The DSR Daily Brief Newsletter – Monday, May 2, 2022

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Ukraine

One hundred civilians holed up in the Azovstal steel factory in Mariupol were evacuated over the weekend. Talks to evacuate more trapped Ukrainians stall. Ukraine’s defense ministry minced no words in announcing two more attacks on Russian ships.

Ukraine wants to export grain via Lithuania but Russian troops are reportedly blocking exports and looting grain for themselves. As we wrote last week, this has all the makings of Stalin’s Terror-Famine.

The Americas

The US commences training Ukrainian troops and vows to ‘strongly support’ Sweden and Finland joining NATO.

Canada is winning at welcoming war refugees with an estimated 15,000 visas and 30,000 emergency travel authorizations approved. Fewer than 6,500 refugees have been granted entry into the US resettlement program. Problems within the Department of Homeland Security – which has detained more than 5,000 refugees – may be contributing to the delay. 

It’s worth noting that the US’s doors are now wide open for tech experts fleeing Russia. Political asylum seekers from Russia and Belarus also have a different entry and visa process than war refugees from Ukraine. 

The Federal Reserve is expected to approve a half-point interest rate increase – the first in 22 years. (Quarter point moves have been the recent norm.) The increase is aimed at curbing inflation. 

Texas Governor Greg Abbot fails to think through the trade consequences of offending Mexico.

Europe and Central Asia

Norway closes its ports to Russian freight. Sweden, then the Netherlands refuse to unload a tanker carrying Russian diesel.

The German Bundestag overwhelmingly voted to expand weapons deliveries to Ukraine. Slovakia is ready to transfer MiGs to Ukraine once it receives assurances that its air space will be defended. Denmark is also supplying Ukraine now.

On May Day, workers of the world united in opposition to neo-Stalinism and, in some cases, their own governments. Experts brace for Victory Day, despite Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov’s comments.

The Indo-Pacific

At a security conference in New Delhi, India underscored its autonomy where Russia relations are concerned. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz met with Prime Minister Narendra Modi to sweeten the pot for siding with the West.

The Middle East and Africa

Lavrov outrages Israel – and the moral citizenry at large – with a Hitler comparison. Sadly, Russian anti-semitism is nothing new but whether it results in a rethink of supplying Ukraine with weapons is subject to debate. Meanwhile, wealthy Russians are looking to swap London real estate for property in Dubai. 

Eid mubarak! Muslims around the world are celebrating Eid al-Fitr, the end of Ramadan – some more than others.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres calls for debt relief for West Africa. Ukraine’s foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba looks to further develop ties to Africa. 

DSR Exclusives

For in-depth analysis, check out our sister podcasts on the DSR Network and stay tuned to the DSR Daily podcast for new and evolving stories from around the world. 

The DSR Network Team (Chris Cotnoir, Grant Haver, and Katherine Hill)