Axios

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Linda Thomas-Greenfield protested to her Israeli counterpart over Israel's refusal to join 87 countries in backing a U.S.-led resolution to condemn Russia's invasion of Ukraine at the UN Security Council on Friday, Israeli officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Israel has attempted to maintain good relations with both Russia and Ukraine during the crisis, and has even offered to serve as a mediator. But that fence-sitting has resulted in criticism from both sides and now from the U.S.

In November 2021, Jonathan Swan pressed NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on "Axios on HBO" about why Ukraine hasn't received NATO membership: "Putin must know that the way to stop a country joining NATO is to invade it."

Why it matters: NATO promised Ukraine in 2008 that it would eventually become a member of the alliance, but offered no specific timeline. As Russia built up a massive military presence on Ukraine's borders, it demanded guarantees that Ukraine would never join NATO — and invaded after the Western allies refused.

The Russian military's invasion of Ukraine has caused at least 352 civilian casualties, including 14 children, Ukraine's Ministry of Interior announced Sunday.

Worth noting: Another 1,684 people, including 116 children, have been injured in the ongoing conflict, the Ministry added.

People around the world rallied in solidarity with Ukraine on Sunday, as Russia continued its unprovoked invasion of the country.

Why it matters: The invasion has united the world and sparked global outcry, with thousands taking to the streets in cities like London, Washington, D.C., and Putin's backyard in Moscow.

Maxar satellite imagery showed a 3.25-mile long convoy of Russian ground forces 40 miles northeast of Kyiv moving toward the capital city on Sunday.

Why it matters: According to Maxar, the convoy contains hundreds of armored vehicles including tanks and self-propelled artillery, fuel and logistics. U.S. and Ukrainian officials believe Russia's primary military objective is to encircle Kyiv and topple the government.

The United Nations Security Council on Sunday voted to convene a special session of the UN General Assembly on Monday to debate Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Why it matters: This will only be the 11th time since 1950 that the General Assembly convened such an emergency session.

Norway's sovereign wealth fund will divest its Russian assets in light of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre announced at a news briefing Sunday.

Why it matters: Valued at $1.3 trillion, Norway's state-backed investment fund is the largest in the world. The fund's Russian assets consist of shares in 47 companies, and government bonds, worth a total of some 25 billion Norwegian crowns ($2.83 billion), the government said, per Reuters.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced Sunday that the European Union will ban all "Russian-owned, Russian registered or Russian-controlled aircraft," including the private jets of oligarchs, from its airspace, as well as Russian state media.

Why it matters: The announcement comes on the fourth day of Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, and builds off of efforts over the past several days by individual European countries to take similar measures.

British oil company BP said Sunday it will exit from its 19.75% stake in Rosneft, the Russian oil giant with ties to the Kremlin, and that BP CEO Bernard Looney will immediately resign from Rosneft's board.

Driving the news: The British government had called for the move Friday, when it summoned Looney to a meeting with U.K. business secretary Kwasi Kwarteng and accused Rosneft of providing fuel to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s army for the invasion, according to multiple reports.

Russian President Vladimir Putin is doing in days what decades of American prodding and pressure couldn't: Getting Germany and other European nations to unite, expand defense spending and strategic thinking, and do more to protect themselves and others.

Why it matters: Putin calculated a divided America and Europe would make it hard to punish him for invading Ukraine. Instead, he’s spawned a new coalition of the willing that spreads from Europe, to U.S. companies, to Russians in the streets.

Turkish officials on Sunday called Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine a "war," a change in rhetoric that could pave the way for Turkey to block the passage of Russian warships to the Black Sea.

Driving the news: In accordance with the 1936 Montreux Convention, Turkey has control of the Bosphorus and Dardanelles straits that connect the Mediterranean and Black seas, and is able to limit the passage of warships during wartime or if threatened, per Reuters.

The U.S. ambassador to the United Nations hinted Sunday that Russia could face accusations of war crimes before The Hague, where trials for the International Criminal Court are held.

What she's saying: "I think everything is on the table as we move forward," Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield told CNN's "State of the Union" when asked if Russia could sit before the War Crimes Tribunals in the future.

Russian President Vladimir Putin said in a televised statement on Sunday that he was ordering Russia's nuclear deterrent forces on alert, as he continues his unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.

Driving the news: Speaking alongside his defense minister and military chief of staff, Putin said recent sanctions and "aggressive statements" from NATO countries had led him to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty."

The International Judo Federation announced Sunday that it has suspended Russian President Vladimir Putin as its honorary president as Russia's invasion of Ukraine entered its fourth day.

