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Ukraine Invasion
Defense Policy / Programs
Foreign Policy
News Reports

Ukraine Invasion

• Russia Says It Could Target Western Arms Supplies To Ukraine RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- A senior Russian official warned on March 12 that Moscow could target Western shipments of military equipment to Ukraine.
• Day 17: Sirens sound as Russian troops regroup for possible Kiev assault Press TV 12 Mar 2022 -- Air raid sirens have been heard across most cities in Ukraine, with President Volodymyr Zelensky saying his country has "reached a strategic turning point" in the war with Russian forces appearing to regroup for a possible assault on Kiev.
• Ukraine sets up 12 humanitarian corridors in 4 regions People's Daily 12 Mar 2022 -- Ukraine established 12 humanitarian corridors in four regions on Friday to allow civilians to leave the conflict-torn areas, the Ukrainian government-run Ukrinform news agency reported, citing Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Iryna Vereshchuk.
• US, Russia exchange accusations at UN over bio-weapons in Ukraine Press TV 12 Mar 2022 -- The US and Russia exchange accusations at the United Nations Security Council over alleged biological weapons in Ukraine. Russia insists that the US has financed a biological weapons research program in Ukraine while Washington denies the accusation.
• Putin slams 'flagrant violation' of international humanitarian law by Ukrainian forces Press TV 12 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin has slammed the "flagrant violation" of international humanitarian law by Ukrainian forces, calling on the leaders of Germany and France to pressure Kiev to force its nationalist battalions to stop their crimes.

Defense Policy / Programs

• Putin approves sending foreign volunteers to Donbass People's Daily 12 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he supported the idea of allowing volunteers from abroad to provide military assistance to Donbass.
• Modernised Strategic Missile Carrier Tu-160M Makes Maiden Flight - Video Sputnik 12 Mar 2022 -- The first modernised strategic missile carrier Tu-160M made its maiden 30-minute flight on Wednesday, Rostec told reporters.
• Stoltenberg: NATO Won't Give Up Open Door Policy, Right to Station Troops in States Ringing Russia Sputnik 12 Mar 2022 -- Russian and NATO officials held talks in Brussels on Wednesday to discuss the security proposals put forward by the Russian Foreign Ministry in mid-December aimed at easing tensions between Moscow and the Western alliance. The discussions took place following talks in Geneva between Russian and US officials on Monday.
• Nuland Says NATO Poses No Threat to Russia Unless Threatened Sputnik 12 Mar 2022 -- US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Victoria Nuland said on Tuesday that NATO does not pose a threat to Russia unless the alliance is threatened.

Foreign Policy

• Telephone conversation with Olaf Scholz and Emmanuel Macron President of Russia 12 Mar 2022 -- Vladimir Putin had a telephone conversation with Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany Olaf Scholz and President of the French Republic Emmanuel Macron.
• France Says Putin Shows No Interest In Ending War; Zelenskiy Says 1,300 Ukrainian Troops Have Died RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- Russian President Vladimir Putin did not show any interest in ending his invasion of Ukraine during a call on March 12 with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, a French Presidency official said.
• The first session of the UN Ad Hoc Committee on drafting a comprehensive convention on countering cybercrime Russia Ministry of Foreign Affairs 12 Mar 2022
• 'Putin Won't Stop In Ukraine': Former NATO Secretary-General Says Alliance Sent 'Wrong Signal' In 2008 RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- In an interview with RFE/RL's Georgian Service, former NATO Secretary-General Anders Fogh Rasmussen discusses how Vladimir Putin's views have changed over the years.
• U.S. to revoke Russia's most-favored nation status amid Ukraine crisis People's Daily 12 Mar 2022 -- The U.S. government will revoke Russia's most-favored nation trade status amid the Ukraine crisis, the White House said Friday, noting that it will work with Group of Seven (G7) countries and the European Union to roll out new sanctions.
• U.S. Sanctions Russian Board Members At Novikombank And ABR Management, Peskov's Family RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- The United States has sanctioned several board members at Novikombank and ABR Management, including Vice Governor of St. Petersburg Vladimir Nikolaevich Knyaginin, over Russia's war against Ukraine, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
• Italy Seizes Super Yacht Owned By Russian Oligarch Melnichenko RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- Italian authorities have seized a super yacht owned by a Russian billionaire placed on an EU sanctions list following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

News Reports

• What's Behind Russian Support For Putin's War In Ukraine? RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- A woman fleeing the shelling of the northeastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv by Russian forces on March 6 stopped for a moment to ask the Russian people a question that many Ukrainians and other foreigners have been asking: Why don't they protest what is being done in their name?
• Asus mum after asked by Ukrainian minister to cut ties with Russia CNA 12 Mar 2022 -- Taiwanese electronics company Asustek Computer (Asus) has chosen not to respond for the moment to an appeal by Ukraine's minister of digital transformation to stop doing business with Russia in the wake of its invasion of Ukraine.
• Largest Hypermarket Chain In Russia's Far East Imposes Limits Amid Buying Frenzy RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- The largest hypermarket chain in Russia's Far East is restricting how much sugar, salt, and other essential foods people can purchase amid a buying frenzy triggered by fears of future shortages.
• Portuguese Rabbi Detained Over Naturalization Of Russian Tycoon Abramovich RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- Portuguese prosecutors have detained a rabbi over the naturalization of a number of Jewish people, including Roman Abramovich, the Russian billionaire owner of Chelsea football club who was put on the United Kingdom's sanctions list in response to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.
• France, Britain, Germany Warn Iran Deal Could Collapse Due To Russian Demands RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- France, Britain, and Germany warned Russia on March 12 that its demands to have its trade guaranteed with Iran risked the collapse of an almost-completed nuclear deal.
• U.S. Sanctions Russians Over Support For North Korea's Ballistic-Missile Program RFE/RL 12 Mar 2022 -- The United States imposed sanctions against two Russian individuals and three entities over their support for North Korea's missile program.