Russia

• Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Thursday briefly talked with his Russian counterpart, Sergey Lavrov, in New Delhi on the sidelines of a G20 meeting, marking the first in-person meeting between the two diplomats since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. AWC
• Russian authorities said Thursday that Ukrainian saboteurs crossed into Russia’s Bryansk Oblast, which borders Ukraine, and launched attacks on villages in the area, killing two civilians. AWC
• Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said Thursday that one of the reasons Moscow suspended its participation in the New START treaty was because the US helped Ukraine attack a facility housing Russian nuclear weapons. AWC
• The US is helping Ukraine prepare for a potential counteroffensive against Russian forces as the Biden administration wants Kyiv to retake more territory in the coming months. AWC
• The Biden administration on Friday announced a new $400 million weapons package for Ukraine that includes ammunition for the HIMARS rocket systems, artillery rounds, and 25mm ammunition for Bradley Fighting Vehicles. AWC
• Two Ukrainian pilots are in the US for an assessment to see how long it would take them to learn how to fly F-16 fighter jets or other advanced aircraft, NBC News reported on Saturday. AWC
• Attorney General Merrick Garland became the latest high-level US official to travel to Ukraine on Friday when he made an unannounced visit to the western city of Lviv. AWC
• German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said Sunday that China “declared” it will not provide Russia with weapons for its war in Ukraine despite US claims, signaling that the German leader received some sort of assurance from Beijing. AWC

China

• US Army Secretary Christine Wormuth said this week that the US must prepare to win a future war with China over Taiwan by beefing up its military deployments in the region. AWC
• The State Department on Wednesday approved a potential $619 million weapons sale to Taiwan for hundreds of missiles to arm the island’s US-made F-16 fighter jets. AWC
• Rep. Michelle Steel (R-CA) on Wednesday introduced a bill in the House that would allow the US to lend or lease weapons to Taiwan as Congress is looking for ways to ship more arms to the island. AWC

North Korea

• Washington and Seoul announced their largest war games in five years. Last month, North Korea warned the US and South Korea that Pyongyang would take “unprecedentedly persistent and strong counteractions.” The Institute 

Middle East

• Israeli officials are claiming Russia might provide Iran with S-400 air defense systems, and because of that, Israel’s window to launch an attack on Iran is closing, Bloomberg reported on Thursday. AWC
• Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Sunday slammed International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) chief Rafael Grossi for saying attacks on nuclear facilities are “outlawed.” AWC
• Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Mark Milley visited US troops in Syria on Saturday in an effort to justify the continued US war and occupation in the country, marking the first time he traveled to the country while serving as the US’s top general. AWC
• The US is increasing military assistance to the Mogadishu-based government in Somalia, The Associated Press reported on Wednesday. AWC