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Ukraine deemed the humanitarian corridors organized by Russia as “unacceptable” after discovering that they only lead refugees to Russia and Belarus, reports the Hill. According to maps published by the RIA news agency, the corridor from Kyiv would lead citizens directly to Belarus and the other would transport individuals from Kharkiv to Russia. A spokesperson for Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky deemed the proposal as “completely immoral.”

Moscow is recruiting Syrians skilled in urban combat to assist with Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, writes the Wall Street Journal. According to a U.S. assessment, Russia is recruiting Syrian fighters in the hopes that their expertise in urban combat can help Russian forces overtake the Ukrainian capital city of Kyiv. The Russian takeover of Kyiv would certainly issue a “devastating blow” to the Ukrainian government, potentially lead to an escalation in fighting and would be a major step in Russia’s quest to gain control of Ukraine. It is not yet clear how many Syrian fighters have been identified, but some are reportedly already in Russia preparing to enter the conflict.   

Ukraine asked the International Court of Justice for an emergency order for Russia to halt hostilities on Ukrainian territory, according to Reuters. Ukraine argued that Russia falsely applied international genocide law to justify its invasion of the country. Legal representatives from Russia did not attend the U.N. high court proceedings in The Hague. Ukrainian envoy Anton Korynevych said of Russia’s absence that “the fact that Russia's seats are empty speaks loudly. They are not here in this court of law: they are on a battlefield waging an aggressive war against my country.” 

The EU asked the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to safeguard nuclear plants in Ukraine after two were taken into Russian control, reports U.S. News. The EU also reportedly asked the U.N. nuclear watchdog to mobilize international help in the case of a nuclear emergency. In a letter to the IAEA director, the EU energy policy chief requested that “[the] IAEA does its utmost to ensure the nuclear safety of Ukraine's nuclear facilities under the current conditions of war."

Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba on the Ukraine-Poland border to discuss what additional support and protection the U.S. can deliver to Ukraine amid Russia’s invasion, writes the New York Times. Blinken reportedly went to the border to assess the severity of the humanitarian disaster caused by the invasion. After the meeting Kuleba told reporters that “Ukraine will win this war. The question is the price of our victory. And if our partners continue to take bold, systemic decisions to step up economic and political pressure on Russia, if they continue to provide us with necessary weapons, the price will be lower.” Blinken reiterated the Biden administration’s support for Ukraine and said that the administration is looking to send Ukraine and neighboring countries helping with the crisis at least $2.75 billion in additional humanitarian assistance. Blinken told Kuleba, “The world is here; the world is with you.”

Visa, Mastercard and American Express announced they will suspend operations in Russia in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, reports BBC News. Russians will still be able to use their cards within Russia until their expiration dates, but cards issued abroad will no longer work at shops or ATMs within the country, and clients cannot use their cards abroad or for international payments online. 

U.S. officials traveled to Venezuela to discuss easing sanctions on Venezuelan oil exports to potentially help replace Russian oil and gas used in the United States, writes the Washington Post. The trip is reportedly the highest-level visit to Venezuela in years as the U.S. considers a ban on Russian oil and gas exports to economically isolate the country for its invasion of Ukraine. Venezuela—the Kremlin’s most important South American ally—used to be a major supplier of crude oil to the U.S. until the U.S. government broke off relations with the country in 2019 and accused Venezuela’s authoritarian leader Nicolás Maduro of electoral fraud, according to the New York Times. 

A convoy of trucks and other vehicles protesting coronavirus mandates slowed traffic for hours on Interstate 495 around Washington, D.C., reports the New York Times. Trucks, cars, motorcycles and other vehicles flew American flags and displayed signs that read “Freedom” as they circled the Capital Beltway twice. The director of the District of Columbia Homeland Security and Emergency Management Agency said that the protest did not cause any major disruptions to D.C.’s transportation routes.

ICYMI: This Weekend on Lawfare

Cornell Overfield outlined why Turkey must close the Turkish straits only to Russian and Ukrainian warships.

Elena Chachko and Katerina Linos analyzed how the world should share responsibility for Ukrainian refugees. 

Kristy Campion explained how Australia’s history of white nationalism has been reinforced by transnational ties to extremist groups in the United States.

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