Ukraine

• The NYT detailed some of the allegations Ukraine is making against purported traitors within its ranks: Russian collaborators and sympathizers have reported target locations, sheltered Russian soldiers, and even removed explosives from bridges so Russian troops could cross.
• Ukraine said Russia accidentally shot down its own $36 million Su-34 bomber over Luhansk on Sunday. Russia hasn’t commented on the report.

Russia

• Russia’s Gazprom is due to resume gas supplies through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline on Thursday after 10 days closure for maintenance.
• It’s 50/50 whether gas flows will actually restart Thursday: two insiders told Reuters Russia indeed plans to reopen pipeline, but the European Commission believes it will keep the pipeline closed in retaliation for EU sanctions over Ukraine.
• Gazprom itself is being coy: it tried to declare force majeure to avert responsibility for any shortfalls in supply.
• Meanwhile, Pres. Putin is meeting Iran’s Pres. Raisi and Turkey’s Pres. Erdogan in a trilateral meeting in Iran. Russia aims to strengthen its relations with Iran and Turkey; Turkey hopes to secure Russia’s commitments to let Ukrainian grain exports flow.

China

• China was infuriated by a Financial Times report that U.S. Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi is planning to visit Taiwan next month. China warned that her visit would cause “grave harm,” and threatened “strong measures” if it goes through.
• Almost 700 new COVID cases were reported in China yesterday, which is a two-month high. Shanghai is testing about 20 million people and hoping to prevent another draconian lockdown.

Azerbaijan

• European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen signed an agreement with Azerbaijan’s Pres. Aliyev to double capacity for Azerbaijan’s gas exports to Europe within five years. Human rights activists are concerned about strengthening ties with a long-serving and repressive dictator.

Other News

• Today the UK set a new record for its highest temperature ever registered – 104.5°F (40.3°C) – and its chief meteorologist warned that “we could see temperatures like this every three years” without serious action to reverse climate change.