By Day Six of the war there can be no doubt that the Russian military has an overwhelming advantage over Ukraine’s. There are now reports that a massive 40-mile-long Russian convoy is advancing on Kyiv.
The assault so far has not gone as Putin anticipated on any level. There is an unprecedented unanimity of opposition from the Western powers, vocal internal opposition inside Russia, a strong defense of their homeland by the Ukrainians, and crippling economic sanctions that are taking a toll on the Russian economy.
Meanwhile, the volume of news has increased to a level I’ve not seen previously, not even at the height of the pandemic. The war in Ukraine is now dominating the global news cycle to a remarkable degree.
In the process, the hostilities have pushed Covid off of what used to be called the “front page” and into the inside, i.e., you have to scroll way down to find it. At this point, the only significant pandemic-related story among the headlines holds that new studies indicate that the virus originated at the Wuhan seafood market, as has long been assumed, and not at the nearby bio-research laboratory.
This will not satisfy skeptics, of course, and the case has to be considered still open unless and until China opens its books to full scrutiny on the matter.
But for now, all eyes are on Kyiv and the impending humanitarian disaster that could occur if the Russian convoy does not halt.
TODAY’s NEWS (75!)
Ukraine, Russia envoys talk under shadow of nuclear threat (AP)
Ukraine crisis: President Zelensky - We will defend our state (BBC)
Russian forces facing fierce resistance; talks begin on Belarus border (WP)
Protests against the invasion of Ukraine started Thursday in Russia and have continued daily, even as the Kremlin cracks down. By Sunday evening, police detained at least 1,474 Russians in 45 cities for the day's anti-war demonstrations. “I have two sons and I don’t want to give them to that bloody monster. War is a tragedy for all of us,” said Dmitry Maltsev, who joined the rally in St. Petersburg. [AP]
US, Swiss announce new sanctions; Russia calls economic moves 'problematic' (USA Today)
Fresh fighting forces Kyiv residents back into shelters (BBC)
Russia faces financial meltdown as sanctions slam its economy (CNN)
Talks between Russian and Ukrainian officials began on the Belarusian border, Moscow said, as Russia's diplomatic and economic isolation deepens four days after invading Ukraine, the biggest assault on a European state since World War Two. (Reuters)
Explosions and gunfire around Ukraine's capital, Kyiv, appeared to subside overnight. Ukraine's delegation arrived on the border with Belarus for scheduled talks with Moscow, but it's unclear whether they'll lead to any breakthrough. [AP]
The U.S. Embassy in Russia has urged all Americans to consider leaving Russia immediately amid concerns that airline travel out of the country during the country’s escalating assault of Ukraine may become even more limited than it already is. [HuffPost]
Stock Trading in Russia to Be Closed Again on Tuesday (WSJ)
Neutral Swiss poised to freeze Russian assets - president (Reuters)
The war in Ukraine isn’t working out the way Russia intended (WP)
The United Nations General Assembly and the Security Council held separate meetings Monday on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, a reflection of widespread international demands for an immediate cease-fire. Both meetings follow Russia’s veto of a Security Council resolution demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw troops. [AP]
Thousands trying to leave Ukraine face long waits, traffic jams at border crossings (WP)
500,000+ refugees flee Ukraine since Russia waged war (AP)
World's largest plane destroyed in Ukraine — "Russia may have destroyed our 'Mriya'. But they will never be able to destroy our dream of a strong, free and democratic European state. We shall prevail!" wrote Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on Twitter. (CNN)
With Russian nuclear forces on alert, crisis enters a more dangerous phase (WP)
VIDEO: E.U. Says It Will Finance Provision of Weapons to Ukraine (AP)
In Foreign Policy U-turn, Germany Ups Military Spending, Arms Ukraine (NYT)
Putin Accidentally Revitalized the West’s Liberal Order (Atlantic)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has inadvertently achieved what Western allies have long struggled to: get Germany to step up to its role as a major global power with an assertive foreign policy backed by a strong military despite its World War guilt. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced a dramatic hike in military spending in what is being heralded as a historic speech that marks a paradigm shift in German foreign and defense policy. (Reuters)
Rockets kill civilians in Kharkiv as Moscow ‘adapts its tactics’ (Guardian)
Why Kharkiv, a city known for its poets, has become a key battleground in Ukraine (WP)
