Russia's military aggression against Ukraine continues.
Fighting between Russian and Ukrainian forces continues across Ukraine, forcing thousands of civilians to flee the country.
We will keep you updated on the developments surrounding the situation in Ukraine on the 1st (Japan time), such as the battle situation and the diplomacy of the countries concerned.
(There is a 7-hour time difference between Japan and Ukraine, and a 6-hour time difference with Moscow, Russia.)
Intense offensive in the east, Russia tightens security agencies
In eastern Ukraine, the Russians have intensified their offensive to encircle the Ukrainian stronghold of Bakhmut, aiming to seize control of Donetsk Oblast. It shows the idea that it is becoming difficult to keep
Reuters broadcast a video, said to have been taken in Bakhmut on the 27th, which shows Ukrainian tanks driving through a mostly destroyed city, as the sounds of artillery fire and gunshots rang incessantly. , You can also see how people who are believed to be residents walk the streets.
On the other hand, President Putin attended a meeting of the Russian security agency FSB (Federal Security Service) on the 28th, claiming that espionage and sabotage against Russia by Ukraine and the West are increasing, and instructed to strengthen countermeasures. .
President Putin said, "It is necessary to identify and stop the illegal acts of those who seek to divide and undermine our society," and declared annexation unilaterally in September last year, not only in Russia. The four provinces in eastern and southern Ukraine, which have been affected by the outbreak, have also ordered stronger measures to tighten them up.
'Drone crash' southeast of Russian capital
On the 28th, Governor Vorobyov of the central Russian state of Moscow posted on SNS that a drone crashed in Kolomna in the state.
Kolomna is located more than 100 kilometers southeast of the capital, Moscow, and according to the governor, there is a natural gas facility nearby, claiming that "private infrastructure facilities were aimed at."
Russian security officials are investigating the details of the drone, but the state-owned TASS news agency reports that the drone is foreign-made.
On the same day, the Russian Ministry of Defense announced that it had intercepted an attack by a Ukrainian drone aimed at private energy facilities in the southern Krasnodar region, which is close to Ukraine.
There were no injuries and no damage to facilities.
The Ukrainian side has so far not commented on its involvement.
In December last year, there were a series of explosions at air force bases in the central and southern parts of Russia, and the Russian Ministry of Defense was on high alert, saying it was attacked by Ukrainian military drones.
Putin Signs Law Suspending Implementation of Nuclear Disarmament Treaty
The Russian presidential office announced on the 28th that President Putin signed a law to suspend the implementation of the nuclear disarmament treaty "New START" with the United States.
President Putin announced in his annual State of the Union address on the 21st that he would suspend the implementation of the "New START", after which the Russian parliament passed a bill to suspend the implementation.
The law will take effect on the 28th, while the Russian president will be able to decide whether to resume the implementation of the New START.
There is growing concern in the international community about the suspension of the implementation of the nuclear disarmament treaty, with US President Biden criticizing it as a ``big mistake''.
US Secretary of State visits Central Asia for the first time since taking office
U.S. Secretary of State Brinken visited Kazakhstan on the 28th and held meetings with the foreign ministers of five Central Asian countries, including Uzbekistan.
At a press conference after the meeting, Secretary Brinken said, "We will do everything we can to provide various opportunities for our friendly countries in Central Asia." announced that it will provide an additional $ 25 million, or approximately 3.4 billion yen in Japanese yen, to the fund of .
Five countries in Central Asia are members of the former Soviet Union, and while they are politically and economically linked to Russia, they are also showing distance from Russia, which continues its military invasion of Ukraine.
This will be Blinken's first visit to Central Asia since he took office, and it is believed that he is aiming to create a wedge in relations between Russia and the countries of Central Asia and increase the effectiveness of sanctions against Russia.
Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov visits Azerbaijan
Russia's Foreign Minister Lavrov visited Baku, the former Soviet capital of Azerbaijan, and held a meeting with President Aliyev on the 27th, followed by a meeting with Foreign Minister Bayramov on the 28th.
Azerbaijan and its neighboring country Armenia had an armed conflict last year that resulted in deaths, and in a series of talks, Foreign Minister Lavrov emphasized his desire for Russia to act as an intermediary to resolve the issues between the two countries.
On the other hand, regarding this region, US Secretary of State Brinken is strengthening diplomatic efforts as an intermediary, such as meeting with President Aliyev of Azerbaijan and Prime Minister Pashinyan of Armenia in Germany on the 18th.
As Russia continues its military invasion of Ukraine, it has been pointed out that Russia's influence is declining among the former Soviet countries that it has claimed to be in its sphere of influence. It seems that there is also an aim to show
G20 to be held in India from today, Ukraine situation on agenda
The G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting will be held in New Delhi, the capital of India, for one to two days, and will be attended by US Secretary of State Brinken, Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov, and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang.
Substantial discussions will be held on the 2nd, with the situation in Ukraine as the main agenda, and discussions are expected to be exchanged on such matters as how to respond to the global surge in energy and food prices.
On the other hand, India, the chair of the G20, is a representative of emerging and developing countries called the "Global South," which does not take sides with either the West or Russia, and emphasizes the idea of reflecting the voices of these countries in the G20. .