Newsletter

The Evening: Senate Approves Ukraine Aid, NATO Alliance, Deal, and More

May 19, 2022

Senate Approves $40 Billion in New Aid for Ukraine

The Senate today approved a $40 billion emergency military and humanitarian aid package for Ukraine. The package will bring the total American investment in the war to roughly $54 billion in just over two months and allow for the speedy transfer of weapons, equipment and defense supplies to Ukraine, as the NYT reports.

Biden Voices Complete Support for Finland and Sweden’s NATO Bid

President Biden said Thursday that Finland and Sweden have the “full, total, complete backing of the United States” as they apply to join NATO, as the Washington Post reports.

China Insists Party Elites Shed Overseas Assets

China’s Communist Party will block promotions for senior cadres whose spouses or children hold significant assets abroad as Beijing seeks to insulate its top officials from the types of sanctions now being directed at Russia, as the WSJ reports.

Executive Education

Taiwan in the Balance is an opportunity to gain a comprehensive framework for understanding the dynamics at play in one of the world’s most dangerous flashpoints. With this one-day course, go beyond the headlines to explore the latest trends and developments impacting cross-Strait relations and heightened tensions in the region.

Video Shorts

Check out CSIS's YouTube Channel for the latest releases in our “Crisis Crossroads: Ukraine” video series.

In That Number

8,000

The UN’s human rights office has confirmed more than 8,000 civilian casualties in Ukraine since Russia launched its invasion in February, but warned that the actual number was likely to be considerably higher.

Source: Financial Times

Critical Quote

“The Finnish armed forces are one of the strongest in Europe. Russia’s war in Ukraine has changed our security environment.”

— President Sauli Niinisto, Finland

iDeas Lab

New satellite imagery analysis from CSIS provides a unique and current view of the Punggye-ri Nuclear Test Facility. Changes in the lumber piles, renovation of existing buildings, and construction of new buildings in the main administration and support area indicate a continued expansion of the support infrastructure for the test facility.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

(Photo credit: Drew Angerer/Getty Images.)

Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV) shakes hands with Prime Minister of Sweden Magdalena Andersson as Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), President of Finland Sauli Niinisto, and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) stand for a photo opportunity before a closed-door meeting at the U.S. Capitol May 19, 2022 in Washington, DC.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:30 a.m., join the CSIS Human Rights Initiative for a discussion on state compliance with international human rights and humanitarian law.

And, at 2:00 p.m., the CSIS Energy Security & Climate Change Program hosts a conversation about the outcomes from the UK-U.S. Strategic Energy Dialogue, including actions to enhance energy security, efforts to address the current global energy crisis, and more.

Earlier, at 9:00 a.m., CRDF Global holds a panel discussion on Ukraine’s cyber preparedness and response, as well as lessons that may apply to the Western Balkans.

Video

Earlier today, the CSIS Renewing American Innovation Project hosted a discussion of Pfizer Chairman and CEO Albert Bourla’s new book Moonshot: Inside Pfizer's Nine-Month Race to Make the Impossible Possible. Watch the event here.

Podcasts

In this episode of Truth of the Matter, Dr. Victor Cha and Dr. Steve Morrison join the podcast to discuss the Covid-19 outbreak in North Korea and its global health and geopolitical implications.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Another Grateful Dead classic reinterpreted —this time it’s a cover of “Deal” by guitar virtuoso Eric Krasno and his excellent band at the Relix studios.