Ukraine
Abductions to Russia: With new urgency, Ukrainian leaders are sounding the alarm over what they say are forced deportations.
According to the AP, Ukraine’s Ombudsperson says the Russians have taken 402,000 Ukrainians – including 84,000 children – to Russia against their will. The US has not confirmed this. We will continue to follow this story.
Emergency Summit: In Brussels, President Biden and Western allies gathered for an emergency summit on the war. Top of the agenda: chemical weapons.
Zelenskyy said he believes Putin has used phosphorus bombs, an accusation already leveled by the mayor of Irpin and the governor of Luhansk. Phosphorus is not banned under international law, but it’s illegal to use it against civilians. According to the Washington Post “it can cause severe chemical burns and its smoke can poison humans and animals.”
Fmr. US Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch predicted Putin could escalate these attacks: “Putin… indicated that the Ukrainians may launch some sort of a chemical weapons attack, which in Putin speak means, maybe I'm gonna do this. We call it ‘a tell’.” Listen to our full interview with her here.
NATO leaders released a joint statement saying that any use of chemical or biological weapons by Russia will lead to “severe consequences.”
President Biden said at a press conference that NATO will respond to such attacks “in kind.” What that really means, TBD.
The leaders also condemned Belarus for its “complicity” and called on China “to refrain from any action that helps Russia circumvent sanctions.”
Other big news from Brussels:
Biden recommended ousting Russia from the G20 and inviting Ukraine to observe G20 meetings instead. The G20 – or Group of 20 – is a “forum” (think permanent conference) of the 19 countries (+ the EU) with the largest economies. G20 members make up over 80% of the world’s GDP. Losing membership would be a blow to Russia.
Biden announced the US will provide over $1 billion in aid to support humanitarian efforts.
The US announced plans to welcome 100,000 Ukrainian refugees.
According to a poll from The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, 67% of Americans support accepting Ukrainian refugees.
The US announced new sanctions on Russia, including full blocking sanctions on the Duma, Russia’s legislative body.
The G7 and the EU are also establishing an initiative to investigate and prevent sanctions evasions.
Zelenskyy appealed to leaders to arm Ukraine, chided them for not establishing a no-fly zone, and called on the world to come out and show support for Ukraine.
Updates on Russia's economy and military:
The Russian stock market finally reopened… sort of. Only 33 stocks resumed trading today, and foreigners were not allowed to sell their stocks. Under these and more restrictions, the market rose 4.4% by the end of trading. Considering it had sunk 45% in one day when Russia first invaded Ukraine, this market “growth” isn’t a cause for concern.
An anonymous official told the AP that NATO estimates 30,000-40,000 Russian troops have been killed or wounded, based on Ukrainian intelligence. That’s roughly 10,000 Russian soldiers killed or injured every week of this war.
Ukrainians say they blew up the Orsk, a Russian landing ship. Landing ships carry troops, tanks, and other artillery to enable amphibious attacks on beaches. By taking out this ship, Ukraine likely prevented such an attack.
Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson
Character witnesses are sworn in on Day 4 of Judge Jackson's confirmation hearings / Getty Images
On the fourth day of Judge Jackson's nomination hearings, a panel of character witnesses testified on her behalf.
The Dean of the University of Virginia Law School, Risa Goluboff, expressed her belief that Jackson and her would-be predecessor, Justice Breyer, “share their deeply held patriotism.” (Risa is a brilliant friend from college! You can read about her work here.)
Representatives from the American Bar Association testified that Judge Jackson would bring “impeccable” credentials to her role on the Supreme Court.
What’s next: First, the Judiciary Committee votes, and then the full Senate.
Jackson needs 51 votes, which she is expected to get (all the Democratic senators and the tie-breaking vote by VP Harris) – likely confirming her by April 1.
