Today’s Russia/Ukraine Update

🇺🇦 Despite Russian negotiators pledging on Tuesday to scale back fighting in northern Ukraine to “increase mutual trust,” local officials reported new attacks outside Kyiv and Chernihiv yesterday.

• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Wednesday that Russia’s promise should not have been viewed as a turning point in peace talks.
• Over 4 million Ukrainians – roughly 10% of the population – have fled the country to date, per the UN’s refugee agency, exceeding the total number the organization predicted for the entire war.
• Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky and President Biden spoke for an hour by phone yesterday; Zelensky said they discussed additional defensive support, humanitarian aid and "a new package of enhanced sanctions."
• US officials confirmed that 100 Switchblade kamikaze drones were included in a $800 million weapons package for Ukraine approved earlier this month.
• Germany issued a warning about low natural gas levels and urged citizens to conserve energy amidst a standoff with Russia over fuel payments, while Poland announced plans to end all Russian oil imports.

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