The DSR Daily Brief Newsletter – Thursday, May 5, 2022
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Ukraine
Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov blames Western intelligence for Russian setbacks. He’s not wrong, but c’est la guerre. A Florida National Guard unit is back to training Ukrainian forces in Germany and elsewhere. This could result in Germany being deemed a ‘legal party to war.’
Ukraine has successfully repelled some attacks in the Donbas region. However, it is unlikely to launch a full-scale counteroffensive before June, according to Ukraine political adviser Oleksiy Arestovych.
Russia’s Sberbank, in league with the state, is monitoring transactions for signs of support for Ukraine. The Russian Orthodox Church’s Patriarch Kirill is officially an atrocity denier.
The Americas
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) adds new Russian malware to an earlier alert about cyberattacks on Ukraine.
US markets rallied to their biggest gains since 2020 on Wednesday. This followed Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell’s speech, which is thought to have quelled fears about a further interest rate increase.
One economic and climate consequence of the war that we’re following closely is domestic support for electric vehicle (EV) battery production. This includes mineral extraction under the Defense Production Act.
Europe and Central Asia
EV infrastructure is expanding in Germany, where Volkswagon and BP plan to set up 4,000 high-speed EV chargers in the near term and another 4,000 by 2024.
Vladimir Putin tells French President Emmanual Macron what the rest of the West should do. France chooses to expand its aid to Ukraine by another $300 million – bringing the total to $2 billion. Reports of predators offering housing to women and children fleeing Ukraine surface in the UK and Germany. Volunteers are encouraged to offer assistance through carefully vetted organizations and refugees are cautioned against accepting help outside of such organizations.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s refusal to go to Kyiv? There’s a German expression for that. Ukraine’s ambassador to Germany used it to much fanfare. German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier – the cause of the kerfuffle – and Volodymyr Zelensky have since reconciled.
The Indo-Pacific
Cyber experts uncover a years-long, Chinese state-sponsored cyber operation in which trillions of dollars of intellectual property were reportedly stolen.
Japanese Defense Minister Nobuo Kishi meets with US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin regarding ‘rules-based order.’
The Middle East and Africa
Russian ESPO Blend crude oil finds a buyer in the United Arab Emirates. Obstacles remain to a US return to the 2015 deal with Iran on nuclear non-proliferation.
A New York Times piece takes a new look at white privilege in South 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)