Why it matters: Putin is a judo black belt and a keen fan of the sport, having authored a book about the sport and starred in an instructional video, per the Washington Post.

Ukrainian troops were holding off a massive assault from Russia's military in Kyiv on Sunday, as streetfighting erupted in Kharkiv after President Vladimir Putin's forces entered Ukraine’s second-largest city on the fourth day of the unprovoked invasion.

The latest: Putin said Sunday that "aggressive statements" made by Western countries have led him to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty," marking the second time he has alluded to Russia's nuclear arsenal.

Social media platforms are beginning to crack down on Russian state media in response to the Kremlin's efforts to tighten controls around internet communications.

Why it matters: Tech giants that provide services around the world prefer not to take sides in conflicts where they operate in both combatants' territory, but Russia's invasion of Ukraine is making that stance tough to maintain.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky issued a statement Sunday calling on all "citizens of the world" to join the fight against Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, New Voice of Ukraine reported.

Why it matters: Zelensky's appeal comes on the fourth day of Russia's invasion, following a night of heavy fighting in Kyiv and Kharkiv.

Israeli Prime Minister Naftali Bennett told Russian President Vladimir Putin in a phone call Sunday he would offer to mediate and broker a ceasefire between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, the Kremlin said.

Why it matters: The call came two days after Zelensky called Bennett and asked him for a mediation following Russia's unprovoked attack on Ukraine. Zelensky's request was published first on Israel's public broadcaster Kan.

The European Union, U.S. and other Western nations on Saturday announced they would cut off a "certain number of Russian banks" from the SWIFT international payments system and impose restrictions on Russia’s Central Bank.

Why it matters: The measures will effectively cut Russia out of the world's most important financial messaging system and undermine the Kremlin's ability to use its central bank reserves to blunt the impact of other sanctions.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said on Sunday Russia's unprovoked attacks "show signs of genocide" and called on the international court at The Hague to investigate.

Driving the news: In a video address posted on Facebook, Zelensky said Russia "deserves an international tribunal. We are documenting their crimes. And there would have been many more of these crimes if it hadn't been for our courageous defenders," per a translation on CNN.

Western sanctions over Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine will increase Russia's already significant economic reliance on China.

Why it matters: Moscow could blunt the impact of sanctions by deepening its growing alignment with Beijing, giving both countries more leverage in their disputes with the West — but potentially fostering resentment in Russia over the increasingly lopsided relationship.

Belgium, Iceland and Denmark on Sunday joined a growing list of European countries who say they are banning Russian airlines from their airspace.

Driving the news: Estonia, Lithuania, Romania and Latvia all said on Saturday Russian airlines could not fly in their airspace. "Our European skies are open skies. They're open for those who connect people, not for those who seek to brutally aggress," Belgium Prime Minister Alexander De Croo tweeted Sunday.

Ukrainian troops were fighting Russia's military on the streets of Kharkiv after President Vladimir Putin's invading forces entered Ukraine’s second-largest city Sunday, per the BBC.

The big picture: Kharkiv, a city of 1.4 million in northeast Ukraine near the border with Russia, has endured some of the most intense attacks since the invasion began.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky on Sunday rejected the Kremlin's offer of negotiations in Belarus due to the neighboring country not being neutral territory.

Driving the news: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the "Russian delegation is ready for talks, and we are now waiting for the Ukrainians" in the Belarusian city of Homel, per AP. Zelensky said in a video address that he's open to talks, but not in Belarus.

Google announced late Saturday it is blocking Russian state media channels from selling ads due to the invasion of Ukraine.

Why it matters: The move came hours after YouTube, which is owned by Google, said it was blocking Russian state media channels, including RT, from selling ads on YouTube globally or being accessible in Ukraine.

A Ukrainian government agency said Saturday it's removing road signs in order to confuse invading Russian forces and called on citizens to join the effort, per the Washington Post.

The big picture: Ukravtodor, which oversees Ukraine's road system, made the announcement in a Facebook post that featured a fake image of a road sign in which directions to cities were replaced with obscenities that can be translated as "Go f--k yourself", "Go f--k yourself again" and "Go f--k yourself back in Russia," according to Reuters.

The fighting in and around Kyiv intensified Saturday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky vowed to stay in the capital and "protect our country."

The big picture: At least 198 Ukrainians, including three children, have been killed since Russia launched its invasion, according to Ukraine's health ministry.

Elon Musk said Saturday SpaceX's Starlink satellites had been activated in Ukraine, with more terminals en route.

Driving the news: Ukrainian officials requested Musk's help in using his company's commercial internet network after the Russian military's unprovoked military invasion left parts of the country offline.