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Ukraine
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine

• Foreign Ministry statement on the EU's role in the developments in Ukraine Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28 Feb 2022
• Ukraine, Russia Prep for 2nd Round of Talks as Kyiv Demands Cease-Fire VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- Moscow and Kyiv will hold a second round of peace talks, according to both governments, after Ukrainian delegates demanded an immediate cease-fire and withdrawal of Russian forces during initial talks Monday on the border with Belarus.
• Kyiv, Moscow Hold Talks As Russian Invasion Shows Signs Of Escalating RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Talks between Kyiv and Moscow have ended without a breakthrough as Russian troops closed in on the Ukrainian capital and other major cities in the face of deepening international isolation over the Kremlin's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine last week.
• First round of peace talks between Russia, Ukraine end, second round expected Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- The first round of peace talks between delegations from Russia and Ukraine have ended in a Belarusian border area and they will go back to their respective capitals "for consultations" before holding an expected second round, a Ukrainian official says.
• Ukraine-Russia talks continue in Belarus amid 'reduced pace of offensive' Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- Talks between Ukrainian and Russian delegations in Belarus are underway after they began earlier on Monday, with Ukraine's delegation including several high-ranking officials, but not Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky himself.
• Points of Contact for Common Positions Found at Russia-Ukraine Talks, Russian Delegation Head Says Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Russian and Ukrainian officials agreed to meet in Gomel region, Belarus on Monday for talks aimed at halting the fighting in Ukraine and resolving the crisis between Moscow and Kiev.
• Russia, Ukraine to meet at Ukrainian-Belarusian border as fighting continues People's Daily 28 Feb 2022 -- Amid the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict came a ray of hope as Russia and Ukraine agreed to meet at the Belarusian-Ukrainian border.
• Russia Envoy to UN Addresses Fake Information in Social Media About Russia's Spec Op in Ukraine Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- The Russian military says that Kiev has been using its own people as human shields and spreading fake videos with the clear aim of later accusing Russia of targeting civilians. The envoy called on his colleagues to not fall victim to this information war, acknowledging, however, that sadly his calls "will not be heard."
• Moscow Warns Russian Media Over War Coverage VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- Russia's media regulator is warning independent news outlets to not report negatively on the war in Ukraine, including on troop causalities.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Russia Didn't Start Hostilities, Is Ending Them After 8 Years of War Against Donbass Civilians: MoD Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- The Russian military and its Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republic allies began an operation in Ukraine on Thursday amid unceasing attacks by the Ukrainian military and nationalist units of the Ukrainian National Guard targeting the Donbass with artillery, mortar and sniper fire. The conflict is the culmination of a crisis which began in 2014.
• Moscow Has No Plans to Occupy Ukraine, Russia's UN Envoy Says Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- The Russian army and Donbass militia forces began a military operation in Ukraine on Thursday after months of escalation and weeks of artillery, mortar and sniper attacks by Ukrainian forces in the Donbass conflict zone. The US and its allies responded by slapping Russia with new sanctions and promising over $850 million more in arms for Kiev.
• Ukraine Solution Possible Only if Russia's Security Interests Are Considered, Putin Tells Macron Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin noted that Russian troops are not a threat to civilians nor are they conducting strikes against civilian targets in Ukraine.
• Putin: Ukraine's neutrality, recognition of Crimea key to settlement of conflict Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin says the settlement of the Ukrainian crisis will only be possible if Kiev remains neutral and Moscow's control over the Crimean Peninsula is formally recognized.
• Russia defends logic for actions in Ukraine, says was right to seek demilitarization of its neighbor. Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- Russia has reiterated its logic behind sending forces to Ukraine, saying Western arms supplies to Kiev had shown that Moscow was right to seek demilitarization of its neighbor.
• Russian Nuclear Triad Takes Up Standby Alert Duty With Reinforced Staff, Shoigu Tells Putin Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- The Russian president ordered the nation's nuclear deterrence forces to be placed on high alert Sunday following "aggressive statements" from NATO related to the Russian military operation in Ukraine. Earlier, UK Foreign Secretary Liz Truss warned that if Russia wasn't "stopped" "in Ukraine," the crisis could escalate into a conflict with NATO.
• Pentagon Wants to Set Up Military Backchannels With Russia Amid Ukraine Crisis: Report Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Tensions between Russia and NATO reached a new post-Cold War high point last week after Moscow kicked off a military operation to demilitarize Ukraine, a client state of the Western bloc. Russia launched the operation after a request for support from the Donbass republics, which have faced weeks of escalating Ukrainian military aggression.
• White House Says Putin Directive Gives No Reason to Change Nuclear Alert Level at Present Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Last weekend, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country's nuclear deterrence forces to be placed on high alert after "aggressive statements" from NATO related to Moscow's ongoing military operation in Ukraine.
• Putin puts Russian deterrence forces on combat duty People's Daily 28 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the country's deterrence forces to be placed on "a special mode of combat duty" in a Sunday meeting with top defense officials.

