Pentagon: Putin Placing Nuclear Forces on Alert Is Unnecessary, Potentially Dangerous

A senior Pentagon official on Sunday described as both unnecessary and escalatory President Vladimir Putin’s decision to order Russian nuclear deterrent forces “on the highest alert” in response to what he called “aggressive” statements from leading NATO members.  Read

UN Human Rights Council Begins First Session of 2022, But ‘Urgent Debate’ on Ukraine Has to Wait

The U.N. Human Rights Council opens its first session of 2022 on Monday, but Ukrainians will have to wait at least another three days before the U.N.’s top human rights body holds a debate on the war launched by Russian President Vladimir Putin last week.  Read

Putin in 2016: Using Nuclear Weapons ‘Would Mean the End of The World … Death For Everybody’

 President Vladimir Putin’s announcement Sunday that he was ordering Russian nuclear deterrent forces “on the highest alert” came less than two months ago Russia signed – and claimed credit for coordinating – a joint statement by the five recognized nuclear-armed powers, pledging to prevent a nuclear war.  Read

‘Why Not Sanction Him Today, Sir?’ No Answer From Biden...

President Biden declared at the White House on Thursday that Russian President Vladimir Putin would be “a pariah” for invading Ukraine, but asked several times about the decision not to sanction Putin personally, he did not answer.  Read

Biden Hails Global Coordination Against Russia, But Sounds Cautious Note on China, India

As he announced further sanctions in response to Russia’s aggression in Ukraine, President Biden on Thursday highlighted the extent of international support and coordination, but his cautious response to questions about China and India reflected concerns about the stances of the world’s two most populous nations.  Read

Romney on Putin’s Invasion of Ukraine: ‘The 80s Called, And We Didn’t Answer’

Reacting to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine, Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah) took a swipe at former President Obama, who during their 2012 presidential contest derided him for having called Russia “our number one geopolitical foe.”  Read

Sen. Menendez: ‘Expel the Current Kremlin Leadership From the International Community’

Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to attack Ukraine “has brought into sharp focus the need to expel the current Kremlin leadership from the international community,” Senate Foreign Relations Committee chairman Robert Menendez said in a late-night statement.  Read

It's War: Russia Attacks Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin early Thursday morning announced the beginning of a “special military operation” in Ukraine, and explosions were heard in Kyiv and other cities as a war long feared and predicted by Western governments appeared to be underway.  Read

Pakistan’s PM Arrives in Moscow: ‘At What a Time I Have Come. So Much Excitement’

At a time when world governments – with a few notable exceptions – have been relatively united in condemnation of Russia’s actions in and around Ukraine, the arrival in Moscow late Wednesday of Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan has struck a jarring note.  Read

Biden Reverses Course on Controversial Nord Stream 2 Sanctions Waivers

Nine months after waiving sanctions against the principal players in the Nord Stream 2 pipeline project, President Biden on Wednesday reversed course, as part of the administration’s response to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s recognition of two breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine and authorization to deploy troops there.  Read

Sanctions Against Russia Include Designation of ‘Elites’ – But Not Putin

Russian President Vladimir Putin is not himself targeted in the sanctions rolled out by the Biden administration on Tuesday, although a White House official said that “no option is off the table, as the president said.”  Read

Putin Says Russia Recognizes the Expanded Borders Claimed by its Proxies in Eastern Ukraine

 Russian President Vladimir Putin said Tuesday that Moscow recognizes the Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics” within the borders laid out in their respective constitutions – borders that encompass territory not currently under the separatists’ control.  Read

Ukraine’s UN Ambassador: If International Community Doesn’t Confront Russia, Other Nations Could Be Next

 Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador, at an urgent late-night Security Council meeting Monday, challenged member-states to stand up to Russia or face the possibility that one of them could be next, after President Vladimir Putin signed decrees recognizing separatist-held areas in eastern Ukraine as “independent” states.  Read

'Severe' Sanctions Looming? Administration Says 'Troops Moving Into Donbass Would Not Itself Be a New Step'

After Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to “maintain the peace” in the parts of eastern Ukraine that he has now recognized as “independent,” a senior Biden administration official signaled that that move alone may not trigger the unprecedentedly tough sanctions the U.S. and its allies have been preparing in response to a Russian invasion.  Read

Putin Orders Troops Into Newly Recognized ‘People’s Republics’ in Eastern Ukraine

Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed decrees recognizing the self-proclaimed “people’s republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region, and establishing treaties of “friendship, cooperation and mutual assistance” with their leaders.  Read

Beijing’s Controversy-Hit Olympics End on Lackluster Note

 Plagued by political disputes, another Russian doping scandal, pandemic restrictions, and poor television viewership in the U.S., the Beijing Winter Olympics came to an end on Sunday night with a closing ceremony that did little to justify International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach’s verdict of “truly exceptional.”  Read

Blinken Insists on Deterrent Value of Sanctions, After Zelensky Asks: ‘What Are You Waiting For?’

