Putin Halts Russian Cooperation in New START Nuclear Treaty

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the suspension (WaPo) during a wide-ranging speech that falsely accused Kyiv and its Western allies of starting the war in Ukraine. The treaty is Russia’s last remaining arms control agreement with the United States.

To mark one year since Russia’s invasion and underscore U.S. and global support for Ukraine, U.S. President Joe Biden visited Kyiv yesterday and will give a speech in Warsaw, Poland, today. Meanwhile, China’s top diplomat, Wang Yi, arrived in Russia (FT). Ahead of the trip, China called for talks to end the war and said it would release its own peace plan this week. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said U.S. intelligence suggests Beijing is considering providing Moscow with lethal aid (AP) for its war effort, a charge Beijing denies.

Analysis

“No one really knows [Russia’s] current military goal or what Putin might consider a victory,” the Washington Post’s Robyn Dixon and Catherine Belton write. “In September, Ukraine’s first big successful counteroffensive shone a harsh spotlight on Putin’s instincts in a crisis: a bullish doubling-down designed to sever any path to compromise.”

“[Chinese President Xi Jinping] may well have decided he has invested too much in Putin to see him lose. Also that a long war in Europe depletes U.S. readiness,” CFR President Richard Haass tweets.

This timeline tracks U.S.-Russia arms control agreements.

Pacific Rim

North Korea Test-Fires Two Short-Range Ballistic Missiles

The missiles flew toward (Yonhap) the waters off the country’s eastern coast, South Korea’s military said. The launches came a day after the United States and South Korea held joint air drills.

CFR’s Scott A. Snyder argues that an expanded U.S.-South Korea nuclear agreement could deter North Korea.

Hong Kong: The city’s financial regulator announced plans to allow retail trading (TechCrunch) of some popular cryptocurrency tokens, in contrast to China’s outright ban on cryptocurrency trading.

This video looks at cryptocurrencies and the future of money.

South and Central Asia

Bangladesh Government Shuts Down Opposition Newspaper

A press council headed by a high court judge said the Dainik Dinkal was being illegally published by a convicted criminal. Two Dhaka-based journalist unions called the shutdown a “repression of opposition voices” (AFP).

India/Iran: Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian pulled out (Reuters) of a geopolitical meeting that New Delhi is hosting next month after conference organizers shared a video online that showed anti-government protests in Iran.

Middle East and North Africa

Israel to Halt Approval of New West Bank Settlements for Six Months

The announcement appears to be the result (BBC) of behind-the-scenes talks among U.S., Israeli, and Palestinian officials. Additionally, the Palestinian Authority withdrew a proposed UN resolution that would have condemned the settlements.

Israel: Lawmakers advanced a plan (Haaretz) to overhaul the country’s judiciary by passing the first of three required votes. Tens of thousands of people demonstrated outside of Israel’s legislature to protest the measure.

Sub-Saharan Africa

West African Bloc Implements Travel Ban Against Burkina Faso’s Military Rulers

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) also agreed to maintain sanctions (Bloomberg) against the leadership of Burkina Faso, Guinea, and Mali that were applied after the countries each underwent coups during the last two years.

Madagascar/Mauritius: Mauritius grounded flights and closed its stock exchange in preparation for Cyclone Freddy, which is expected to bring heavy wind and rain (Reuters) to Mauritius and Madagascar today.

Europe

Fresh Earthquake Kills Six in Southern Turkey

The 6.4-magnitude earthquake hit the southern Turkish province of Hatay (Hürriyet), followed by a 5.8-magnitude aftershock. The quake was felt as far away as Egypt.

Americas

Flooding, Landslides Kill Dozens in Southern Brazil

At least forty people have died and hundreds have been displaced (BBC) in São Paulo State.

Mexico: A bus carrying migrants through central Mexico crashed, killing at least seventeen people (AP).

United States

Supreme Court Begins Hearing Cases on Online Speech, Content Moderation

Oral arguments begin this week (CNN) for Gonzalez v. Google and Twitter v. Taamneh, two cases that could result in increased legal accountability for tech companies that allow extremist content to be recommended to users.

The Why It Matters podcast compares the U.S., Chinese, and European approaches to internet regulation.

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