Morning Consult Global: Russia Calls Up 300K Reservists, Makes Nuclear Threat Amid Ukraine Setbacks
 

Global

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September 21, 2022
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U.S. Voters Aren’t Eager to Increase Ukraine Support

President Joe Biden is expected to put Russia’s invasion of Ukraine at the center of his U.N. General Assembly address today, but seven months into the war, the share of Americans who feel the United States is not doing enough to support Ukraine has fallen 19 percentage points from its high in March to just 18%. Check out where the electorate stands on U.S. policy toward Ukraine in the latest update to our Russia-Ukraine Crisis Tracker.

 

Today’s Top News

  • Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the mobilization of 300,000 reservists in a pre-recorded broadcast as Russian forces face heavy losses in Ukraine, but stopped short of a general conscription order that could anger elite Russian families in Moscow and St. Petersburg. Putin also threatened to use nuclear weapons to defend Russia from NATO’s attempts to “weaken, divide and destroy” it, and pledged to back referendums in occupied areas of Ukraine meant to officially annex them into Russia. (Politico)
  • Germany announced it will nationalize energy giant Uniper, the nation’s largest importer of Russian natural gas, in order to prevent the collapse of the company and a potential ensuing energy crisis. Berlin said the move became necessary after Russia halted all gas exports through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline earlier this month. (The Washington Post)
  • Russia’s invasion of Ukraine featured heavily in remarks from world leaders on the first day of the U.N. General Assembly, and few had much support to offer to Moscow, with even Swiss President Ignazio Cassis condemning Russia’s aggression and saying “neutrality does not mean indifference.” French President Emmanuel Macron and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan both cast themselves as peacemakers, though Erdogan’s claim to the role is probably stronger, as Ankara has already brokered key deals for grain export between Kyiv and Moscow. (The New York Times)

Happening today at U.N. General Assembly (all times local):

  • 9:15 a.m. Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi speaks amid nuclear deal deadlock.
  • 9:45 a.m. Rwandan President Paul Kagame speaks amid accusations Rwanda is backing rebels in neighboring Congo.
  • 10:30 a.m. U.S. President Joe Biden is expected to address the Ukraine war.
  • 11 a.m. The Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and Mastercard Foundation, in partnership with the Africa Center, host sideline event at 305 East 47th Street in New York detailing Africa’s New Public Health Order”, featuring remarks from South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and the leaders of Rwanda, Senegal, Zambia, Nigeria and Gabon. 
  • 4:45 p.m. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy delivers remarks remotely.

 

 

Chart Review

 
 

What Else You Need To Know

Multilateral
 

Food Supply Stays Tight as Disappointing U.S. Harvest Adds to Global Challenges

Patrick Thomas, The Wall Street Journal

Agriculture executives say at least two years of bumper crops are needed to relieve pressure from drought and the war in Ukraine.

 

Polluters must pay, says UN chief, urges taxes to help climate victims

Michelle Nichols, Reuters 

U.N. chief Antonio Guterres on Tuesday urged rich countries to tax windfall profits of fossil fuel companies and use that money to help countries harmed by the climate crisis and people who are struggling with rising food and energy prices.

 

Kishida to urge U.N. reform talks as Russia undercuts ‘credibility’ 

Hiroyuki Akiyama, Nikkei Asia 

Japan PM seeks to bolster functions, including nuclear nonproliferation.

 

An election that could make the global internet safer for autocrats

The Economist 

Vladimir Putin is keen to see a Russian lead the International Telecommunication Union.

 

They said it: Leaders at the UN, in their own words

The Associated Press 

The Associated Press spotlights some thoughts — delivered universally from the rostrum at the United Nations following successive years of a virtual, then hybrid summit — from leaders who might have not captured the headlines and airtime on Tuesday, the first day of the 2022 debate.

 
Asia-Pacific
 

U.S., Canadian warships sail through Taiwan Strait for 2nd time in a year

Idrees Ali et al., Reuters 

A U.S. Navy warship and a Canadian frigate made a routine transit through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday, the militaries of both nations said, at a time of heightened military tension between Beijing and Taipei.

 

Cash-Strapped Pakistan Struggles to Keep China Happy

Umair Jamal, The Diplomat 

It has promised to pay $200 million to four Chinese power producers but that is just a fraction of the money owed to China.

