Articles
China Hails Stronger Ties with Russia
If anyone hoped Beijing could mitigate Russia’s stance on Ukraine, it now seems that it is quite the opposite as China is embracing a new stance on Russia, fearful of Moscow’s military defeat. Beijing has sought to portray itself as a neutral party in the Ukraine conflict, although it is increasingly favorable to Moscow. So far China has helped Russia politically while offering a lifeline––Beijing has increased purchases of Russian exports––but the signs are that the Chinese government could supply Moscow with military aid, too.
Ukraine’s SBU Seeks to Rebuild its Reputation
Ukraine is deepening a purge of double agents in its spy service, a Russian spy ring that has been formed in the country for the past thirty years, the chief of Ukraine’s SBU Vasyl Malyuk told journalists. Ukraine’s SBU Security Service has exposed over 300 traitors since Russia’s full-scale invasion began. With Malyuk appointed as its new chief, the SBU has finally made a domestic crackdown on spies. But will the cleanout allow the agency to rebuild its reputation after being hit so hard recently?
The recent U.S. intelligence leak threatens the Ukrainian planned spring offensive
In March, the leak of secret U.S. documents directly linked to national security raised public interest. The leaked documents concerned U.S. intelligence towards U.S. allies, analysis related to China or top-secret information about U.S. involvement in the Ukraine affair. On April 13, Authorities identified Jack Teixeira, a Massachusetts Air National Guard member, as a person responsible for leaking classified documents over Discord. He has been arrested by the FBI in Massachusetts the same day afternoon.
Would China Mediate in Ukraine-Russia War?
After French President Emmanuel Macron returned from a trip to Beijing, sources said that he tasked a top foreign policy adviser to work with China on a “framework” for future negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. The increasingly supporting stance is noticeable in other Western countries that so far have offered more aid to Ukraine than Germany and France.
Russian Oil Exports Hit Record High Despite Western Sanctions
Supplies of seaborne Russian oil products totaled 3.13 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2023, a 31.2 percent year-on-year increase. It is over the previous record of 3.1 million bpd exported in February 2022.
Rivals Launch Their Taiwan Drills
The Philippines and the U.S. began on Tuesday their joint military exercises codenamed Balikatan 2023, just a day after China wrapped up its three-day exercise near Taiwan. The U.S.-Philippine drills will run up to April 28.
A Month After the Collapse of Silicon Valley Bank, the U. S. Banking System is Still Working
The collapse of Silicon Valley Bank has raised fears of a recurrence of the 2008 financial crisis. Fear of the next global recession was further compounded by the unhealed wounds associated with the coronavirus pandemic and the ongoing war in Ukraine. However, after almost a month since the collapse of SVB, it can be concluded that this time the U. S. financial system has dealt with the March tide of failures of three U. S. banks.
Russia Plans to Station Tactical Nuclear Weapons in Belarus
Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Russian officials have invoked the use of nuclear weapons more than once since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine. Putin recently said that Russia has struck a deal with neighboring Belarus to station tactical nuclear weapons on its territory. Russia plans to station tactical nuclear weapons in neighboring Belarus, President Vladimir Putin told Saturday state broadcaster Rossiya 24.
Ukrainian Cabinet Appoints New Anti-Corruption Chief
The Ukrainian government has named a new director of the country’s National Anti-Corruption Bureau (NABU) from among three candidates in a live-streamed meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers that met all the requirements set by both the European Union and financial institutions worldwide. It is to tackle corruption, which is a Western condition for its assistance to Ukraine. Despite that, Ukrainian media outlets and NGOs claim that a new head of the anti-corruption agency has links to Andriy Yermak, a powerful presidential aide.
How Long Will Russia-Ukraine War Last?
Russia is ready to continue the war in Ukraine for another two years, the chief of Ukraine’s military intelligence said, adding sanctions could make put an end to the war earlier than expected. A similar forecast had been delivered by Lithuania’s military intelligence outlet.
Russia Delivers More LNG Supplies to Europe
European Commissioner for Energy Kadri Simson has proposed further reducing demand for the bloc along with a plan to completely phase out Russian LNG supply to Europe, saying companies should not renew long-term contracts once current ones end.
Schwedt Refinery Remains Within Germany’s Government’s Mandate
Germany’s Federal Administrative Court threw out a case brought by Russian oil company Rosneft against Berlin’s move to place its German subsidiaries under trusteeship and take control of the Schwedt refinery. The German government seized control of Rosneft Deutschland and RN Refining & Marketing last September. Both had a controlling stake in a refinery in Schwedt in eastern Germany.
IMF Approves Loan Package for Ukraine
The International Monetary Fund said its executive board had approved a four-year $15.6 billion loan program for Ukraine, the IMF said in a statement on March 21. The loan is the first major conventional financing program approved by the IMF for a country involved in a large-scale war.
Ukraine Expels Pro-Russian Clergy from Kyiv Pechersk Lavra
Orthodox monks who had been ordered out of a monastery in Kyiv refused to leave as a deadline to vacate the complex expired back on March 29. Metropolitan Pavlo, an abbot of the monastery, said that the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC) would not leave the site pending the outcome of a lawsuit to stop the eviction. Force will not be used to evict representatives of the UOC from the Pechersk Lavra in Kyiv, according to the Ukrainian authorities. But they have more tools––as they can ban the church.