Foreign Policy

• Comment by Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on the situation with the Council of the Baltic Sea States Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 28 Feb 2022
• Meeting on economic issues President of Russia 28 Feb 2022 -- The President chaired a meeting on economic issues.
• Putin blasts West as 'empire of lies' over sanctions against Moscow Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has blasted the West as the "empire of lies" over plans to impose sweeping sanctions against Moscow to cripple the country's economy, following its large-scale military operation in Ukraine.
• Telephone conversation with President of France Emmanuel Macron President of Russia 28 Feb 2022 -- During a lengthy telephone conversation initiated by the President of the French Republic, Vladimir Putin and Emmanuel Macron had a serious, substantive exchange of views on all aspects of the situation around Ukraine.
• Executive Order On Imposing Special Economic Measures in Connection with the Hostile Actions of the United States in League with Other Foreign States and International Organisations President of Russia 28 Feb 2022 -- The President signed Executive Order On Imposing Special Economic Measures in Connection with the Hostile Actions of the United States in League with Other Foreign States and International Organisations.
• DOD: In Ukraine, Every Lost Soul is on Putin DoD News 28 Feb 2022 -- Since Russian military forces illegally invaded Ukraine last week, Ukrainian civilians and soldiers, as well as Russian soldiers have been killed in the conflict. Estimates are in the thousands.
• U.S. Expels 12 Russian UN Diplomats As Debate Opens On Resolution To 'Deplore' Russia's Invasion RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Twelve members of Russia's diplomatic mission to the United Nations have been ordered to leave the United States by March 7, accusing them of being "intelligence operatives" engaged in espionage.
• Suspending Operations at U.S. Embassy Minsk and Change in Status for U.S. Embassy Moscow US Dept. of State 28 Feb 2022
• Russia Envoy to UN: Expulsion of Diplomats Yet Another Sign of Disrespect by US of Its Obligations Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- The deterioration in relations between Moscow and the West came after Russia's recognition of the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics and the launch at their request of the Russian special military operation in Ukraine to carry out the "demilitarization" and "denazification" of the country.
• US to Expel 12 Russian Diplomats at UN Mission for Spying VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- The United States said Monday that it was expelling 12 Russian diplomats based at Moscow's U.N. mission in New York for engaging in espionage activities.
• Background Press Call by Senior Administration Officials on New Economic Restrictive Measures on Russia The White House 28 Feb 2022
• US Moves to Sever Russian Access to Dollars VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- The U.S. Treasury made its strongest moves yet to sever Russia's access to its assets, the White House said Monday, with measures aimed at both the Russian Central Bank and the Russian Direct Investment Fund.
• Additional Measures Against the Russian Financial System US Dept. of State 28 Feb 2022 -- In coordination with our allies and partners, the United States is taking further measures today against the Russian financial system in response to Russia's continuing premeditated war against Ukraine. Unwavering in our support for Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will continue to act with our allies and partners in imposing costs on Russia if it continues its war of choice.
• Treasury Prohibits Transactions with Central Bank of Russia and Imposes Sanctions on Key Sources of Russia's Wealth US Treasury 28 Feb 2022 -- Today, the U.S. Department of the Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) prohibited United States persons from engaging in transactions with the Central Bank of the Russian Federation, the National Wealth Fund of the Russian Federation, and the Ministry of Finance of the Russian Federation. This action effectively immobilizes any assets of the Central Bank of the Russian Federation held in the United States or by U.S. persons, wherever located.
• U.S. Announces New Sanctions Against Moscow Over Ukraine Invasion, Russian Markets Reel RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- The United States has announced new sanctions that block Americans from executing any transactions with Russia's central bank to punish Moscow for its unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, adding to a wave of measures that sent the ruble into a free fall and prompted Bank Rossia to more than double its key interest rate to 20 percent.
• US freezes Russian central bank assets in significant escalation of sanctions Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- The United States has moved to cut off Russia from the global economy by blocking transactions with the country's central bank, a significant escalation of sanctions against Moscow just days after Russia launched military action in Ukraine.
• US Treasury Prohibits Transactions With Russia's Central Bank, Wealth Fund & Finance Ministry Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Despite Moscow repeatedly offering assurances that it has no plans of occupying Ukrainian territory in the course of its ongoing special operation to demilitarise and "denazify" Ukraine, many foreign countries have rushed to accuse it of invading the neighbouring country and violating its territorial integrity, slapping the Kremlin with sanctions.
• UK Treasury Imposes Sanctions Against Central Bank of Russia Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Earlier, the UK announced sanctions measures aimed at "imposing severe consequences on Russian President Vladimir Putin and the Russian economy" over Moscow's special operation in Donbass to defend the Donetsk and Lugansk People's republics (DPR and LPR).
• UK targets Russian central bank with new sanctions Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- The United Kingdom has taken further measures against Russia, cutting off Moscow's major financial institutions from Western financial markets in response to Russia's military actions in Ukraine.
• EU to ban Russian flights over Europe over Ukraine crisis People's Daily 28 Feb 2022 -- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced on Sunday that the EU would shut its airspace to Russian airlines in response to its "special military operation" in Ukraine since early Thursday.
• Switzerland Joins EU Sanctions Against Russia In Change Of Course For Neutral Nation RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Switzerland will adopt all the same sanctions already imposed by the European Union against Russia and its leaders and oligarchs over Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said on February 28.
• China reiterates opposition to unilateral sanctions against Russia Press TV 28 Feb 2022 -- China has reiterated its opposition to the use of illegal and unilateral sanctions against Russia in the wake of a Western move to block a certain number of Russian banks from the SWIFT interbank system amid the conflict in Ukraine.
• As Russia's Ukraine Campaign Escalates, US Reaches out to Taiwan and China VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- As Russia escalates its invasion of Ukraine, the United States is sending a delegation of former defense officials to Taiwan while keeping communication channels open with Russia's ally, China.
• Counting Both US and Russia as Partners, India Faces Diplomatic Test in Ukraine Crisis VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- The Ukraine crisis has presented India with its toughest diplomatic challenge in recent decades as New Delhi juggles ties with its old partner Russia and its growing relationship with the United States.
• READOUT: Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen's Call with Japanese Finance Minister Shunichi Suzuki US Treasury 28 Feb 2022

