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joint naval drills, according to Russian state news agency Tass. The test will be the first launch of the missile in an international exercise.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken is warning China against supporting Moscow's war effort in Ukraine. Blinken said he told China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, that there would be "serious consequences" if Beijing aids Moscow with munitions or helps the Kremlin evade sanctions when the two met on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference. In a television interview airing Sunday, Blinken will say that China is considering providing "lethal support," including weapons and ammunition, to Russia — and that he shared Washington's concerns with Wang. Wang said at the Munich conference that world leaders need to think "about what kind of efforts we can make to stop this war." Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to deliver a "peace speech" February 24, the anniversary of Russia's invasion. Here's the latest on the war and its ripple effects across the globe.
Sanctioned Wagner founder rakes in $250 million profit since 2018. The Financial Times reported that Yevgeny Prigozhin, the founder of the Russian state-backed mercenary Wagner Group, has brought in $250 million in assets over the past four years from oil, gas, diamond, and gold mining in countries such as Sudan and Syria.
US contemplates intel release on China’s potential arms transfer to Russia. The Biden administration is considering releasing intelligence it believes shows that China is examing possibilities on whether to supply weapons to support Russia’s war in Ukraine, the Wall Street Journal reports citing U.S. officials.
Australia, New Zealand announce new sanctions against Russia. The governments of Australia and New Zealand have announced new defence aid for Ukraine and sanctions against Russia on the one-year anniversary of Russia's full-scale invasion, including "persons and entities engaging in activities of economic and strategic significance to Russia or that threaten the territorial integrity or sovereignty of Ukraine."
UK announces new sanctions against Russia. U.K. Foreign Secretary James Cleverly announced a new sanctions package against Russia on the one-year anniversary of the full-scale Russian invasion. The package targets executives of Russia's state nuclear company Rosatom and establishes export bans on "every item" Russia has been using to aid its war efforts.
US expands sanctions against Russia. The US introduced an additional package of sanctions against Russia on February 24, targeting banks and key suppliers of the Russian military sector, according to a statement published by the White House.
G20 meeting ends without joint statement after China, Russia oppose condemning invasion of Ukraine. China and Russia took issue with two
56 RUSSIA Country Report March 2023 www.intellinews.com