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National

As Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine enters its fifth day, Ukrainians abroad have been been returning home to join the fight against Russia.

Driving the news: Russian forces have shelled civilian areas and prompted concerns of a humanitarian crisis. The UN Refugee agency on Monday said that 500,000 Ukrainian refugees have fled into neighboring countries since Russia's attack began.

On Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called on all "citizens of the world" to join the fight against Russia's invasion, encouraging those so inclined to contact their country's Ukrainian embassy.

The big picture: Most of the Ukrainians living across Europe who are returning to their homeland to fight the Russian invasion have no combat experience, little to no training, and only a few have their own weapons, the Wall Street Journal reported.

Poland's border guard estimated Sunday that since the start of the invasion roughly 22,000 people have crossed its border into Ukraine to join the fray, AP reported.

The Czech Republic, which doesn't border Ukraine but has a large Ukrainian population, is preparing to distribute bonuses to financially support Ukrainian families in the country who may lose income if family members leave to join the fight against Russia's invasion, per AP.

The Czech Republic's state-run railway will also allow Ukrainians traveling back to Ukraine to take any train free of charge.

Some Ukrainians living in Ireland have also been flying out to Poland, with plans to drive to Ukraine from Krakow and take part in the fight, RTE reported.

Worth noting: The call to fight has also been heard by non-Ukrainians.

One Facebook group has rallied Belarusians living in Poland to go to Kyiv to join the resistance, per the Journal.

In a since-deleted post, the the Ukrainian embassy in Tel Aviv issued a callout Saturday for volunteers willing to join the fight in Ukraine to submit their contact information, the Guardian reported.

British Foreign Secretary Liz Truss told the BBC Sunday that she would support individuals from the U.K. who choose to go to Ukraine to fight.

Some Irish people living in Ukraine have chosen to stay and defend their adopted country rather than returning to Ireland, Irish Central reported.

Ukrainians abroad return home to fight against Russia

Ukrainian President Zelensky called on all "citizens of the world" to join the fight against Russia's invasion.

Kyiv residents and volunteers prepare a rear post with trenches in Kyiv on Monday. Photo: Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images

Russian invasion of Ukraine

Russia

Conflicts, policies and powers are intersecting and shaping the world. Breaking news and analysis of national security, foreign policy and global crises.

World

FIFA and UEFA on Monday announced that they will suspend Russia's national and club teams from all international competition "until further notice" due to the country's invasion of Ukraine.

The big picture: It follows a slew of boycotts and condemnation by sports organizations in response to Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine.

UEFA added in a separate announcement that it is ending its partnerships with Russian oil giant Gazprom across all competitions "effective immediately."

What they're saying: "Football is fully united here and in full solidarity with all the people affected in Ukraine," the organizations wrote in a statement. "Both Presidents hope that the situation in Ukraine will improve significantly and rapidly so that football can again be a vector for unity and peace amongst people." 

Catch up fast: The Poland, Czech Republic and Sweden soccer federations last week said they will not participate in World Cup qualifier matches slated to take place in Russia next month.

FIFA announced Sunday that no international soccer matches will be played in Russia, with "home" matches for the Russian team being played on neutral territory with no spectators.

At the time, it said that Russian national teams would be allowed to play in tournaments, but under the name of "Football Union of Russia" without any flag or anthem used during games. 

The association added at the time that it was in an ongoing dialogue with other sports organizations, including the IOC, to determine whether Russia would be excluded from competitions.

State of play: Russia was scheduled to play against Poland in a qualifying match on March 24. If the suspension lasts until that date, the team will be excluded from the World Cup.

The suspension also covers the Russian national women's team, which was set to play in the UEFA Euro Championship later this year.

Go deeper: The latest on the Russian invasion of Ukraine

Editor's note: This story has been updated with additional details. 

FIFA suspends Russia from international soccer

FIFA had previously said that Russia could play in tournaments, but under a different name.

Shifts in technology and media are changing the way we play, watch and understand sports. Business models are adapting and social change is forcing those in charge of teams and leagues to reconsider decades-old practices.

Sports

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky is urging President Biden and NATO to impose a "no-fly zone" over "significant parts" of the country, telling Axios in a statement that Ukraine "can beat the aggressor" if the Western allies "do their part."

Why it matters: President Biden has ruled out sending U.S. troops to fight Russia in Ukraine. That pledge extends to a no-fly zone, which would require the U.S. military to potentially directly engage Russian air forces, White House press secretary Jen Psaki stressed on Monday.

