Ukraine War

• Russia-Ukraine talks yesterday failed to reach agreement. The Russian delegation bragged that it had been “quite uncompromising in its position” that Ukraine must “demilitarize and denazify,” and refused to agree to the permanent ceasefire and withdrawal of Russian troops that Ukraine demanded. The two sides agreed to continue talks in a few days after the delegations confer with their respective leadership.
• Meanwhile, Russia escalated its attacks on Ukrainian cities, striking the government district in Kharkiv with a missile and killing at least 70 Ukrainian soldiers at a military base in Kyiv. Russian troops have reportedly surrounded the southern city of Kherson on all sides.

International Reaction

• Despite reports from U.S. intelligence that Belarus was about to join Russia’s side in the war, Pres. Lukashenko claimed his forces wouldn’t take part in the fighting—but on the other hand, he also suggested Belarus could host Russian nuclear weapons after a referendum showed popular support for renouncing non-nuclear status.
• Western countries continued to amplify sanctions and censure. Switzerland even broke with its longstanding tradition of neutrality and said it would freeze Russian assets—including those of Pres. Putin, FM Lavrov, and PM Mishustin.
• Global companies are also rushing to limit their exposure to Russian firms: Shell said it would exit its stake in joint ventures with Gazprom and BP pledged to sell its 20% stake in Rosneft.

DRC

• A Congolese court ruling ordered China Molybdenum to step down from operating the giant Tenke Fungurume cobalt mine in DRC for the next six months while investigators audit the mine’s books.
• At issue is a dispute over billions of dollars that the Congolese government says China Molybdenum owes it.

Afghanistan

• The Taliban said it would no longer allow Afghans to leave the country without a good reason, although it later clarified that Afghans with legal documents could still travel. It also announced a ban on women traveling outside the country without a chaperone.
• The shift was ostensibly to “protect” Afghans who left: a spokesman cited reports that Afghan refugees were “living in very bad conditions” in Qatar and Turkey.
• However, the move appears to violate a U.S. precondition that the Taliban respect basic human rights—including notably the right of free movement—before the U.S. would consider lifting sanctions or recognizing the Taliban government.

Mexico

• According to local reports, around 17 people were executed outside a funeral in cartel-plagued Michoacan state. Pres. AMLO said he hoped the reports weren’t true but urged patience for the investigation: apparently police found bullet casings at the scene, but no bodies.