Welcome to the Monday edition of the Pick Six newsletter!
Someone must have just told the NFL that it’s the last day of February, because it feels like the league tried to cram as much news as possible in today before the calendar flips to March. For one, the league revealed the five teams that will be hosting international games this year.
For 2022, not only will we have three London games and one game in Mexico City, but there will also be a game in Germany for the first time ever and the Buccaneers will be the home team. If the game is scheduled to be played during Oktoberfest, there is a 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} chance I will be volunteering to cover it, and if I get sent, there’s also a 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} chance I will be volunteering to taste every beer at Oktoberfest.
Besides the international news, Kyler Murray also made some headlines on Monday by demanding a contract from the Cardinals even though he has two years left on his current contract. I feel like that situation is going to get a little awkward.
We’ll be covering Murray and the international stuff today, so let’s get to the rundown.
As always, here’s your weekly reminder to tell all your friends to sign up for the newsletter. All you have to do is click here and then share the link. Alright, let’s get to the rundown.
1. Today’s show: Monday Mailbag!
During the NFL offseason, we like to spice things up each week on the Pick Six Podcast by adding a listener mailbag every Monday.
Our mailbag episodes are pretty simple: We read listener questions during the show and then answer as many of those questions as possible. Questions can be about literally anything. I mean, I’m pretty sure there was one time where we spent 10 minutes debating the best national restaurant chain and all I’m going to say about that is that I live roughly two miles away from a Chilis and I eat there way more than I probably should.
Anyway, if you want to submit a question, all you have to do is go to Apple Podcasts (click here) and leave a five-star review that includes your question.
Here’s one question that we answered in today’s mailbag:
Q: Does defense still win championships? The past two Super Bowls seem to support that, but Kansas City’s Super Bowl win was fueled by an offensive resurgence in the fourth quarter. Should teams thus invest more in defenses?
A: If I were an NFL general manager — which will probably be my next career move after I retire from newsletter writing — I’d try to build a team that isn’t overly dependent on either side of the ball. If you build a team that relies completely on its offense and that offense disappears for one game in the playoffs, then you’re likely going to lose (The Chiefs’ offense in the second half of the AFC title game is exhibit A of that). If you build a team that’s completely reliant on its defense and that defense implodes in a game, you’re likely going to lose. The best example of this from 2021 is the Buffalo Bills. They had the best defense in the league by nearly every metric, but then that defense got torched by the Chiefs in the divisional round and Buffalo got sent home packing from the playoffs.
One stat that has been a good indicator of playoff performance is point differential. In eight of the past nine years, the team that has won the Super Bowl has ranked in the top six in point differential in the regular season. To have a high point differential, you usually need an offense that can score and a defense that’s not getting lit up every week. I think what I’m trying to say is that defense can help you win championships, but it’s unlikely you’re going to win one with a team built completely around the defense (like the 1985 Bears), so going that route would be risky in this day and age where nearly every rule favors the offense.
When I inevitably get that general managing job, I’ll probably invest 58{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of my salary cap on offense and 42{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} on defense. Obviously, that leaves zero percent for special teams, so that’s something I’ll clearly have to figure out between now and when I get hired.
2. NFL reveals home teams for 2022 international games
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The NFL will be playing a total of five international games in 2022 and we already know the home teams in each of those games because the league revealed them on Monday. The five international games will be tied for the most that the NFL has ever played in a single season.
Here’s a look at the five teams that will be headed abroad:
Buccaneers headed to Munich. The NFL’s first regular-season game ever in Germany will feature the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. This will be Tampa Bay’s fourth trip to Europe with the three prior games all being played in London.
Cardinals headed to Mexico City. Back in 2005, the Cardinals became the first NFL team to play a regular-season game outside the United States when they hosted a game in Mexico City, and now, they’ll be making their return 17 years later. The Cardinals have been the NFL’s unofficial international guinea pigs over the course of their existence. Not only did they play in the first regular-season game outside of the U.S., but they also played in the first preseason game outside North America in 1976 (Japan) and the first preseason game ever in Europe in 1983 (London).
Packers headed to London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium). The NFL has been sending teams to London for 14 years and over that time, 31 of the league’s 32 teams had made the trip abroad. The only team that still hasn’t played in London is the Packers, but that drought will finally be coming to an end.
Saints headed to London (Tottenham Hotspur Stadium). For the third time in franchise history, the Saints are headed to England. The Saints have a 2-0 all-time record in London with a win over the Chargers in 2008 and a victory over the Dolphins in 2017. If they moved all their games to London, they’d probably never lose again. I think that’s how that works.
Jaguars headed to London (Wembley Stadium). No surprise here. The Jaguars are the closest thing the NFL has to a team being based in London. The Jags have gone to London in every season since 2013 and that streak will continue this year.
We won’t know who each of these teams will be playing until the schedule comes out in the spring. One other notable aspect of the international games this year is that 2022 marks the beginning of a rotation that will see every NFL team play at least one international game every eight years.
3. Kyler Murray wants a new contract
If someone you’re in a relationship with deletes you from one of their social media accounts, that’s usually a sign that maybe things aren’t going so well and that appears to be the case with Kyler Murray and the Cardinals. Less than three weeks ago, Murray deleted every Cardinals-related picture from his Instagram account and it appears we now know why: He wants a new contract.
Murray’s agent, Erik Burkhardt, released a lengthy statement on Monday and I read the entire thing so that you don’t have to.
Here are the details on the statement:
Murray wants to stay in Arizona with a catch. “He absolutely wants to be your long-term quarterback. He desperately wants to win the Super Bowl,” the statement notes. However, the statement also notes that for the Cards to win a Super Bowl, it will take “incredible commitment” from the organization implying that maybe the team hasn’t shown that incredible commitment just yet.
Burkhardt has already sent a contract proposal to the Cardinals. Murray’s agent noted in the statement that the QB wants a contract that, “Provides financial protection, is in-line with the current QB market that compares his results alongside relevant comps, lowers his 2022-23 salary camp number to allow the Cardinals to re-sign other deserving teammates and add additional free agents.”