Driving the news: Zelensky, who remains in Ukraine under siege from Vladimir Putin, said in a statement to Axios provided through an adviser: "If the West does this, Ukraine will defeat the aggressor with much less blood."

"The sanctions are heading in the right direction. In addition to disconnecting the Russian Central Bank from SWIFT and providing more Stingers and anti-tank weapons, we need the West to impose a no-fly zone over significant parts of Ukraine," Zelensky said.

"Ukraine can beat the aggressor. We are proving this to the world. But our allies must also do their part."

But, but, but: "Here's what's important for everybody to know about a no-fly zone: What that would require is implementation by the U.S. military. It would essentially mean the U.S. military would be shooting down Russian planes," Psaki told MSNBC.

"That is definitely escalatory, that would potentially put us into a place where we're in a military conflict with Russia. That is not something the president wants to do."

The big picture: Zelensky's passionate appeals to the West have yielded major steps on sanctions and military aid that would have been unthinkable two weeks ago. But direct military engagement with Russia via a no-fly zone has so far been a red line.

"We have no intentions of moving into Ukraine neither on the ground or in the airspace," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg told MSNBC on Monday. "We have a responsibility to make sure that this doesn't spiral out of control that escalates even further into concern for full-fledged war in Europe involving NATO allies."

U.K. Defense Secretary Ben Wallace has also ruled out the idea, saying that "NATO would have to effectively declare war on Russia." 

Between the lines: In Washington, only a very hawkish minority is publicly advocating a no-fly zone.

On Capitol Hill, Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.) tweeted Friday that the U.S. should "declare a #NoFlyZone over Ukraine" to disrupt Russia's air operations and "give the heroic Ukrainians a fair fight."

Kinzinger's call was met with prompt criticism from members of both parties. 

Rep. Sara Jacobs (D-Calif.) in a statement Saturday rejected calls for the U.S. and NATO to establish a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it could pull America into war with Russia.

"A no-fly zone is enforced, not declared. It requires our fighter jets to go directly against Russian fighter jets, to get them to stay out of a certain airspace. If the United States were to do this, our fighter jets would potentially have to shoot down Russian jets. This would mean the United States declaring war on Russia."

"No. This is insane," Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) also tweeted in response to Kinzinger's tweet."

Go deeper ... The latest: Russian forces shell civilian areas during Ukraine peace talks

Scoop: Zelensky pushes Biden on no-fly zone

"If the West does this, Ukraine will defeat the aggressor with much less blood."

Photo: Doug Mills/The New York Times/Bloomberg via Getty Images

2024 will be an election year like no other, as President Biden seeks re-election amid economic uncertainty, two wars and questions about his age. His likely foe, former President Trump, faces felony charges and vows revenge on his political enemies. Meanwhile, Americans generally are dissatisfied with those choices and are divided over immigration, race, education and more.

Politics & Policy

Generate

Axios Generate

There are fresh signals that the invasion of Ukraine could seismically reshape the West’s energy relationship with Russia.

Driving the news: Germany, a huge buyer of Russian gas, on Sunday announced new steps to buffer itself from Vladimir Putin.

They include building new liquefied natural gas import terminals, expanded gas storage, and perhaps, reversing plans to close nuclear plants.

Also Sunday, U.K. Foreign Secretary Liz Truss floated the idea of G7 limits on Russian oil and gas imports.

The big picture: It's part of wider European efforts to boost reserves and clean power that are taking on new urgency in light of Russia's war.

The European Commission, per several reports, is slated to soon propose larger gas storage requirements.

Reuters reports that a draft plan also aims to speed renewables deployment as a way to fight climate change and boost energy security.

Reality check: Major new Western sanctions have thus far avoided taking direct aim at Russia's oil and gas exports.

Driving the news, part 2: BP, citing Russia's attack, pledged yesterday to divest its 19.75% stake in Russian state-controlled oil giant Rosneft.

And last night, Norway-based oil-and-gas giant Equinor said it's exiting its joint ventures in Russia and halting new investments there.

What we're watching: Anna Mikulska, an expert in Russian energy markets and geopolitics, said the BP move likely heralds a wider trend.

"[The] Russian state is now viewed as a malign actor and, hence, dealing with Russian state-owned companies will be viewed in a negative light, could become scrutinized and will definitely bring public discontent," she said via email.