Trump
Bob Woodward has released another shocking political exposé: a new report in the Washington Post has revealed that Virginia “Ginni” Thomas, a far-right activist married to SCOTUS Justice Clarence Thomas, encouraged former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows to never “concede” to President Biden.
In a text message three days after the election, Thomas told Meadows: “Do not concede. It takes time for the army who is gathering for his back.”
Thomas has publicly acknowledged that she attended the “Stop the Steal” rally on Jan. 6, 2021, though she has denied participation in the attack on the Capitol.
Meadows provided these texts and over 2,000 others to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol.
Trump has filed a lawsuit against his former presidential opponent Hillary Clinton, former FBI director James Comey, and a number of other individuals and organizations.
He accuses them of conspiring to “smear” Trump and “disseminate patently false and injurious information about Donald J. Trump and his campaign.”
The false information in question? That Trump’s campaign “colluded with the Russian Government to interfere in the 2016 presidential election.” Trump’s alleged collusion with Russia was a major theme in his 2019 impeachment.
Biden says he’d be “very fortunate” to run against Trump again in 2024.
Here's another excerpt from our interview with Ambassador Marie Yovanovitch. She served as the US ambassador to Ukraine from 2016 until 2019, when she was abruptly recalled from her post by President Trump, who felt she was not adequately loyal. Her new memoir, Lessons From The Edge, is available now, and could not be more timely.
Ambassador Yovanovitch testifies at Trump's first impeachment / Getty Images
On this week’s News Not Noise Podcast, Yovanovitch gives us her unique insight into Ukraine’s relationship with Russia, and what Putin’s future might hold. Here is part of what she told me, edited for clarity:
How do you see this war coming to an end, and in whose favor?
I think this is going to end, because while I think the Ukrainian people are paying in blood for their freedom, I don't see a situation where Russia can actually completely win in the end. They may dominate militarily, although what we're seeing is the Ukrainian army fighting that [domination], and in the last day or so, not only defending, but launching offensive operations. It is really inspiring against a much larger force.
So I think that even if the Russians can dominate militarily, even if there is some sort of negotiated ceasefire, and “peace” in the end, the Ukrainian people are not going to acquiesce to that. There will be a guerilla war, and there will be civil disobedience. I would not want to be a Russian soldier going into some café. I'd wonder what they were serving me. I wouldn't want to get into a car that was serviced by a Ukrainian mechanic. It will be long, and it will be ugly. The texts I get from my Ukrainian friends – they understandably want the Russians to pay for this invasion. And that could be a while. [But] I think the Ukrainian people will prevail.
In the rest of the interview, she answers whether a coup is likely, where Putin might set his sights next, and how she felt when Trump axed her from her position. You can listen to all of that and more on the News Not Noise Podcast. Short on time? We pulled 5 questions with Amb. Yovanovitch into a YouTube video that's under 6 minutes long!
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Good news for anyone feeling the March Madness fever, whether your bracket is busted or not: If you bring it into Krispy Kreme, you can get a free donut. Oprah voice: You get a free donut, and you get a free donut, and you get a free donut!
Wanda Sykes – one-third of this weekend’s Oscar hosts along with Regina Hall and Amy Schumer – told Jimmy Kimmel that audiences should not expect “sober Wanda” this weekend. And if she’s ever missing on stage, you can find her at the bar. “So if you see just Amy and Regina out, you can just go, 'Wanda's drunk, she's backstage.’”
We’ve got it for you. Check out the News Not Noise Podcast: The biggest news explained by top experts. Clear. Smart. And only 25 minutes. And see our YouTube channel for 5 quick questions with people who know the answers.
🎙️Why Putin didn’t invade under Trump with Amb. Marie Yovanovitch
🎙️ How to talk to kids about war with Dr. Aliza Pressman
🎙️ Putin Under Pressure with expert Fiona Hill
🎙️ The Russia Ukraine Endgame with national security adviser Evelyn Farkas
📺 5 Questions For A Russian Protester with Yulia Zhivtsova
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