Burkhardt basically called out the Cardinals to get a deal done. “Actions speak much louder than words in this volatile business. It is now simply up to the Cardinals to decide if they prioritize their rapidly improving, 24-year-old, already 2x Pro Bowl QB, who led the organization from 3 wins before his arrival to 11 wins and their first playoff appearance in 5 years, or rather, if they choose to financially prioritize committing to other areas and continuing to merely talk about addressing Kyler’s long-term future as their QB.”
The Cardinals apparently haven’t responded to the proposal. According to Kyle Odegard, who used to write for the team’s official website, Murray’s camp sent in the contract proposal more than a week-and-a-half ago, but the Cards still haven’t responded.
Murray is eligible for a new contract for the first time in his career. Under rules of the collective bargaining agreement, a first-round pick isn’t eligible for a contract extension until after playing three seasons, so this year marks the first time that Murray is eligible for an extension. That being said, teams don’t generally rush to make a deal with a QB who’s only been in the league for three years. No QB has ever gotten a deal before May 15 following his third season in the league. Patrick Mahomes, Deshaun Watson, Josh Allen, Carson Wentz and Jared Goff all got extended after their third year, but those extensions didn’t happen until June or later.
The Lamar Jackson factor. The Ravens QB has been much more successful in his NFL career, but he still hasn’t gotten an extension done with the Ravens. Murray might be rushing to get a deal done BEFORE Jackson because he knows that asking for more money than the Ravens QB would look borderline ridiculous considering that Jackson has an MVP and a playoff win under his belt, two things that Murray doesn’t have.
Murray has put the Cardinals in an impossible spot and it will be interesting to see if they respond by giving him an extension right away or if they milk this thing out until later in the offseason.
4. AFC North team needs: Bengals need to fix their two biggest weaknesses
Over the course of this week, we’ll be covering the offseason needs for each team by going through each division and today we’re going to be going over the AFC North.
With that in mind, Bryan DeArdo went through every team in the division and made a list of their biggest needs to fill this offseason.
BENGALS Top-five needs (in no particular order): CB, C, OG, OT, LB DeArdo’s take: Anyone who watched the Super Bowl saw the Bengals’ two biggest weaknesses. Expect the Bengals to address their offensive line in both free agency as well as during the NFL Draft. Speaking of the draft, our four CBS Sports NFL Draft experts have Cincinnati selecting either a lineman or a cornerback with the 31st overall pick.
BROWNS Top-five needs: WR, DT, LB, C, EDGE DeArdo’s take:With Jarvis Landry’sfuture uncertain, the Browns need to be proactive as it relates to adding to their receiving corps. Receivers who are slated to hit the market include Allen Robinson, Chris Godwin, Will Fuller, Jamison Crowder, T.Y. Hilton, JuJu Smith-Schuster, DJ Chark, Michael Gallup, Demarcus Robinson, and Richie James. Don’t be surprised if the Browns spent the 13th overall pick on a receiver.
RAVENS Top-five needs: OT, LB, EDGE, DT DeArdo’s take: Baltimore’s inability to protect their quarterback and apply pressure on others were two of their biggest issues in 2021. The Ravens’ O-line, which played all but one game without Ronnie Stanley, finished 21st in Pro Football Focus’ end-of-season ranking. The Ravens also may be preparing for an overhaul on their defensive line, as Brandon Williams and Calais Campbell are entering free agency. Baltimore will surely be in the market for a pass-rush specialist when free agency begins.
STEELERS Top-five needs: QB, OT, OG, CB, DT DeArdo’s take:Regardless of whom the Steelers’ quarterback is, they need to apply him with a strong offensive line and a formidable receiving corps. DJ Chark would be a nice complement to Diontae Johnson and Chase Claypool. Pittsburgh will likely draft a receiver as well as multiple offensive linemen. The Steelers will likely also use free agency to add to their offensive line.
If you want to see the full explanation for each team’s needs, then be sure to click here.
5. Dolphins wanted Sean Payton (as coach) and Tom Brady (as a minority owner) in 2022
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The Miami Dolphins had a grand plan for 2022 that involved bringing both Sean Payton and Tom Brady to South Beach, but like most things involving the Dolphins, none of it ended up working out.
Here’s what we know about the dream team that owner Stephen Ross was trying to build:
Dolphins wanted to hire Payton. According to Pro Football Talk, after firing Flores in late January, Miami decided to call up the Saints to try to work out a deal for Sean Payton. The Dolphins made the call after Payton resigned, but before the Brian Flores lawsuit. The Dolphins never got to talk to Payton, though, because the Saints turned down Miami’s request to work out a trade. Although he’s out of football right now, Payton is currently under contract with the Saints, so if he does eventually want to return to the NFL with a different team, that new team will have to make a trade with New Orleans.
Dolphins also wanted to bring in Tom Brady. The Dolphins were hoping to land Brady not as their QB of the future, but as a key minority owner. However, the team has put the idea of adding Brady on hold because there’s a chance he could return to the NFL. Once it becomes clear that he’s going to stay retired, the Dolphins will likely once again put on the full-court press and try to get him to sign on as a minority owner.
Brady is still under contract with the Buccaneers, so any team that wants him to play quarterback would have to work out a deal with Tampa Bay. However, if a team wants him to join their ownership group, they wouldn’t have to work anything out with the Bucs.
6. Rapid-fire roundup: Buccaneers hit with surprise retirement
It’s been a busy 24 hours in the NFL, and since it’s nearly impossible to keep track of everything that happened, I went ahead and put together a roundup for you.
Buccaneers hit with surprise retirement. The Buccaneers were hit with a shocking retirement on Sunday when starting guard Ali Marpet decided to call it quits at the age of 28. Marpet was a key part of Tampa Bay’s offensive line and had been with the Buccaneers since 2015 when they took a huge risk by making him a second-round pick out of a D-III school (Hobart). The Buccaneers could be in for a total offensive rebuild this year. Not only are they losing Marpet and Brady, but they could also lose center Ryan Jensen and right guard Alex Cappa, who will both be free agents.