Ukraine and Russia Hold Talks as Russian Shelling Kills Civilians in Eastern City (WSJ)
Once Sleepy and Picturesque, Ukrainian Villages Mobilize for War (NYT)
Meta says it's shut down a pro-Russian disinformation network, warns of a social media hacking operation (CNN)
Twitter to label all state-affiliated Russia media (Politico)
Biden administration expands sanctions against Russia, cutting off U.S. transactions with central bank (CNBC)
World War III? ‘We’re Already In It’ (Politico)
Stocks fall, ruble dives as Russia sanctions hit world markets (Reuters)
Bitcoin Trading Against the Ruble Surges as Russia's Currency Crashes (Decrypt)
Britain said it was taking further measures against Russia in concert with the United States and European Union, effectively cutting off Moscow's major financial institutions from Western financial markets. (Reuters)
Would Vladimir Putin actually use nuclear weapons? (Guardian)
Ukraine conflict: What are the nuclear risks? (BBC)
Ruble plummets as sanctions bite, sending Russians to banks (AP)
The European arm of Russia's biggest lender Sberbank faces failure, the European Central Bank warned, after savers demanded deposits. (Reuters)
Ukraine Invasion Tests the Ties That Bind Putin and Xi (NYT)
U.S. Looks to Make China Pay for Close Ties to Russia in Ukraine Crisis (WSJ)
China's reaction to Ukraine could be putting its citizens in danger (CNN)
Russia's attack on Ukraine, which China refuses to condemn or even call an invasion, has sent Beijing into a diplomatic scramble to limit blowback while standing by a partner with which it has grown increasingly close in opposition to the West. (Reuters)
U.S. shuts down Belarus embassy amid attack on Ukraine (Politico)
Belarus’s tilt to Russia complicates Europe’s security calculations (Financial Times)
Japan to freeze assets of Russia's central bank (NHK)
US governors order state-run liquor stores to stop selling Russian vodka (Guardian)
Boycotts of Russian products and groups spread, but the effects may be limited (NPR)
ECB says 3 Russian bank subsidiaries are likely to fail (NHK)
Shell to Exit Joint Ventures With Gazprom, Citing Russia Invasion of Ukraine (WSJ)
Energy major BP opened a new front in the West's campaign to isolate Russia's economy, with its decision to quit the oil-rich country the most aggressive move yet by a company. (Reuters)
'A financial nuclear bomb' on Russia (Politico)
Fifa set to suspend Russia from international football (Financial Times)
Ukraine crisis: Fifa and Uefa suspend all Russian clubs and national teams (BBC)
Some Russian performing artists are speaking out against Putin (NPR)
As European nations and Canada moved to shut their airspace to Russian aircraft, Aeroflot said it would cancel all flights to European destinations. (Reuters)
Ukraine invasion spotlights the delicate state of democracy (AP)
After Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Jerusalem's Putin Pub is now just named Pub (NPR)
CPAC 2022: US conservatives show little interest in Ukraine (BBC)
Climate change to make world sicker, poorer: UN report (Al Jazeera)
Climate change is upon us and humanity is far from ready, the United Nations climate panel warned in a major report. Noting that nearly half the world's population was already vulnerable to increasingly dangerous climate impacts, the report calls for drastic action on a huge scale: A third to a half of the planet needs to be conserved and protected to ensure future food and freshwater supplies. Coastal cities need plans to keep people safe from storms and rising seas. And more. (Reuters)
At least eight people have died after flash floods swept through parts of Australia's east coast over the weekend. Images and videos revealed main roads and homes swallowed by floodwaters, large boats and jetties floating unmoored along the swollen Brisbane River and severe damage to property and vehicles. The state’s premier, Annastacia Palaszczuk, called the weather event a “rain bomb,” and described unrelenting “waves of water just coming down.” [HuffPost]
Climate change is killing people, but there's still time to reverse the damage (NPR)
Covid-19 news: Omicron immune response protects against BA.2 variant (New Scientist)
Unsafe drivers made up larger share of motorists during pandemic, study says (WP)
How long COVID sheds light on other mysterious (and lonely) chronic illnesses (NPR)
Federal authorities are reinstalling fencing around the U.S. Capitol as Washington prepares for planned trucker protests inspired by demonstrations in Canada against COVID-19 pandemic-related restrictions. (Reuters)
Relax, Democrats, Biden’s Presidency Isn’t Screwed (Politico)
Silicon Valley Pressured to Redesign Children’s Online Experience (WSJ)
Man Sure It’s No Big Deal That He’s Betting On Sports In Dreams Now (The Onion)
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