Advanced Rockets to Ukraine

Secretary of State Antony Blinken pushed back Wednesday on Russian accusations that the United States is “pouring fuel on the fire” by sending advanced rocket systems to Ukraine, as the Washington Post reports.

Russian Troops Break Ranks

Hundreds of Russian soldiers have escaped the fighting in Ukraine or refused to take part during the early stages of the war, according to military decrees viewed by The Wall Street Journal, as well as accused soldiers and lawyers defending them, as the Journal reports.

Trade with Taiwan

The Biden administration said on Wednesday that it would pursue negotiations to strengthen trade and technology ties with Taiwan, a move that is aimed at countering China’s influence in the Asia-Pacific region, as the NYT reports.

Executive Education

Understanding Washington offers embassy, business, and nonprofit professionals the tools and knowledge necessary to better navigate the Washington policy ecosystem. Course instructors will share their extensive knowledge about navigating the city's distinctive culture, policy dynamics, and political constructs.

Video Shorts

Check out CSIS’s new series of video shorts: “Data Unpacked,” Testify,” “What's Happening,” “Preview,” and “High Resolution.” And don’t forget to subscribe to the CSIS YouTube Channel!

In That Number

32%

It now costs 32% more to fill up a tank of gas than on the day before Russia invaded Ukraine.

Source: CNN

Critical Quote

“So long as the United States or our allies are not attacked, we will not be directly engaged in this conflict, either by sending American troops to fight in Ukraine or by attacking Russian forces. We are not encouraging or enabling Ukraine to strike beyond its borders. We do not want to prolong the war just to inflict pain on Russia.”

— President Joe Biden

iDeas Lab

New satellite imagery from CSIS of the Sinpo South Shipyard provides the first views of the secure boat basin, where the 8.24 Yongung experimental ballistic missile submarine and the submersible missile test stand barge are berthed since the SLBM test launch on May 7.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Saul Loeb/AFP/Getty Images.) Admiral Linda Fagan attends the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG) change of command ceremony at USCG Headquarters in Washington, D.C., on June 1, 2022. Fagan became the 27th commandant of the USCG and first woman to hold the position.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., join the CSIS Korea Chair for the latest episode of “The Capital Cable,” focusing on the geopolitics of economic security and the prospects of technological cooperation between Korea and the United States.

Earlier, at 9:00 a.m., the Center for a New American Security hosts the launch of a new report on revitalizing the U.S.-Philippines alliance to address strategic competition in the Indo-Pacific.

And, at 12:00 p.m., the Atlantic Council holds a discussion on the impact of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on the ITU election and on standards policy in general.

Video

Cutting methane emissions from the oil and gas sector offers one of the fastest, most cost-effective opportunities to slow the pace of global warming. CSIS today hosted an event on the actions taken by oil and gas producers to reduce their methane emissions.

Podcasts

State Department Counselor Derek Chollet joins the podcast to discuss the U.S. approach to aiding Ukraine, the weapons systems we are providing, Russia’s response, and China’s stake in the war.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

I just can’t get enough of Daniel Donato and Cosmic Country. Here, on this cool web/live concert series called “Instrumenthead Live” hosted by Nashville photographer Michael Weintraub, Donato and Cosmic Country rip into a cover of the Grateful Dead’s “Bertha.”

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed with the External Relations team: Kendal Gee and Paige Montfort.