 As soon as sanctions against Russia are triggered, their deterrent effect will be lost, Secretary of State Antony Blinken argued again on Sunday, after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asked pointedly of the West, “What are you waiting for?”  Read

77 Percent of GOP Lawmakers Warn Biden About Securing Iran Nuclear Deal Without Congress’ Approval

More than 160 House Republicans have signed a letter to President Biden, signaling their intention to try to halt any deal made with Iran that is not approved by Congress.  Read

Russia Responds: Agree to Security Guarantees or We’ll Be Forced to Take ‘Military-Technical Measures’

Three weeks after receiving U.S. and NATO written responses to its demands for security guarantees, Russia provided a reply on Thursday, accusing the West of cherry-picking the points that it is prepared to talk about, but refusing to give way on the chief issue for Russia – NATO expansion and activities.  Read

UN Human Rights Council Defends Selection of Outspoken Israel Critic to Head Israel Inquiry

 The Human Rights Council has appointed to lead what is arguably its most controversial investigation yet – with Israel in its crosshairs – an individual who is on the record as calling Israel an “apartheid state,” backing the campaign to boycott and sanction Israel, and signing statements lobbying governments to punish the Jewish state.  Read

Biden Administration: Russians ‘Make Claims About De-escalation While Privately Mobilizing for War’

February 16 came and went without a further Russian military incursion into Ukraine, but from Kyiv to Washington to Brussels, skepticism persists over Moscow’s claim to have begun withdrawing troops from the area.  Read

Senate Leaders Send Bipartisan Warning to Putin Amid Impasse on Sanctions

After failing to agree on a sanctions package on Russia, Senate leaders from both parties on Tuesday issued a joint statement warning Moscow would pay a “severe price” should President Vladimir Putin “further escalate his ongoing assault on Ukraine’s sovereignty.”  Read

NATO Waits; Biden Cautious; Russian Diplomat Says West Should Seek Help for ‘Paranoia’

 As the world awaits confirmation that Russia is indeed withdrawing troops from near Ukraine’s border as it claims, a Russian diplomat at the U.N. said he predicted weeks ago that the U.S. would try to take credit for pressuring Moscow to withdraw troops.  Read

Russian Lawmakers Push for ‘Independence’ of Ukraine’s Pro-Moscow Separatist Regions

 Russian lawmakers on Tuesday will consider two alternative resolutions calling for formal recognition of the two separatist entities in eastern Ukraine’s Donbass region as independent countries – a show of support that could also provide a basis for Russian military intervention.  Read

US Embassy in Kyiv Shuttered, As Kremlin Signals It May Be Prepared to Continue Dialogue With West

The State Department on Monday announced the temporary closure of the U.S. Embassy in the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, and also widened its travel advisory, urging U.S. citizens in neighboring Belarus and Moldova to leave.  Read

New ‘False-Flag’ Warnings From US; Pro-Russia Separatists Say Attack by Ukrainian Forces is Looming

Biden administration officials doubled down Sunday on claims that Russia could instigate a “false-flag” incident, such as attacking Moscow-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine to justify sending troops across the Russia-Ukraine border.  Read

Biden Decision on Frozen Afghan Funds Slammed by Both the Taliban and Its Foes

President Biden’s order directing that $3.5 billion in frozen Afghan assets be set aside for families of 9/11 victims has sparked outrage across Afghanistan’s political spectrum, for once putting the Taliban and some of its most ardent foes on the same side. Read

Ukraine On the Edge: Blinken Warns Russia of a ‘Resolute, Massive and United Transatlantic Response’

With the U.S. and other countries withdrawing embassy staff from Kyiv amid fears a war could erupt at any time, Secretary of State Antony Blinken warned his Russian counterpart Saturday that an invasion of Ukraine “would result in a resolute, massive, and united transatlantic response.”  Read

Lavrov: West Wraps Accusations of Russian Wrongdoing in Terms of ‘Highly Likely,’ But No Evidence

 Western accusations about malign Russian activities, most recently in Ukraine, are always tempered with tentative expressions such as “highly likely,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Thursday, claiming that no proof was ever provided to back up the allegations.  Read

Blinken: ‘I Would Imagine’ That Xi Raised Concerns With Putin About Threats to Ukraine’s Sovereignty

 Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday played down the significance of the unprecedented declaration of mutual support and cooperation between the Russian and Chinese leaders, saying the friendly bilateral ties was “not new.”  Read

New Zealand Police Try to Shut Down Canada-Inspired Anti-Mandate Protest at Parliament

Police in New Zealand arrested dozens of anti-COVID mandate protestors camped outside the country’s parliament on Thursday, in an effort to avoid a lengthy standoff mirroring the one playing out on the streets around Canada’s federal parliament since late last month.  Read

As Russia on Thursday begins war games with Belarus that have heightened Western concerns about Ukraine’s security, the arrival in the Black Sea of another six Russian warships for “naval exercises” is adding to tensions.  Read