Changes could be coming to NFL overtime.The Colts have submitted a proposal that would call for a change to the NFL’s overtime rules. Under Indy’s proposal, each team would get a possession in OT. This proposal will likely be voted on at the league meetings, which run March 27-30 in Florida. To become a rule, a proposal needs at least 24 of the league’s 32 owners to vote for it.
Sean McVay passes up $100 million TV offer to keep Rams job. Sean McVay turned down some serious money to return to the Rams. According to the New York Post, Amazon was set to offer McVay a contract worth up to $100 million over five years. McVay confirmed on Friday that he would definitely be returning to the Rams for the 2022 season. He’s also in line to get a huge raise with the Rams expected to give him an extension “soon,” according to ESPN.com.
Amazon now eyeing Kirk Herbstreit. With Amazon getting “Thursday Night Football” for the 2022 season, the internet giant has been busy looking for a color analyst. After getting turned down by Troy Aikman and Sean McVay, it appears Amazon is now going after ESPN’s Kirk Herbstreit. According to the New York Post, there’s a chance Herbstreit could end up doing NFL games for Amazon while still fulfilling his normal college obligations for ESPN.
Bengals starter played in Super Bowl with torn labrum. Cincinnati linebacker Logan Wilson had surgery on a torn labrum last week. The shoulder injury actually caused him to miss three games this season, but he then returned in Week 17 for the Bengals’ huge win over the Chiefs. Wilson played a total of five games with the injury, including all four postseason games.
Matt Corral won’t throw at the combine. One of the top quarterbacks in this year’s class has decided that he won’t be throwing at the combine this week. According to NFL.com, Corral made that decision because he’s still recovering from a sprained ankle that he suffered in the Sugar Bowl.
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Eric Kussin, founder of #SameHere, speaks to the Fredonia College Board at their past assembly.

Earlier this 12 months, Fredonia High University Principal Darrin Paschke pointed out seeking to get packages in the college to assist learners out in regard to their psychological health. Immediately after a recent in-assistance day at the university, just one these kinds of basis may possibly see its way into the Fredonia school district in the long run.
Spearheaded by Fredonia’s Chief Officer for Curriculum and Human Means Margie Wright, reps from the #SameHere Movement spoke to college and staff at the university, sharing who they are and what they’re about. Wright stated representatives from #SameHere, including founder Eric Kussin, held roundtables with the workers all as a result of the in-services working day, and the require for this arrives from basic college wellness.
“It came about with the concept of personnel mental wellness, student mental wellness, and having the stigmas out of factors,” she reported. “As directors, oftentimes there’s that wanting toward us to assistance and we know we want to, require to, but we’re not geared up to either.”
Kussin and #SameHere Director of Universities David Hymowitz, equally of whom were being at Fredonia university, each and every have unique backgrounds as to how they obtained there. Hymowitz is a accredited social worker, providing him a classic route to a foundation like this, but Kussin’s route was different. He under no circumstances envisioned himself performing in the psychological well being field, and he acknowledges he is not a psychological wellness expert, but his concept and initiative are still capable of encouraging men and women.
“My mind and my overall body strike a brick wall,” mentioned Kussin. “I successfully stopped currently being a individual for two and a 50 percent years. … I in the long run ended up mastering about encounters I experienced as a child… and how the accumulation of what I went by way of about that time built up inside of me… So I was fortuitous sufficient to learn healing modalities.”
From there, using his track record working for skilled sporting activities groups, Kussin designed connections to develop #SameHere, with individuals ready to share stories and talking about what took place to folks, not where by they’re heading.
“Often when we converse about mental overall health and see companies appear into educational institutions, workplaces, and athletics teams to talk about this topic, we lead with terms like melancholy, stress, and psychological ailment,” reported Kussin. “What that does is turns off 80{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the place. That {cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of the home suggests they are not in that class. Our message at #SameHere is these items happen to not one in five of us, but 5 in five of us who go as a result of difficult everyday living occasions.”
Kussin praised Wright and Fredonia for bringing #SameHere in to satisfy with the instructors 1st, since of how educational facilities have dealt with mental health and fitness in the earlier. Instead of supplying shows on certain matters, offering a qualifications of how existence impacts folks and where by that qualified prospects, the group staying spoken to is fewer sectioned off. Kussin stated he’s seeking ahead to coming back again to Fredonia in the foreseeable future.
“I got a chance to get the job done with the instructors now,” said Kussin. “I’m hunting ahead to coming again and working with college students, operating with mothers and fathers, and applying technologies we have to connect everyone else by means of applications. … Making a group that is linked by means of a information aspect of issues.”
Fredonia Superintendent Dr. Bradley Zilliox explained the faculty weighed Kussin’s presentation and basis through a pair distinctive perspectives, including exactly where the directors are in this and how they can help themselves, and how they’ll be equipped to proficiently enable students by way of problems they come upon.
“I like the word system,” Zilliox explained. “This is the platform we’re likely to work from on the two levels. … We glance forward to functioning jointly and we just can’t wait to have you in entrance of our learners.”
School board President Brian Aldrich likened psychological overall health instruction to the instruction of all other topics the school teaches, declaring it’s just as vital to educate college students in this classification. “We train literature, we educate looking through, we train mathematics and social sciences,” mentioned Aldrich. “And but, this is sort of a core factor that’s really advantageous.”
For far more info about #SameHere and specifically their college software, take a look at https://samehereglobal.org/samehere-universities/.
— Recommendations are independently chosen by Reviewed’s editors. Purchases you make through our links may earn us a commission.
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So far, officials in Ohio, Utah and New Hampshire have known as on liquor suppliers to get rid of Russian-built or Russian-branded items from cabinets, a move that largely targets vodka considering that it is most carefully involved with the place.
