrainian officials said fighting made it impossible to evacuate civilians from the country’s east.
U.S. President Joe Biden will meet virtually with allies today to discuss the war. Meanwhile, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen will chair a high-level meeting (Reuters) on responding to a global food security crisis that has been worsened by the war.
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“To preserve the norm against territorial conquest, the global community should keep up the pressure on Russia, even if [Russian President Vladimir] Putin’s goal is to annex only Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk,” the University of Minnesota’s Tanisha M. Fazal writes for Foreign Affairs.
“The provision of tactical training by the United States, United Kingdom, and Canada to Ukrainian units has proven its worth. But the provision of lethal aid was left too late, exacerbating the problems that Ukraine faced in the close fight,” the Royal United Services Institute’s Jack Watling writes for War on the Rocks.
CFR provides comprehensive coverage of the war in Ukraine.
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China’s Central Bank Rolls Out Economic Support Measures Amid COVID-19 Lockdowns
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The nearly two dozen measures aim to boost government and private-sector lending and encourage cross-border use of the yuan to help industries (Bloomberg) that are struggling under China’s latest lockdowns.
For Foreign Affairs, Daniel H. Rosen explains what slow growth in China means for the global economy.
Indonesia/South Korea: To reduce dependence on Chinese suppliers, a group of companies led by South Korea’s LG Energy Solution will invest $9 billion (FT) in Indonesia to create a supply chain that handles the entire production process for electric vehicle batteries.
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Blast Near Boys School in Afghan Capital Kills at Least Four
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The attack occurred in an area (BBC) in Kabul that is home to many Hazaras, an ethnic and religious minority. The self-declared Islamic State has targeted the area in the past.
Pakistan: Thirty-four new cabinet members were sworn in (Dawn) following Shehbaz Sharif’s appointment as prime minister last week.
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Middle East and North Africa
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Israel Strikes Gaza Strip Targets in Response to Rocket Fire
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Israel’s military said it targeted sites (Times of Israel) including a weapons-manufacturing facility used by Hamas, the militant group that governs Gaza. The rocket attack from Gaza was the first from the region in four months.
Yemen: The Houthi rebels signed an “action plan” (AP) to end and prevent the recruitment of child soldiers, the United Nations said.
This Backgrounder looks at the prospects for moving beyond Yemen’s war.
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Mali’s Junta Receives New Shipment of Russian Military Gear
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The shipment, the junta’s second from Russia, included (AfricaNews, AFP) surveillance radars and two helicopters. Mali’s military government has turned away from Paris and toward Moscow since taking power in June 2020.
South Africa: The state electric utility warned that the country could experience (News24) up to 101 days of planned power outages in the coming winter months due to capacity issues at its power plants.
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U.S. Envoy Arrives in Brussels for Talks on China Relations
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U.S., Cuba Reportedly Planning Talks on Migration
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U.S. and Cuban officials will meet in Washington this week to discuss migration, Reuters reported. Cubans compose a growing number of migrants arriving at the U.S.-Mexico border.
This timeline looks at U.S. postwar immigration policy.
Mexico: After his proposed electricity reform failed in Congress, President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador submitted a new bill that would create a state-owned company (AP) for lithium mining. The lower house approved it.
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Federal Authorities to Stop Enforcing Mask Requirement on Public Transit
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The Biden administration said it recommends wearing masks but will no longer require them after a Florida district judge ruled against a federal mask mandate (CNBC) on public transportation. Some airlines announced that they will no longer require masks on flights.
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Council on Foreign Relations
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