EU Officials Affirm Support for Ukraine at Kyiv Summit

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Charles Michel are visiting Ukraine’s capital, Kyiv, today (AP) in the first European Union (EU) meeting in a country at war. While Ukraine’s EU membership is pending, Von der Leyen said it could potentially join some “key European programs” in the meantime. Summit attendees are set to discuss those programs, as well as further financial, military, and energy support for Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has called for a fast track to EU membership amid his country’s war with Russia, but EU leaders have not shown signs of speeding up the process, which could take years. Air raid sirens sounded across Ukraine (Reuters) during their visit, though there were no immediate reports of missile strikes. The EU is preparing new sanctions against Russia to coincide with the February 24 anniversary of its invasion of Ukraine.

Analysis

“Several countries have been waiting for years to join [the EU], including Albania, Bosnia and Serbia, making it difficult for the bloc to move faster on Ukraine. Beyond that, the bloc also has expansion fatigue after being buffeted by economic crises, Brexit and the pandemic, as well as the misbehavior of rule-breaking member countries like Hungary,” the New York Times’ Dan Bilefsky and Shashank Bengali write.

“For now, the EU deserves high marks for its handling of the crises of 2022. Support for Ukraine—both at the elite and the popular level—remains remarkably resilient,” CFR’s Matthias Matthijs writes for Foreign Affairs.

Pacific Rim

Blinken Prepares to Visit China Amid Reports of Chinese Spy Balloon Above U.S.

The U.S. Department of Defense is monitoring the suspected surveillance balloon (NYT), currently hovering over the northwestern United States, as U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken prepares to travel to China (SCMP) on Sunday in a bid to stabilize bilateral ties.

China/Hong Kong: The Chinese government announced that it will remove all pandemic-related restrictions (SCMP) on travel between Hong Kong and mainland China beginning on Monday.

South and Central Asia

Indian Parliament Adjourns After Opposition Protests Over Adani Affair

For the second consecutive day, the legislature adjourned early (The National) after opposition lawmakers forcefully demanded a probe into the stock market rout at companies owned by billionaire Gautam Adani and an investigation into his ties to Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Pakistan: The military said its forces killed two fighters (AP) in a raid on a Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan hideout near the Afghan border.

Middle East and North Africa

Israel, Sudan Pledge Progress on Normalizing Relations

During a visit to Sudan’s capital, Khartoum, Israeli Foreign Minister Eli Cohen said he expected Israel-Sudan relations to be formalized (Le Monde, AFP) by the end of the year. The countries agreed to normalize relations in January 2021 but were stalled after a military coup in Sudan later that year.

Israel/Palestinian territories: Some 503,000 Jewish residents now live in the Israel-occupied West Bank (WaPo), a pro-settlement group announced in a report. Settlements are expected to expand under Israel’s new government, which seeks to formally annex the West Bank.

The Center for Preventive Action looks at the role of settlements in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Sub-Saharan Africa

Twenty-Seven Killed in Clashes Ahead of Pope’s Visit to South Sudan

The fighting between cattle herders and militants in South Sudan’s Central Equatoria State comes as Pope Francis arrives in the country (NYT) today as part of an Africa tour calling for peace and economic justice.

Senegal/UAE: Financing is in place (Reuters) to start construction on a $1.13 billion port developed by a state-owned company from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Senegalese President Macky Sall said. The project had stalled as Senegal sought to increase its stake in the project.

Europe

Türkiye Summons Ambassadors Over Consulate Closures

Ankara summoned ambassadors and other envoys (AFP) of nine Western countries that recently closed consulates due to security concerns. Türkiye’s interior minister accused the diplomats of using the closures to meddle in the country’s upcoming presidential and parliamentary elections.

For Foreign Affairs, CFR’s Henri J. Barkey discusses Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s position ahead of the elections.

Americas

Ecuador to Vote on Reducing Size of Legislature

Ecuadorians will vote Sunday (Axios) on a constitutional referendum that also includes a question about allowing other countries to extradite Ecuadorians accused of organized crime.

Uruguay: Agriculture minister Fernando Mattos said that an ongoing drought has caused more than $1 billion in production losses (MercoPress) since last year.

This Backgrounder looks at global water stress.

United States

Task Force on Migrant Family Separations Announces Seven Hundred Children Returned

About one thousand migrant children who were separated from their families under a Donald Trump administration policy have yet to be returned to them (AP), the Department of Homeland Security said.

Friday Editor’s Pick

The New York Times shows how workers in the U.S. states of Iowa and Pennsylvania forge artillery shells for Ukrainian soldiers to use in their fight against Russia.

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