Utah Governor Spencer Cox asked for on Saturday that condition-run liquor outlets “eliminate all Russian-generated and Russian-branded items,” explaining that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is an “egregious violation of human legal rights.”
New Hampshire’s Gov. Chris Sununu created a very similar announcement, also inquiring for the elimination of “Russian-built and Russian-branded spirits.”
These moves are largely symbolic — and may even miss out on their supposed goal — as quite handful of models imported to the United States however develop the liquor in Russia.
Several of the major-marketing vodka brand names that trace their origins to Russia are now distilled in many nations around the world — which includes the United States.
For instance, some bar owners are protesting the invasion by dumping out Stoli Vodka. Trouble is, it is really only Russian by title, which is loosely translated as “money metropolis” owing to its origins in Moscow. The vodka is really made in Latvia, and the company’s headquarters is in Luxembourg — a member of NATO which has spoken towards the Russian invasion.
In a assertion to CNN Enterprise, Stoli Team mentioned it “unequivocally condemns the military action in Ukraine and stands prepared to aid the Ukrainian people today, our teams and partners.”
“For decades, Stoli Group has supported the marginalized and those people at possibility of unwarranted aggression. We stand now with all Ukrainians and Russians calling for peace,” a company spokesperson explained.
Smirnoff is one more brand staying perplexed as staying Russian. Despite the fact that it traces its heritage to 19th century Russia, the firm has very long been owned by British spirits big Diageo(DEO) and is produced in Illinois.
Ohio Governor Mike DeWine was far more targeted with his announcement. On Saturday, he requested the state’s just about 500 liquor retailers to “stop both the order and sale of all vodka made by Russian Standard, the only overseas, Russian-owned distillery with vodka marketed in Ohio.”
Russian Standard, along with lesser-known vodka Green Mark, are one particular of the couple alcoholic beverages models imported from Russia and offered in the United States. It is mother or father business, Roust Intercontinental, is owned by Roustam Tariko, a Russian oligarch who also owns Russian Conventional Bank. The alcoholic beverages enterprise did not immediately respond to CNN Business’ ask for for comment.
These boycotts are mostly symbolic for the reason that Russian-created vodka accounts for a pretty compact share of the roughly $7 billion in yearly vodka gross sales, according to the Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS), a national trade corporation that represents spirits makers.
Significantly less than 1{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of vodka consumed in the United States is created in Russia. In simple fact, a lot more than 50 percent of all vodka consumed domestically is essentially created in this article, in accordance to information from IWSR Drinks Market place Analysis, a world wide organization that tracks liquor revenue.
Vodka imported from Russia has been on the drop for a number of many years, and is down 79{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} due to the fact 2011, DISCUS claimed.
“We absolutely see SG&A (promoting, standard and administrative) synergies throughout the two firms so that the blended business will be scaled-down than the two as they are currently — but how, which mix thereof, it is way too early,” Davis said. “We haven’t even thoroughly established out on that get the job done yet.”
Meritor declined to make executives offered to interview.
“Whilst this transaction will offer enhanced possibilities for most workforce, Cummins expects there will be some synergies and will communicate this openly and transparently with related workers and stakeholders when that time arises,” Meritor CEO Chris Villavarayan said in a letter to staff members obtained by Crain’s.
Meritor has “not talked over or built any choices on Troy headquarters,” in accordance to a document it filed with the Securities and Trade Fee right after Tuesday’s announcement. The acquisition “will not have an impact on the extensive majority of personnel” but there will be “some overlapping capabilities and positions.”
Davis explained it has not been determined what will come about to Meritor executives.
The provider has roots tracing back in excess of a century, but its automotive headquarters in Troy was proven in 1975. The company became Meritor in 1997 when Rockwell International spun off its car business.
In 2000, it turned ArvinMeritor after a merger with Arvin Industries, only to revert to the Meritor moniker after divesting its mild vehicle business enterprise in 2011.
The provider has regained energy since currently being crippled by the Excellent Recession, although the COVID-19 pandemic also dealt money blows. The business also seems to be recovering from the latest volatility in truck output, posting $113 million in modified earnings in the 1st quarter of fiscal yr 2022 on profits of $984 million, an 11 per cent 12 months-over-calendar year increase on both equally counts.
Meritor shares shot up 45 percent after the acquisition announcement to $35.72 as marketplaces shut Thursday.
“I will not want to say simply predicted, but you are seeing actually good companies coming together out of necessity for capital to invest in new technological know-how,” stated Steven Wybo, senior restructuring and management expert at Birmingham-based Riveron. “A single moreover 1 equals 3 when you set excellent corporations jointly.”
A product of several M&A and expenditure specials, Cummins’ developing electrification footprint is spread about North The usa. Davis explained she acknowledges the rewards of likely establishing Cummins’ electrical company base in metro Detroit.
“I am extremely open to looking at Troy just for the reason that of the sheer amount of motor vehicle innovation that comes about there, and the expertise out there,” she reported.
As Russia’s assault on Ukraine reached into its second largest city, and Russian President Vladimir Putin said he was putting nuclear forces on high alert, the EU announced unprecedented new actions against Moscow.
Putin’s order to make his nuclear weapons more ready for launch – made Sunday in response to “aggressive statements” by leading NATO powers and economic sanctions by the West – represent an unnecessary and dangerous move, according to the Pentagon.
A senior Defense Department official said Russia is under no threat from the United States and its NATO allies. The Pentagon is confident it can protect the United States and its allies, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
President Joe Biden, who has spent the weekend in Wilmington, Delaware, has spoken with his national security team regularly Sunday to receive updates on Russia and Ukraine, according to the White House.
The 193-member U.N. General Assembly scheduled an emergency session Monday on Russia’s invasion.
Also Monday, neutral Switzerland will consider joining other Western nations in sanctioning Russia. Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said Sunday it was “very probable” the Swiss would follow the EU’s lead and sanction Russia and freeze Russian assets in the country, Reuters reported.