Germany, France, Poland: ‘Our Common Goal Is to Prevent a War in Europe’

The leaders of Germany, France, and Poland met in Berlin late Tuesday to present a common front in the face of the Russia-Ukraine crisis, and stressed that their priority was to avoid a war in Europe.  Read

Ayatollah Attacks Biden, Trump; Gripes About Online Censorship But Has 11 Twitter Accounts

As talks aimed at returning the U.S. and Iran to compliance with the 2015 nuclear deal edge towards a possible resolution, Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Tuesday took a fresh swipe at Washington, accusing both President Biden and his predecessor of working to destroy America’s reputation.  Read

Biden: If Russia Invades Ukraine Again ‘There Will Be No Longer a Nord Stream 2’

President Biden on Monday put to rest any uncertainty about the future of the Nord Stream 2 Russia-to-Germany gas pipeline in the event Russia invades Ukraine, saying unambiguously that under such circumstances, “we will bring an end to it.”  Read

After Biden Waives Iran Sanctions, Senators Remind Him They Must Sign Off on Any Deal

Days after the Biden administration signed waivers allowing international companies to cooperate with Iran’s civilian nuclear program without risking U.S. sanctions, more than 30 Senate Republicans have sent a letter to the president, underlining statutory requirements to submit any Iran nuclear deal to the U.S. Senate.  Read

Macron: Putin’s Goal Isn’t Ukraine; It’s to ‘Clarify the Rules’ on Relations With the West

French President Emmanuel Macron has played down concerns that Russia intends to invade Ukraine, saying ahead of a visit to Moscow on Monday that President Vladimir Putin’s objective rather is to “clarify the rules” on relations with the West.  Read

As Russian Weaponry Arrives, US Warns Belarus Not to Be ‘Part of a Plan’ to Invade Ukraine

Russia has again flown long-range bombers through Belarus’ air space, and Russian troops and weapons systems continue to arrive in Ukraine’s northern neighbor ahead of military exercises due to begin within days.  Read

National Security Advisor on Putin-Xi Declaration: They Didn’t Call Each Other ‘Allies’

 Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping have declared themselves to be in agreement on a broad range of issues, from NATO expansion to Taiwan, but National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan pointed out Sunday that in their lengthy declaration, “they didn’t use the word ‘alliance.’”  Read

Does the Olympic Movement Have a Message For Uyghurs? ‘We Are Not Commenting on Political Issues’

If the International Olympic Committee comments on sensitive political issues, it will place itself on a path that leads ultimately to the end of the Olympic Games, IOC chief Thomas Bach said in Beijing on Thursday.  Read

Will UN Chief Raise Human Rights in Beijing? Spokesman Declines to 'Predict Meetings'

 United Nations Secretary General Antonio Guterres, visiting Beijing for Friday’s opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics, will also meet with high-level Chinese officials, but a U.N. spokesman this week could not unequivocally confirm that he will raise concerns about human rights abuses.  Read

Ukraine Crisis: US Tells Russia ‘Indivisibility of Security’ Principle Cannot Be Taken in Isolation

In its written response to Russia’s demands for security guarantees in Europe, the Biden administration addressed an issue that Moscow has been raising repeatedly amid the current tensions – the notion that one country should not strengthen its security in a way that compromises the security of another.  Read

Putin Heads to Beijing for Opening of Olympics, Strategic Talks With Xi

As the U.S. prepares to deploy 3,000 troops to allies on NATO’s eastern flank in a message of deterrence directed at Moscow, President Vladimir Putin on Friday will join his Chinese counterpart at the opening of the Beijing Winter Olympics, before they hunker down to discuss their deepening “strategic partnership.”  Read

CAIR Offended by US Ambassador’s Rejection of Report Calling Israel ‘Apartheid’ State

U.S. Ambassador to Israel Tom Nides dismissed as “absurd” Amnesty International’s claim that Israel is an “apartheid” state – and the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is outraged.  Read

Menendez: Early Concerns About Iran Nuclear Deal ‘Are Coming Back to Haunt Us’

Foreign Relations Committee chairman Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) said on Tuesday night that many of the concerns he aired in 2015 about the Iran nuclear deal were “coming back to haunt us in the year 2022,” and called for a new push to prevent Iran from becoming a nuclear weapons state.  Read

Biden Designates Qatar, a Close Ally of Hamas, As a ‘Major Non-NATO Ally’

With President Biden’s decision to designate Qatar as a major non-NATO ally, the oil- and gas-rich Gulf state joins a small group of countries eligible under U.S. law for special military and economic privileges.  Read

Russian Ambassador Accuses U.S. of Warmongering: ‘You Want It to Happen’

After failing in an attempt to prevent the U.N. Security Council from discussing the Ukraine crisis in an open meeting, Russia’s ambassador used the forum Monday to accuse the U.S. of pushing and hoping for a war in Ukraine.  Read