The Latest on the War In Ukraine - Day 64

Putin’s threat of “retaliatory strikes” against countries interfering with Russia’s invasion is raising fears of a wider conflict.

• In a speech before lawmakers in Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin warned of “lightning-fast” retaliation on countries intervening to undermine the Kremlin and its war on Ukraine.
• The comments came after US and UK leaders said that weapons deliveries to Ukraine were aimed at weakening Russia’s military capability and undermining its ability to repeat an attack.
• Analysts say the risk of a wider conflict is high, particularly if Russia chooses to directly attack NATO supply lines. Some fear the fighting may spill over into Moldova—which neighbors Ukraine.
• EU leaders referred to Putin’s move to suspend gas supplies to Poland and Bulgaria as “blackmail” intended to force European countries to reduce arms shipments to Ukraine.
• The gas flow cut has sent European leaders scrambling at an even more frenetic pace to find alternative sources of energy and to slash their long-time dependence on Russian gas.
• Russian forces slowly advanced into villages in the eastern Ukraine region of Donbas, marking a tactical shift to take and hold territory rather than attempting rapid movements into Ukraine.