Meanwhile, the European Union plans to close its airspace to Russian airlines, fund a weapons purchase to assist Ukraine and ban some pro-Kremlin media outlets in its latest response to Russia’s invasion, European Commission officials said Sunday. It marks the first time the block would finance military equipment for a country under attack.
On top of the military funding from the EU, the U.S. approved delivery of anti-aircraft Stinger missiles to Ukraine, according to the Associated Press.
The move to shut down Russian flights to Europe prompted a call from the U.S. Embassy in Moscow, urging all Americans in Russia to consider leaving “immediately,” ahead of the impending drop off in flights.
Earlier Sunday, the office of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said a delegation would meet with Russian officials for talks, near the Belarus border.
Also Sunday, Russian troops entered Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, and fighting is underway in the streets, according to the Associated Press. Videos posted on Ukrainian media and social networks showed Russian vehicles moving across Kharkiv and a light vehicle burning on the street. Residents were urged to stay inside.
The U.S. for the first time has approved the direct delivery of Stinger missiles to Ukraine as part of a package approved by the White House on Friday, the Associated Press reported.
The exact timing of delivery is not known, but officials say the U.S. is currently working on the logistics of the shipment. The officials agreed to discuss the development only if not quoted by name.
The decision comes on the heels of Germany’s announcement that it will send 500 Stinger missiles and other weapons and supplies to Ukraine.
The high-speed Stingers are very accurate and are used to shoot down helicopters and other aircraft. Ukrainian officials have been asking for more of the powerful weapons.
Estonia has also been providing Ukraine with Stingers since January, and had to get U.S. permission in order to do that.
After days of fence-sitting, Swiss President Ignazio Cassis said on Sunday it was “very probable” that neutral Switzerland would follow the European Union’s lead and sanction Russia and freeze Russian assets in the country.
Reuters reported that Cassis, who was interviewed on French-language Swiss public television, said the nation’s seven-member Federal Council would meet Monday and review recommendations by finance and economy officials.
“It is very probable that the government will decide to do so tomorrow, but I cannot anticipate decisions not yet taken,” Cassis said, via Reuters.
Switzerland, a global financial hub and commodities trading center – has so far resisted calls for it to levy sanctions and possibly freeze Russian assets, especially after the EU and U.S. announced sanctions.
“The civilized, democratic world has to stand up to the biggest threat to European security and stability since the Second World War,” Peter Stano, lead spokesperson for EU external affairs, said on Friday. “It affects not only Ukraine. It affects Europe. Switzerland is part of Europe. So we expect our partner, our neighbor, our ally to follow suit in standing up for defending the principles on which our communities and countries are based.”
The oft-neutral country’s move came as a surprise to some.
“Switzerland to sanction Russia! Holy crap. A country that was neutral against the literal Nazis. Neutral no more!” tweeted Paul Massaro, a counter-corruption advisor to the U.S. Congress.
It was not known immediately how many wealthy Russian elites, especially oligarchs close to Putin, have stashed money in Swiss banks, known for their strong privacy firewalls. But various leaks of banking documents over the years suggest they have a sizable amount invested in Switzerland.
In 2018, Swiss banks reportedly frozen $1 billion in the accounts of one oligarch alone – Russian metals tycoon Viktor Vekselberg – over fears that they could be fined for doing business with him after Washington levied sanctions against the businessman, the Moscow Times reported at the time.
The U.S. Embassy in Moscow said Sunday that American citizens “should consider departing Russia immediately” because of the dramatic drop-off in airline service in and out of the country.
“An increasing number of airlines are cancelling flights into and out of Russia, and numerous countries have closed their airspace to Russian airlines,” a security alert posted to the embassy’s website states. “U.S. citizens should consider departing Russia immediately via commercial options still available.”
The guidance comes after the EU’s move to close its airspace to Russian airlines. Russian airline Aeroflot says it cancelled all flights to Europe.
The State Department had already advised Americans not to travel to Russia because of its aggression against Ukraine, as well as the potential harassment of U.S. citizens in the country and the COVID-19 pandemic.
The U.N. Security Council has voted for the 193-member General Assembly to hold an emergency session on Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Monday.
The vote on Sunday to authorize an emergency meeting was 11 in favor, Russia opposed, and China, India and the United Arab Emirates abstaining. That was the exact same vote on a resolution Friday demanding that Moscow immediately stop its attack on Ukraine and withdraw all troops. But in that case, Russia used its veto and the resolution was defeated.
Ukrainian U.N. Ambassador Sergiy Kyslytsya asked for the General Assembly meeting to be held under the so-called “Uniting for Peace” resolution, initiated by the U.S. and adopted in November 1950 to circumvent vetoes by the Soviet Union during the Korean War.
That resolution gives the General Assembly the power to call emergency meetings when the Security Council is unable to act because of the lack of unanimity among its five veto-wielding permanent members – the U.S., Russia, China, Britain and France.
The United Nations had announced the civilian death toll had reached 240 by Saturday, but stressed that the actual figure was potentially “considerably higher.”
Officials with the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine issued a new advisory Sunday, telling Americans to choose departure routes very carefully if they are trying to flee.
“Ukraine’s roads are in many cases crowded, exposed to combat operations, and infrastructure such as bridges in some locations has been destroyed,” the embassy said in a notice. “Sheltering in place may remain the best option for some.”
Most border crossings into Poland and all main crossing points into Moldova “are severely backed up,” with extremely long wait times – in some cases, more than 30 hours, the embassy said.
“We recommend that, if possible, U.S. citizens consider redirecting to border crossings with Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia, which are currently experiencing lower wait times to cross,” the note says. “Note that conditions at each border can change very quickly and wait times can increase at any time without warning.”
Shipping giants FedEx and UPS have suspended services to Russia amid the country’s military assault on Ukraine.
UPS said it had halted all international shipments to addresses in Russia as of Feb. 25. FedEx said it was “closely monitoring the situation” and had suspended inbound service to Russia “until further notice.”
