A number of Russia's neighboring countries moved to restrict entry for Russians this week as thousands of Russian men attempted to flee military conscription.
If Russia successfully annexes occupied territories of Ukraine, it would spell the end of diplomatic negotiations between Russia and Ukraine,Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
Driving the news: Four Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine — Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia — are holding referendums from Friday through Tuesday on whether to join Russia.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's mobilization of 300,000 reservists is tantamount to an admission that the country is struggling to continue its war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky told CBS' "Face the Nation" on Sunday.
Driving the news: Putin "has announced the mobilization. It used to be hidden. Now, you see that it has been announced publicly," Zelensky said.
Russia will offer "full protection" to the Russian-controlled areas of Ukraine that vote in referendums to join Russia, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said at a press conference Saturday.
Why it matters: Decried by Ukrainian and Western officials as a "sham," the referendums are taking place from Friday through Tuesday in the regions of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhia and could lead to the annexation of nearly 15% of Ukraine.
China warned world leaders to not interfere with the country's plan to reunify with Taiwan, adding that doing so would lead to severe consequences.
The big picture: Tensions between China and the U.S. have been shaky regarding Taiwan, particularly after Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-governing island last month.
Russian men facing potential military conscription have fled the country in the wake of President Vladimir Putin’s partial military mobilization order earlier this week, the Associated Press reports.
Driving the news: The exodus signaled the unpopularity of the order and the extent people were willing to go to avoid being sent to fight in Ukraine, after Putin said as many as 300,000 could be called up for service.
Driving the news: Thousands have poured into the streets across the Islamic Republic after the death of Mahsa Amini, who was arrested by the country’s morality police for allegedly violating a religious law that mandates women to wear a headscarf.
Two U.S. veterans who were among over 200 prisoners of war transferred through an exchange between Russia and Ukraine are back on U.S. soil, CNN reports.
