Putin Wants to Stop

Hi Global Recap readers,

Before starting toay’s newsletter with packed with plenty of seriousness, let me start off with a video that’s both amusing and somewhat tragic.

The video showcases a Western journalist touring a computer lab bustling with individuals seemingly surfing the internet.

However, things aren’t quite as they appear…

🇷🇺 Russia
Putin’s Peace Proposal

Russian President Vladimir Putin has made a surprising peace offer to Ukraine, sparking international attention and debate.

🔘 Truce Terms: Putin has proposed an immediate cease-fire if Ukraine withdraws troops from annexed regions and drops its NATO bid.

• The regions include Kherson, Zaporizhzhia, Donetsk, and Luhansk.

• Putin’s conditions for peace include Ukraine’s non-nuclear status, military restrictions, and protection for Russian-speaking population.

• The proposal was made as G7 leaders met in Italy and a peace summit for Ukraine was set to begin in Switzerland this weekend.

• This is unlikely to be accepted by Kyiv. Why would they not seek NATO membership when they were just invaded by Russia?

🔘 War Dynamics: The war, which began with Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, has seen intense fighting in the south and east. Despite annexing regions, Russia does not fully control any of them.

• What could be Russia’s motivation for pursuing a peace deal?

  • It’s possible that they anticipate a lack of substantial progress, which would result in a waste of time and resources.

  • They might be aiming to secure the advantages they’ve already achieved.

🔘 International Response: Putin warns that rejection of his offer would place the responsibility for continued bloodshed on Kyiv and Western capitals.

• The U.S. and Ukraine have recently signed a 10-year security agreement, further complicating the situation.

• The agreement is seen as a milestone in U.S.-Ukraine relations and a commitment to long-term security cooperation. 👇

🇺🇦 Ukraine
Ukraine and U.S. Strike a Deal

🔘 Alliance: President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky have solidified a 10-year bilateral security agreement.

• The agreement aims to fortify Ukraine’s defense capabilities for the long haul.

• Biden has reiterated that while U.S. troops won’t engage in combat, they will continue to supply Ukraine with necessary weaponry.

🔘 Support: This “historic day” witnessed the strongest U.S.-Ukraine agreement since Ukraine’s independence, as described by Zelensky.

• The pact focuses on human life protection and cooperation, paving the way for sustainable peace.

• Zelensky emphasized the global impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war, asserting that Ukraine’s victory is pivotal for worldwide democracy.

• But with public support for endless aid to Ukraine wanes, it’s becoming increasingly challenging for governments to drum up ongoing backing for Ukraine.

🔘 Strategy: Despite recent permissions for Ukraine to use American weapons for defensive purposes, Biden maintains a firm stance against long-range strikes into Russia.

• The focus remains on combating threats across the border, without escalating.

🇺🇸 United States
Biden to Provide Protection for Some Illegal Immigrants

🔘 Protection: According to “people familiar with the matter,” Biden is planning an executive order that will shield some illegal immigrants from deportation, particularly spouses of U.S. citizens.

• This is good news for those fearing deportation and seeking work authorization.

• This measure could even pave the way to citizenship for some, using Biden’s executive powers.

🔘 Timing: The announcement might drop next Tuesday, coinciding with the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) anniversary celebration at the White House.

• DACA, introduced by the Obama administration in 2012, provides temporary relief from deportation and work authorization to certain illegal immigrants who were brought to the United States as children.

• It’s a strategic move, aligning with the program that has shielded many young migrants from deportation.

🇨🇳 China
China’s #MeToo Activist Sentenced

🔘 Verdict: The Guangzhou Intermediate People’s Court sentenced #MeToo activist Huang Xueqin to five years for “subversion.”

• Her colleague, labor activist Wang Jianbing, received three and a half years.

• The charges? They held gatherings discussing social issues, which the court deemed “subversive.”

• Both activists have been detained since September 2021, and they denied wrongdoing in a closed-door trial.

🔘 Reaction: The international community is on edge. Consular representatives from several countries were barred from the trial, and Amnesty International has condemned the sentences as unjust, fearing a chilling effect on human rights advocacy in China.

• The verdict is seen as part of a broader crackdown on activists, with similar charges leading to multiple detentions.

🔘 Background: Huang was a prominent journalist covering sensitive topics like the #MeToo movement and Hong Kong protests.

• Huang was set to travel to Britain for her master’s degree at the University of Sussex, funded by a British government scholarship. However, she was arrested on September 19, 2021, just a day before her scheduled departure.

🇮🇷 Iran
Nuclear Tensions Escalate

🔘 Centrifuge Expansion: Iran is ramping up its nuclear program by starting new cascades of advanced centrifuges. This move comes despite international criticism and concerns over the potential for nuclear weapons development.

• The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) reported that Iran began using advanced IR-4 and IR-6 centrifuges at its Natanz facility.

• These centrifuges enrich uranium more efficiently, with Iran already enriching up to 60% purity, close to weapons-grade levels of 90%.

🔘 Western Response: The United States has labeled Iran’s actions as “nuclear escalations,” expressing worries over the lack of peaceful purposes behind these advancements.

• State Department spokesman Matthew Miller warned that if Iran continues on this path, the U.S. and its allies will “respond accordingly.”

• Iran faces severe economic sanctions, which have significantly impacted its economy and currency.

🔘 Diplomatic Stalemate: Despite being a signatory to the Non-Proliferation Treaty, Iran has restricted IAEA inspectors’ access and has not fully addressed concerns about past nuclear material findings.

• Tehran insists on its commitment to nuclear safeguards but refuses to succumb to pressure, as stated by Ali Shamkhani, an advisor to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei.

• The IAEA’s efforts to enhance inspections have not led to any major public shift in Iran’s stance.

🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo
Congo’s Deadly Conflict with Islamic Rebels

The Democratic Republic of Congo is grappling with a brutal attack in its eastern region, where dozens have been mercilessly killed.

What’s behind this violence?

🔘 Attack: A horrific assault in Congo’s Lubero territory claimed at least 42 lives. The suspected perpetrators are the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF) rebels, known for their links to the Islamic State.

• This group has sown terror in the region for nearly three decades.

• The attack involved firearms and machetes, with some victims found “tied up” and “decapitated.”

🔘 Toll: The recent spate of violence has brought this month’s death toll to nearly 150. The ADF’s relentless attacks echo a similar incident last week, where over 80 people died.

• There are still bodies unrecovered due to the remote location of the massacre.

🔘 Conflict: Besides the ADF, Congo’s forces are also contending with the M23 rebels, backed by Rwanda. These groups primarily operate in the eastern provinces, further destabilizing the region.