Both companies had already stopped service to Ukraine, after Russian troops invaded the neighboring country. Russian troops have now advanced well into Ukrainian territory, reaching its second largest city and encircling the capital, Kyiv.
Former national security adviser H.R. McMaster said Sunday that Ukrainians are doing a “tremendous job” defending the country against Russian military attacks.
“I think Putin got a lot more than he bargained for. He’s in a very difficult position. And I think anything we can do, obviously, financially, going after his international criminal enterprise with sanctions and so forth is important. But the support for Ukraine’s ability to defend themselves is also important,” McMaster told Margaret Brennan on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
The retired lieutenant general also said the seizure of Ukraine’s capital Kiev is “not in the cards for the immediate future,” but acknowledged the next 72 hours are going to be “really critical.”
KYIV, Ukraine – As Russian troops draw closer to the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv’s mayor is both filled with pride over his citizens’ spirit and anxious about how long they can hold out.
In an interview with The Associated Press on Sunday, after a grueling night of Russian attacks on the outskirts of the city, Mayor Vitali Klitschko was silent for several seconds when asked if there were plans to evacuate civilians if Russian troops managed to take Kyiv.
“We can’t do that, because all ways are blocked,” he finally said. “Right now we are encircled.”
When Russian troops invaded Ukraine on Thursday, the city of 2.8 million people initially reacted with concern but also a measure of self-possession. However, nerves started fraying when grocery stores began closing and the city’s famously deep subway system turned its stations into bomb shelters.
The mayor confirmed to the AP that nine civilians in Kyiv had been killed so far, including one child.
A Klitschko-ordered curfew began about sundown on Saturday and is to extend until at least 8 a.m. Monday. His order pointedly stated that any unauthorized person outside could be considered a saboteur.
“We are hunting these people, and it will be much easier if nobody is on the street,” Klitschko explained, saying that six Russian “saboteurs” were killed Saturday night.
In the last few days, long queues of people — both men and women — were spotted waiting to pick up weapons throughout the capital, after authorities decided to distribute weapons freely to anybody ready to defend the city. There are concerns, however, about arming nervous civilians with little military experience amid warnings of Russian saboteurs disguised as Ukrainian police or journalists.
“To be honest, we don’t have 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} control,” said Klitschko. “We built this territorial defense in a short amount of time — but these are patriotic people.”
“Right now, the most important question is to defend our country,” he added.
The top official in the European Union said the bloc will take unprecedented new steps after Russian President Vladimir Putin raised tensions with talk of nuclear weapons.
“We are proposing a prohibition on all Russian-owned, Russian registered or Russian-controlled aircraft. These aircraft will no more be able to land in, take off or overfly the territory of the EU,” she said.
“For the first time ever, the European Union will finance the purchase and delivery of weapons and other equipment to a country that is under attack,” she added.
The EU will also ban pro-Kremlin media outlets Russia Today and Sputnik, she said.
The European Commission’s plans followed the announcement earlier in the day that Germany was committing 100 billion euros ($113 billion) to a special armed forces fund and would keep its defense spending above 2{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of GDP from now on. The shift underscored how Russia’s war on Ukraine was rewriting Europe’s post-World War II security and defense policy in ways that were unthinkable only a few weeks ago.
The EU’s plan to fund weapons purchases was unprecedented and would use millions of euros to help buy air defense systems, anti-tank weapons, ammunition and other military equipment to Ukraine’s armed forces. It would also supply things like fuel, protective gear, helmets and first aid kits.
Oil giant BP will walk away from its nearly 20{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} stake in Russian oil company Rosneft, according to media reports.
BP Chairman Helge Lund issued a statement announcing the exit, as well as the resignation of BP CEO Bernard Looney from the board of the Russian oil firm.
BP has been a shareholder in Rosneft since 2013, according to the BBC.
Sen. Mark Warner, chairman of the Senate Intelligence Committee, said Putin “totally underestimated” the resolve of the Ukrainians and the support building worldwide for the Ukrainian people, describing the Russian invasion so far as a major “miscalculation.”
“Remarkably what he’s also been able to do his unify the vast majority of us in the Senate, Democrats, Republicans alike,” Warner said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And he’s going to pay a high price.”
Warner said Putin over the past few years became “more and more isolated.”
“When you are an authoritarian leader, and you’re only hearing from people that want to say to the boss, hey, you’re right. I think that leads to miscalculation. I think that is what has happened in the case of this invasion in Ukraine.”
As she made the rounds of the Sunday talk shows, United Nations Ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield made clear that the U.S. response to the invasion of Ukraine will not include American troops or air personnel.
“The president has made clear that we’re not going to put boots on the ground,” Thomas-Greenfield said on CNN’s “State of the Union.”
Thomas-Greenfield said that mandate includes no patrols of any “no-fly zone” in the region.
The U.S. will provide whatever assistance it can to Ukraine, working with NATO partners, she said, but: “We’re not going to put American troops in danger. So that means we’re not going to put American troops in the air as well. But we will work with the Ukrainians to give them the ability to defend themselves.”
The main force of Russian assault aimed at Kyiv remained stalled Sunday about 18 miles from the city’s center, hindered by stiff Ukrainian resistance and Russia’s own problems providing fuel and supplies for its troops, according to a senior Defense Department official.
There are indications of some fighting inside Kyiv and that Russian troops in Ukrainian military uniforms have appeared there, said the official who briefed reporters on condition of anonymity to discuss intelligence matters.
The officials described Ukrainian resistance as stiff and creative around Kyiv and Kharkiv. Meantime, fuel shortages and logistics problems for Russian troops are most acute near Kharkiv.
The war is a major operation for Russia’s military, a complex mission that it does not have recent experience mounting, the official said. It’s unclear if the shortages in materials represent a failure in planning or execution. However, the official said Russian officers are expected to learn and adapt to its logistical problems.
Elsewhere in Ukraine, there are troubling indications that Russia is encircling the city of Chernihiv, northeast of Kyiv, and could be planning to besiege it, the official said. There are increasing rocket attacks there, imprecise weapons that can kill civilians and damage infrastructure.