Mikulska, a fellow with Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy, said she's watching, for example, to see whether Exxon and Shell also back away from their work in Russia.

The intrigue: The Russian invasion is causing ripples in U.S. lobbying and energy debates.

Oil-and-gas industry groups are jointly urging President Biden to bolster policy support for U.S. LNG exports and back off leasing restrictions, among other moves.

Putin's war may herald a new energy era

Recent days suggest the West's energy relationship with Russia could undergo a major shift.

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Macro

Axios Macro

Russia's central bank will be prohibited from undertaking transactions in dollars under a new concerted effort by the United States and its allies, a move that is set to accelerate Russia's economic tailspin.

Why it matters: The measures will severely limit the Russian government's ability to use its $630 billion in reserves to prop up the value of the ruble or fund its war effort in Ukraine.

This represents a serious escalation of the West's financial warfare against Russia in retaliation for its invasion of Ukraine and compromises Russian President Vladimir Putin's ability to sustain the war.

The move ensures that the collapse of the value of the ruble will continue unabated, which will mean soaring inflation and diminishing purchasing power for Russian citizens — and their government. Bank runs are already underway in the nation.

Details: By cutting off the Russian central bank and other financial entities controlled by the Russian government from the global market of dollar assets, the nation is essentially further cut off from the global financial system and its massive pile of reserves becomes, essentially useless. That, at least, is American officials' goal.

The Central Bank of the Russian Federation joins a short list of world central banks cut off from dollar transactions that includes Venezuela, Iran and Syria.

The measures also cover the Russian finance ministry and a sovereign wealth fund known as the Russian Direct Investment Fund that American officials characterize as a slush fund for Putin and his cronies.

What they're saying: "No country is sanctions-proof when we act together," said a senior administration official who briefed reporters Monday morning. 

The official added: "$630 billion of reserves only matters if he can use it to defend his currency. After today's actions that will no longer be possible. Fortress Russia will be exposed as a myth."

U.S. cuts off Russian central bank

It is the latest measure to strangle the Russian economy in retaliation for Ukraine invasion.

The U.S. Treasury. Photo by Stefani Reynolds/AFP via Getty Images

Top stories & latest news on the Federal Reserve, real-time data, plus the biggest shifts happening in the U.S. and global economy.

Economy

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Economy & Business

Capital

Axios Capital

Up until this weekend, Russia's invasion of Ukraine looked very old-fashioned: Columns of tanks, prisoners of war, bombed buildings. Now, however, Russia and the West have both wheeled out their nuclear options — one literal, the other financial — although neither has actually been used.

Why it matters: The stakes could now hardly be higher. This isn't just about Ukraine any more; it has turned into a full-blown confrontation between nuclear powers. If the conflict continues to escalate as quickly as it has in recent days, the unthinkable could become reality.

How it works: Cutting Russia off from the international financial system has been referred to in recent days as "the nuclear option." Some of that has already happened, and the West has committed to even more: 

Russia's largest banks are now unable to operate in the dollar-based financial system, following actions taken by the Treasury Department on Thursday. 

Russian banks' ability to easily transact in dollars and euros will be severely hampered when they get removed from SWIFT, the international financial-messaging system that undergirds nearly all international money transfers. 

The Russian central bank will be unable to support the ruble if its dollar and euro accounts are frozen. 

What we're not sanctioning: The West is still allowing Russian energy exports. "If Russia stops selling its oil and gas, that would be the end of Russia as we know it,”says Edward Fishman, former Russia and Europe sanctions lead in the Obama administration's State Department. 

Russia will still be allowed to buy food, medical necessities, and the like.  "Sanctions aren't going to kill anyone," says Fishman.

The West has promised to impose "the financial equivalent of a nuclear strike," says former George Bush speechwriter David Frum. 

The emerging nuclear threat

Russia and the West are openly discussing their nuclear options — one literal, the other financial

Axios

Monday's top stories

Ukrainians abroad return home to fight against Russia

FIFA suspends Russia from international soccer

Scoop: Zelensky pushes Biden on no-fly zone

Putin's war may herald a new energy era

U.S. cuts off Russian central bank

The emerging nuclear threat

Ukraine misinformation spreads as users share videos out of context

A case for (some) continued masking

Russian troops advance on Kyiv as Ukraine continues to resist

Ruble collapses as new sanctions hit

Meta removed two disinformation campaigns targeting Ukraine

EU to purchase and deliver weapons to Ukraine in historic first