Journal 6: News Summary

Scrolling through any news source over the past week would leave you bound to come across one reoccurring story. That, of course, being coverage of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.  

This overwhelming influx of coverage is easily justified. After all, it is the largest military advance in Europe since the fall of Hitler’s Third Reich. This was no hastily thrown together operation by Russia, they have been moving troops towards the Ukrainian boarder since as early as October. A development that was fatally unaddressed by mainstream media, by politicians, until it was too late.  

Now, most have been awoken to the horrors currently unraveling in the war-torn country.  

This represents the most significant global news story of the year so far, and, the most important domestically since the United States’ withdrawal from Afghanistan.  

It is imperative for this story to be covered scrupulously by news outlets in order for Americans to learn how the conflict got to this point, and, how to prevent murderous dictators from acting on their inclinations towards imperialism in the future.  

Putin puts nuclear forces on high alert, escalating tensions

Despite recent headlines reporting that Russian delegates will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on the Ukraine-Belarus boarder for the first round of peace talks, Vladimir Putin has introduced another round of aggressive rhetoric.  

This time, making it known publicly that Russia’s nuclear capabilities were at a heightened state of readiness.  

What, exactly, Putin seeks to accomplish with the proclamation has left the west on edge. 

While it could certainly be postering on part of the strongman, reminding Ukraine of Russia’s power advantage prior to the aforementioned diplomatic meeting, it could very easily be a legitimate threat of nuclear warfare against opposing NATO-aligned countries considering Putin’s rhetoric all along regarding meeting the west with force if it tried to intervene in Russia’s campaign.  

Not specified were the criteria of what constitutes intervention in the conflict. The Kremlin could try to use the harsh sanctions against the country as evidence of western involvement.  

Ukraine files genocide case against Russia at UN’s top court:

Ukraine is fighting back legally against Russia even as the conflict rages on throughout the nation’s streets. 

Claiming that Russia has engaged in a “planned genocide” against the Ukrainian people, the hope is to get an immediate suspension and reparations to be paid to Ukraine for the invasion.  

This is coming after reports earlier in the week that there has been documented evidence of Russia using cluster munitions (which is banned weapon internationally due to their indiscriminatory and unpredictable nature) in their initial bombing campaign on Ukrainian cites.  

While the court’s rulings are legally binding, they are not always followed by the nations that are subject to them. This case, potentially the most covered case in recent history, could be a landmark for the International Court of Justice, showing the public just how much judiciary power the UN actually holds.

Ruble sinks 26% after SWIFT sanctions against Russian banks

NATO’s response towards Russia’s invasion seems to be scoring its intended impact as the ruble dropped 26% against the U.S. dollar after widespread sanctions were put into play by a coalition of western nations over the weekend.  

This marks the lowest (and still descending) that the ruble has reached in comparison to the dollar in the history of the currencies.  

Russia has been frozen out of $600 Billion in reserve money that would be used to prop up the ruble, causing the currency to plummet in value, and Russia’s ability to fund the invasion in the Ukraine severely hindered.  

US official: Belarus may join Ukraine invasion  

A senior U.S. Intelligence official with confirmed to the associated press that Belarus could be sending troops into Ukraine to fight alongside the invading Russian forces.  

Belarus has been Russia’s closest ally during this conflict, allowing Russia to use the Belarusian-Ukraine boarder as a launching point for the military’s advances on the near Ukrainian capital city, Kiev.  

Whether or not Belarus deploys forces to aid the reeling Russian military seems to be contingent on the outcome of the expected meeting to be held on Monday between President Volodymyr Zelensky and Russian delegates.