Overall, Russian President Vladimir Putin has committed two-thirds of the combat forces he deployed against Ukraine is now inside the country, the official said.
Russia has launched more 320 ballistic missiles into Ukraine during the four-day war. There are some indications that several ballistic missiles have failed to launch.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the U.N., said Sunday the U.S. will continue to apply stiffer economic sanctions against Russia as Putin escalates fighting in Ukraine.
“We are continuing to assess what we can do moving forward,” Thomas-Greenfield said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” “And the Russians can be assured that we will continue to put more and more sanctions as they continue to press more on the Ukrainian government.”
U.S. and Western allies have cut some Russian banks out of the SWIFT financial system but stopped short of a complete removal.
“They will feel the pain,” she said, adding there are also actions the U.N. can take.
“We can isolate them. We can isolate them in the United Nations. We can isolate them in U.N. specialized agencies. They are feeling that isolation.”
NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg said if peace talks are to succeed, Russia must be willing to make “serious compromises” and “respect the sovereignty of Ukraine.”
Stoltenberg told CNN’s “State of the Union” that Putin’s decision to put his nuclear forces on high alert is not a good sign.
It “just adds to the very aggressive rhetoric” of Russia, the NATO leader said.
Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States accused Russia of committing war crimes in its attack on her country.
Ambassador Oksana Markarova said Sunday that Russian troops are using heavy missiles and heavy artillery to attack Ukraine’s infrastructure, as well as hospitals and kindergartens. Many children have been killed, and one entire family was shot in their car, she said.
“Nothing is off limits to them,” Markarova said on ABC’s “This Week.” “What we see is a full-fledged war, with war crimes on the ground.”’
Asked whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is safe, Markarova offered no information on his whereabouts but added, “He is as safe as our country.”
She spoke shortly after Zelenskyy’s office confirmed that a delegation will meet with Russian officials. Marakova said Ukraine is ready “for any peace talks that would stop the war and get them out from our country.” But the Ukrainians will not surrender, she said.
Sen. Tom Cotton on Sunday called on the Biden administration and American businesses to provide “no support whatsoever” to Russia amid its invasion of Ukraine.
“We can do more than prayers and hashtags and lining up building storage,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.” “It’s time for the president and some of our European partners to quit pussyfooting around.”
Cotton appealed to the Biden administration to increase its sanctions on Russian banks, arguing that while the administration says it has sanctioned 80{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of Russian banks, Russian President Vladimir Putin “controls 100{cfdf3f5372635aeb15fd3e2aecc7cb5d7150695e02bd72e0a44f1581164ad809} of banks.”
The Arkansas Republican also blamed Western nations for underestimating Putin’s ambition.
Despite a strong condemnation of Putin, Cotton stopped short of condemning former President Donald Trump, who has called Putin “smart” and his plan both “savvy” and “genius.” Cotton repeatedly said he does not speak for other politicians.
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said Russian President Vladimir Putin recent behavior is a departure from her past encounters with the “cold and calculating” leader.
“This is a different Putin,” Rice, who served under former President George W. Bush, said on “Fox News Sunday.” “He seems erratic… He has descended into something I have not seen before.”
While Rice said the prospect of peace talks was promising, she urged Ukraine to follow the advice of former President Ronald Reagan.
“Trust but verify,” she said. “It’s always a good thing if there is a chance (at peace),” she said.
Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decision to put nuclear deterrent forces on high alert is another example of the Russian leader “manufacturing threats” to justify aggression against Ukraine, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Sunday.
“We’ve seen him do this time and time again,” Psaki said on ABC’s “This Week.” “At no time has Russia been under threat from NATO.”
“This is all a pattern from President Putin,” Psaki said, “and we’re all going to stand up” to him.
Former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice said Russian President Vladimir Putin may have “bitten off more than he can chew” perhaps forcing early peace talks.
Rice, speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” said Putin likely believed that he could “waltz” into Ukraine.
Sen. Mitt Romney, R-Utah, cast Ukraine’s defense against the Russian invasion as a battle of “good and evil,” and called for more sanctions on the “evil regime” of Vladimir Putin.
Speaking on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Romney also said he hopes Putin will use potential peace talks with Ukraine as an opportunity to back off.
“He made a huge error,” Romney said of Putin. “This is not going well for him.”
Removing Russia from a global banking network as part of a new round of sanctions “will make a big difference” in isolating the Kremlin, said Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, expressed hope for prospective peace talks between Russia and Ukraine.
“We’ll look forward to what comes out of those discussions,” Thomas-Greenfield told CNN’s “State of the Union.” The ambassador spoke shortly after reports that Ukraine would send a delegation to a location near the Belarus border to talk with Russian negotiators.
U.N. ambassador says Russian leaders will be held accountable – including Putin
Thomas-Greenfield did not directly address the question of whether Putin should be tried as a war criminal – but also did not reject the idea.
“We’re holding the Russians accountable at every level,” she said on CNN.
The office of Ukraine’s president has confirmed that a delegation will meet with Russian officials as Moscow’s troops draw closer to Kyiv.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office said on the Telegram messaging app that the two sides would meet at an unspecified location on the Belarusian border and did not give a precise time for the meeting.
The announcement on Sunday came hours after Russia announced that its delegation had flown to Belarus to await talks. Ukrainian officials initially rejected the move, saying any talks should take place elsewhere than Belarus, where Russia has placed a large contingent of troops.
U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield said Sunday that Vladimir Putin’s decision to put nuclear deterrent forces on high alert indicates the Russian president is “continuing to escalate” the war in Ukraine in a way that is “unacceptable.”
Speaking on CBS’ “Face the Nation,” Thomas-Greenfield said the U.S. is using “every possible lever” to stop Russia’s invasion of its neighbor and that the U.N. Security Council will meet later Sunday.
“I’m not surprised at this information because Putin has tried every means possible to actually put fear in the world in terms of his actions. It just means that we need to ramp up up our actions at the U.N.”