 

Bank of Korea denies imminent US swap deal as won falls

Song Jung-a, Financial Times 

South Korea battles to defend currency under pressure from Fed rate decision.

 
Europe
 

Russian lawmakers toughen punishment for soldiers 

The Associated Press 

Russia’s Kremlin-controlled lower house of parliament on Tuesday approved legislation that toughens punishment for soldiers breaching their duties, in an apparent effort to boost discipline in the ranks amid the fighting in Ukraine.

 

Ukraine warns of ‘nuclear terrorism’ after strike near plant

Karl Ritter and Jon Gambrell, The Associated Press 

A Russian missile blasted a crater close to a nuclear power plant in southern Ukraine on Monday, damaging nearby industrial equipment but not hitting its three reactors. Ukrainian authorities denounced the move as an act of “nuclear terrorism.”

 

Zelenskyy says world must ‘choose sides’ as he beams in to revived Clinton event

Nahal Toosi and Ryan Heath, Politico

The Ukrainian leader’s interview with the former U.S. president underscored the continued draw of the Clinton brand.

 

German gas storage 90% full ahead of winter despite Russian cuts

Deutsche Welle 

German Economy Minister Robert Habeck said Germany has a chance of getting through the winter “comfortably” despite the lack of Russian gas. Germany is on track to meet a 95% storage capacity target by November.

 

US private equity firm in talks to buy Russian-owned refinery in Italy

Silvia Sciorilli Borrelli, Financial Times 

Crossbridge Energy Partners emerges as frontrunner to acquire Lukoil facility.

 

Macron says UK and France must ‘move on’ from Truss remarks

Pippa Crerar, The Guardian 

Two leaders appear to smooth over tensions in first bilateral talks in New York but avoid awkward topics.

 

UK to cut business energy prices by more than half

David Sheppard, Financial Times 

Government seeks to stop wave of corporate collapses this winter.

 
Latin America
 

Colombia’s battle against Amazon deforestation: ‘The jungle is disappearing’

Joe Parkin Daniels and Gideon Long, Financial Times 

Leftwing government launches crackdown on illegal clearances to tackle destruction of rainforest.

 

Fiona threatens to become Category 4 storm headed to Bermuda

Dánica Coto, The Associated Press 

Hurricane Fiona threatened to strengthen into a Category 4 storm Wednesday as it lashed the Turks and Caicos Islands and was forecast to squeeze past Bermuda later this week.

 
Middle East and Africa
 

Eritrea accused of starting offensive on Ethiopia’s Tigray

Rodney Muhumuza, The Associated Press 

Eritrea on Tuesday launched a full-scale offensive along the country’s border with northern Ethiopia in what appeared to be an escalation of last month’s renewal of fighting against Tigray forces. Tigrayan authorities in turn told their people to get ready for war.

 

Iran’s Raisi meets European leaders at UN amid nuclear deadlock

Maziar Motamedi, Al Jazeera 

Macron reportedly offers new proposals to Raisi, but a breakthrough still appears unlikely as US midterm elections loom.

 

Kurds fear ‘everything will change’ if Syria, Turkey reconcile

Orhan Qereman, Reuters 

A decade into their experiment in self-rule, Syria’s Kurds fear an apparent rapprochement between Damascus and their foe the Turkish government could cost them their hard-won way of life.

 

Internet may be disrupted in Iran for ‘security reasons’

Reuters 

Access to internet in Iran may be disrupted due to “security reasons”, the minister of communications was quoted as saying on Wednesday by the semi-official ISNA news agency, amid widespread protests following the death of a young woman in police custody.

 
North America
 

Russia’s Ukraine invasion violates U.N.’s 1945 charter, Biden to say

Trevor Hunnicutt and Steve Holland, Reuters 

U.S. President Joe Biden will try to rally the world against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly on Wednesday, saying Moscow’s war against its neighbor violates the tenets of the U.N. charter that established the post-World War Two body.

 

If not now, when can Canadians expect an election?

Maura Forrest, Politico 

The current Parliament could last until 2025, but insiders and observers say it likely won’t.

 
Opinions and Perspectives
 

America’s Education Crisis Is a National Security Threat 

Nicholas Eberstadt and Evan Abramsky, Foreign Affairs

How a Smarter World Is Changing the Balance of Power

 
Morning Consult