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April 4, 2022Newsletter

Russia Update: April 4, 2022

Diplomacy

The diplomatic fallout in the wake of the massacre of civilians in Bucha continues. On that note, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister said Bucha was just the tip of the iceberg, while its Prosecutor General said that the situation is even worse in Borodyanka, which is a little further to the northwest of Kyiv/Bucha. Lithuania kicked out Russia’s ambassador. France and Germany kicked out 35 and 40 Russian diplomats respectively.

Sanctions

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan told reporters that the U.S. will announce additional sanctions this week.

As the EU weighs energy sanctions, Italy says it is open to a Russian gas ban while Austria prefers other options.

Consequences

Germany said it would take over the German unit of Gazprom by September 30. Spain seized a $90 million yacht at the request of the U.S.

Ukraine Sitrep

National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan said that the U.S. sees Russia redeploying to eastern Ukraine. He believes they will also focus on the southern cities Kherson and Mykolaiv as well. Russia made some advances in Donetsk, while backing a self-proclaimed mayor in the southern city of Mariupol.

The U.S. will sell F-16 fighter jets to Bulgaria, but the Pentagon says that’s not to backfill in the case of a MiG fighter jet transfer to Ukraine.

President Joe Biden as he boarded Marine One called Russian President Vladimir Putin a “war criminal” and said that he hoped to see a war crimes trial. 

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