When asked whether there’s a threat of chemical or biological weapons in Ukraine, Thomas-Greenfield responded: “Certainly nothing is off the table with this guy.”
Russia President Vladimir Putin ordered Russian nuclear forces Sunday to be on high alert, a dramatic escalation of tensions with the West that brought immediate condemnation from the U.S. as Russia continues its full-scale assault on Ukraine.
Putin, announcing the move on Russian state television, called it a response to “aggressive statements” and tough financial sections from NATO countries. The extraordinary step raises the threat of nuclear warfare entering the conflict in Ukraine, a scenario the White House has previously said it has not assessed.
Linda Thomas-Greenfield, the U.S. ambassador to the UN, condemned the action as “unacceptable” in an appearance on CBS’ “Face the Nation.”
Putin directed the Russian defense minister and the chief of the military’s General Staff to put the nuclear deterrent forces in a “special regime of combat duty” during a meeting with top officials.
“Western countries aren’t only taking unfriendly actions against our country in the economic sphere, but top officials from leading NATO members made aggressive statements regarding our country,” Putin said in televised comments.
At the onset of the conflict with Ukraine, Putin warned that any nation that would “hinder us” will face” such consequences that you have never encountered in your history,” although he did not elaborate what he meant.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
The capital, Kyiv, was eerily quiet after huge explosions lit up the morning sky and authorities reported blasts at one of the airports. Only an occasional car appeared on a deserted main boulevard as a strict 39-hour curfew kept people off the streets. Terrified residents instead hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale Russian assault.
“The past night was tough – more shelling, more bombing of residential areas and civilian infrastructure,” Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said. “There is not a single facility in the country that the occupiers wouldn’t consider as admissible targets.”
Videos posted on Ukrainian media and social networks showed Russian vehicles moving across Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city. The images showed Russian troops roaming the city in small groups. In one image, Ukrainian troops were seen firing at the Russians and damaged Russian light utility vehicles abandoned nearby.
The images underscored the determined resistance Russian troops face while attempting to enter Ukraine’s bigger cities. Ukrainians have volunteered en masse to help defend the capital, Kyiv, and other cities, taking guns distributed by authorities and preparing firebombs to fight Russian forces.
Located in The Hague, the Netherlands, the ICJ is the main judicial arm of the United Nations.
“Russia must be held accountable for manipulating the notion of genocide to justify aggression. We request an urgent decision ordering Russia to cease military activity now and expect trials to start next week,” Zelenskyy wrote on Twitter.
The ICJ rules on disputes between states, including responsibility for breaches of international law. It is not linked to the International Criminal Court, also based in The Hague, which holds individuals accountable for atrocities.
When offered an escape from Kyiv, allegedly by the United States, the 44-year-old Ukrainian president immediately rejected the notion and demonstrated selfless leadership and a portrait of courage generally reserved for Hollywood.
Many leaders would have abandoned ship, putting their own personal safety above that of their countrymen. Zelenskyy, on the other hand, is taking a stand for freedom, boldly demonstrating that freedom is worth fighting for; that a government of, by and for the people is worth defending.
Hockey Hall of Famer Dominik Hasek has called for the NHL to “immediately suspend contracts for all Russian players” amidst Russia’s deadly invasion of Ukraine.
Hasek, who played in the NHL for 16-seasons and is widely considered one of the best goaltenders of all time, called Ovechkin an “alibist,” a “liar” and a “chicken (expletive)” after Ovechkin failed to publicly denounce Putin and his country’s aggression.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says his country is ready for peace talks with Russia but not in Belarus.
Speaking in a video message Sunday, Zelenskyy suggested meeting in Warsaw, Poland; Bratislava, Slovakia; Istanbul; Budapest, Hungary; or Baku, Azerbaijan. He said other locations are also possible but made clear that Ukraine doesn’t accept Russia’s selection of Belarus, which Russia has used as a staging ground for its invasion.
The Kremlin said Sunday a Russian delegation had arrived in Homel, Belarus, for talks with Ukrainian officials. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said the delegation includes military officials and diplomats.
Russia was working Sunday to limit strategic strategic ports along the Ukraine’s coastline stretching from the border with Romania in the west to the border with Russia in the east. A Russian Defense Ministry spokesman, Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, said Russian forces had blocked the cities of Kherson on the Black Sea and the port of Berdyansk on the Azov Sea.
Russia’s military also put increasing pressure on strategic ports in the south of Ukraine, blocking the cities of Kherson on the Black Sea and the port of Berdyansk on the Azov Sea.
Cutting Ukraine’s access to its sea ports would deal a major blow to the country’s economy.
Russia unleashed a wave of attacks on Ukraine targeting airfields and fuel facilities in what appeared to be the next phase of an invasion that has been slowed by fierce resistance. The U.S. and EU responded with weapons and ammunition for the outnumbered Ukrainians and powerful sanctions intended to further isolate Moscow.
Huge explosions lit up the sky early Sunday south of the capital, Kyiv, where people hunkered down in homes, underground garages and subway stations in anticipation of a full-scale assault by Russian forces.
On Sunday morning, Ukranian writer Illarion Pavliuk plans to set out on a dangerous journey to help his countrymen as explosions rock Kyiv, and outgunned Ukrainian forces continue to maintain control of their capital.
Pavliuk is not a solider, but he does have a military background. In 2015, he was an intelligence volunteer in the war in Eastern Ukraine. And yet, this is what Ukraine has become – a country where internationally acclaimed artists are forced to kiss their children goodnight before they go off to defend their homeland from the occupying force. “We will never give up and we are going to win this war. You cannot defeat the whole nation. And Ukrainians are absolutely united as a nation now.”
His words are haunting and powerful, with his children in the background.
“What can I tell you about this war? It is difficult to say a couple of words,” he says. “I would never ever imagine my four children dropping their toys and running to sit in the thickest doorway in the house because of cruise missiles above our city; ballistic missiles.
“And I would never imagine this and I will never forgive Russia.”
