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All Russians lose in Putin's war
Vladimir Putin claims overwhelming domestic support for Russia's "special military operation" in Ukraine.
Is that true?
Former US Ambassador to Russia Michael McFaul, who talks to Russians almost every day, says what he's hearing is that there no winners inside Russia, where the war has hurt Putin politically.
Even the oligarchs are unhappy: "There is not a single economic actor in Russia [who] thinks this is good."
Why? Before the war, Russians had been richer than at any time in history, McFaul tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World. Many feel Putin threw it all away, and he'll never get back the credit he'd earned for brining stability to Russia.
Watch the GZERO World episode: Beginning of Putin's end
- Risks of Russia losing: Putin, Ukraine, and potential for escalation ... ›
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- What do Russians really think of the war? - GZERO Media ›
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- EU keeps borders open for Russians but tightens visa rules - GZERO Media ›
Grading the US response to Ukraine
Michael McFaul, former US ambassador to Russia, is satisfied overall with how America has responded to Russia's invasion of Ukraine so far — with a couple of caveats.
First, the Biden administration needs to ratchet up sanctions so they don't pile up like parking tickets. And by that he means going after positions, not individuals, as well as offering a way a way to get off the list.
Also, the goal of the sanctions should be to stop the war, not hurt Russia beyond that, McFaul tells Ian Bremmer on GZERO World.
Third, the US should definitely share intelligence with Ukraine — but keep it under wraps.
"I'm militantly against talking about it," says McFaul, because it's illegal, doesn't serve the US national security interest, feeds into Putin's grievance narrative, and makes the Ukrainians look weak.
Watch the GZERO World episode: Beginning of Putin's end
The Graphic Truth: What does Roman Abramovich own?
Of all the Russian oligarchs facing Western sanctions over the Kremlin’s invasion of Ukraine, one name stands out: Roman Abramovich. The owner of Chelsea FC soccer club used to be one of the world’s richest men, but recently he’s seen his net worth slashed by almost a third to about $8 billion and had most of his assets frozen. We take a look at all the nice things Abramovich has — but can’t touch while sanctions remain in place.
Footage released by Ukraine's defense ministry allegedly shows a convoy of Russian military vehicles near Kherson.
Russia takes its first big prize
Russian forces on Wednesday captured their first city since the invasion began, taking control of Kherson. Holding the southern city creates a fresh bridgehead for Putin’s armies to advance north on strategic areas in central Ukraine. Home to 290,000 people, Kherson under Russian military administration could also set the tone for how a wider occupation might go. Fierce fighting continues, meanwhile, around Kharkiv and Kyiv.
Meanwhile, at the UN, 141 of the organization’s 193 members supported a resolution condemning Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Usual suspects Eritrea, Belarus, Syria, and North Korea all voted with Russia while Moscow’s most important ally, China, abstained. Brazil notably voted for the resolution but remains opposed to the “indiscriminate application of sanctions.”
In Russia,more than 600 people were arrested at anti-war protests in Moscow, St. Petersburg, and several smaller cities. The latest demonstrations came just a day after the government shuttered TV Rain and the radio station Echo Moskvy, two of the last independent outlets in the country.
Worse could come. On Friday, Russia’s upper chamber will hold an unscheduled meeting that some Russian experts warn could be about implementing harsh wartime measures, including martial law, which would restrict Russians’ movements and communications. There have been scattered reports of Russians encountering resistance from border officials as they seek to flee the country.
In a sign of growing pressure from sanctions on Russian oligarchs, Roman Abramovich confirmed Wednesday that he would sell the multi-billion dollar London-based Chelsea Football Club and donate the proceeds to a fund for “victims of the war in Ukraine.” Abramovich is not on the UK sanctions list, but calls to put him there are growing louder. Several other prominent oligarchs have called for an end to the war in recent days.