News Reports

• RDIF to Use All Available Means to Protect Rights Over US Sanctions Imposed on Fund Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- The Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF) said on Monday that it would use all available means to protect its rights, reputation, and lawful interests following the US decision to impose sanctions on the fund.
• 'He Has Changed': Putin's Words And Actions Raise Questions About His Rationality RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- In April 2014, after Russia seized Crimea and as a deadly war erupted in eastern Ukraine, where Moscow incited separatism and backed anti-Kyiv forces, opposition politician Boris Nemtsov used a crude epithet to suggest that President Vladimir Putin was mentally unbalanced.
• Vershbow Says NATO Needs To Speak 'Putin's Language' After Invasion RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine has "surpassed all our expectations" and will have "significant implications" for Europe's security order, former NATO Deputy Secretary-General Alexander Vershbow has told RFE/RL.
• Russia's Top Court Upholds Decision To Shut Down Memorial Rights Group RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Russia's Supreme Court has upheld its previous decision to shut down one of the country's most venerated human rights groups, International Memorial, amid a continued crackdown on civil society in the country.
• Russia / Ukraine update MAERSK 28 Feb 2022 -- In light of the current conflict between Russia and Ukraine, we at A.P. Moller - Maersk are closely monitoring and preparing to comply with the ever-evolving sanctions and restrictions imposed against Russia while we safeguard our operations and our people in consideration of the constant developing situation.
• Shell Follows BP In Announcing Plans To Sell Stakes In Russian Oil Companies RFE/RL 28 Feb 2022 -- Oil giant Shell will sell all its Russian operations, including all joint ventures with Gazprom, the company said on February 28, a day after BP abandoned its stake in Russian oil giant Rosneft following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine.
• Russia Restricts Flights of Airlines of 36 Countries in Response to Bans on Air Travels Sputnik 28 Feb 2022 -- Over the weekend, Western countries initiated new sanctions against Russia in connection with the Russian operation in Ukraine. European Union banned any Russian aircraft from landing, taking off or flying over the territory of the EU.
• Khan After Putin Visit: Pakistan to Import Wheat, Gas from Russia VOA 28 Feb 2022 -- Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan announced Monday that his country will import about 2 million tons of wheat from Russia and buy natural gas as well under bilateral agreements the two sides signed last week during his official trip to Moscow.
• France asks its nationals to leave Russia, Belarus immediately People's Daily 28 Feb 2022 -- Due to the closure of European Union airspace to Russia, French Foreign Affairs Ministry asked on Sunday its nationals to leave immediately Russia.