On Thursday, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/belarus-lukashenko-meets-venezuela-envoy-again-trump-seeks-maduros-removal-2025-12-11/">held his second meeting</a> in 17 days with Venezuela’s ambassador to Russia, telling him that Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro — who informed President Trump on November 21 that he would be prepared to step down and depart Venezuela if he and his family were granted full legal amnesty — was always welcome in Belarus and he should visit there now.
The Belarusian state news agency Belta said Lukashenko told the ambassador, “We agreed that you should coordinate certain matters with the Venezuelan leadership, with Nicolás Maduro. We agreed that, after resolving certain issues, you would find time to come to me and meet again so we could make the appropriate decision, which is within our competence. And if necessary, we will then involve the president of Venezuela.”
Trump’s administration has played a direct role in prompting these developments. For years, Washington has rejected Maduro’s legitimacy, citing a 2018 election it deemed fraudulent. In recent months, however, Trump significantly escalated political and military pressure on Caracas, including a large military buildup in the Caribbean and increasingly explicit public statements suggesting Maduro’s rule was nearing its end.
In a recent interview, Trump <a href="https://www.politico.com/news/2025/12/09/donald-trump-full-interview-transcript-00681693">asserted</a> that the Venezuelan leader’s “days are numbered,” while refusing to rule out the possibility of military action. This mix of private communication and public pressure appears to have contributed to Maduro’s exploration of potential exit guarantees.
Lukashenko’s actions fit into this broader geopolitical moment. Belarus has historically maintained warm ties with Venezuela. Belarusian state media described Lukashenko urging the Venezuelan envoy to coordinate matters directly with Maduro and return for further discussions before any high-level decisions are made, even hinting that Maduro himself could become involved if needed. Reuters sought clarification on whether Belarus might provide sanctuary, but Lukashenko’s office did not respond.
These meetings unfold as Lukashenko simultaneously engages in renewed dialogue with the Trump administration, which has recently eased sanctions on Belarus and appointed a special envoy to negotiate further political concessions. This creates a diplomatic environment in which Belarus could become a convenient political and logistical player in discussions surrounding Maduro’s potential departure.

Nicolás Maduro

Russian Ally Offers Maduro A Way Out As U.S. Ramps Up Pressure

Belarus Offers Maduro A Way Out — And He Might Take It

Belarus

Nicolas Maduro

Venezuela

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte said Wednesday that four U.S. soldiers who went missing during training exercises in Lithuania this week have died.
&#8220;This is still early news so we do not know the details,&#8221; he said. &#8220;This is really terrible news and our thoughts are with the families and loved ones.&#8221;
The U.S. military said that the soldiers were riding in a M88 Hercules armored recovery vehicle, which is a giant armored tow truck designed to pull damaged tanks off the battlefield, when they went missing.
The vehicle was &#8220;discovered submerged in a body of water in a training area after a search by U.S. Army, Lithuanian Armed Forces and other Lithuanian authorities,&#8221; the statement said. &#8220;Recovery efforts are underway by U.S. Army and Lithuanian Armed Forces and civilian agencies.&#8221;
The U.S. military said earlier in the day that the four U.S. Army Soldiers from 1st Brigade, 3rd Infantry Division, went missing during scheduled tactical training this week at the General Silvestras Žukauskas training ground in Pabradė, just a few miles away from the country&#8217;s border with Belarus.
“I would like to personally thank the Lithuanian Armed Forces and first responders who quickly came to our aid in our search operations,” said Lt. Gen. Charles Costanza, the V Corps commanding general. “It’s this kind of teamwork and support that exemplifies the importance of our partnership and our humanity regardless of what flags we wear on our shoulders.”

BAE Deploys Contractors To Pressure Congress For Bradley Funds

Four U.S. Soldiers Found Dead After Training Exercise Near Belarusian Border

Lithuania

NATO

Soldiers

U.S. Army

U.S. Military

Wagner boss Yevgeny Prigozhin was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/breaking-russian-warlord-prigozhin-who-tried-to-overthrow-putin-reportedly-dead-in-plane-crash" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly killed</a> when a private jet crashed a short distance outside Moscow on Wednesday. Russian authorities confirmed that all ten passengers — including Prigozhin — had perished in the crash.
But the reported safe landing of a second jet linked to the Wagner Group — the Russian paramilitary organization Prigozhin <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/prigozhin-halts-wagners-advance-toward-russias-capital-as-his-forces-neared-100-miles-from-moscow-report" target="_blank" rel="noopener">led in revolt</a> against Putin just weeks earlier — <a href="https://nypost.com/2023/08/24/second-jet-spotted-after-prigozhin-crash-sparks-conspiracy-theories/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">sparked rumors</a> that the group&#8217;s former chief might have faked his own death.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Shortly after the Crash in the Tver Region, a 2nd Business Jet owned by Yevgeny Prigozhin that was heading along a similar Route from St. Petersburg landed in Moscow. <a href="https://t.co/Exl760OeAo">pic.twitter.com/Exl760OeAo</a>
&mdash; OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) <a href="https://twitter.com/sentdefender/status/1694400331247948098?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
The Embraer ERJ-135BJ Legacy 650 landed at Ostafyevo airport in St. Petersburg around the same time the other plane crashed, and conspiracy theorists soon began to wonder whether Prigozhin — who has faked his own death at least once in the past and knew that the Kremlin considered him a marked man — had pulled a last-minute switch.
Prigozhin, 62, was <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/ex-cia-head-petraeus-prigozhin-lost-his-wagner-group-should-be-very-careful-around-open-windows" target="_blank" rel="noopener">rumored to be in mortal danger</a> — likely on a direct order from Russian President Vladimir Putin — shortly after the failed coup attempt and after Putin declared that <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/russia-drops-criminal-case-against-prigozhin-soldiers-who-participated-in-mutiny-will-not-be-punished" target="_blank" rel="noopener">all charges</a> against the paramilitary leader had been dropped.
A <a href="https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/23/europe/russia-wagner-prigozhin-plane-crash-analysis-intl-hnk/index.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">report</a> from CNN on Thursday detailed some of the background on Prigozhin&#8217;s history, explaining why so many were ready to believe that he had not been aboard the plane that crashed the day before.
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The former Wagner Group leader often employed elaborate disguises and had several passports and identification documents at his disposal. He had also reportedly previously employed at least one body double.
Adding fuel to the fire, Russian propagandist Vladimir Solovyov reportedly accused Ukrainians and their allies of &#8220;spreading a fake message about the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin&#8221; in the hours after the crash.
Also worth mentioning is that Prigozhin &#8220;died&#8221; once before — in <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/tv/news/prigozhin-wagner-alive-russia-plane-crash-b2398536.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">another plane crash</a>, no less — only to appear three days later. The plane crash in question took place in Congo in 2019.
Kyiv-based journalist John Sweeney mentioned Prigozhin&#8217;s history on &#8220;Good Morning Britain&#8221; on Thursday, saying, &#8220;Prigozhin has got [a] previous for this. In 2019, he was supposed to be on a plane in the Congo. It crashed, and it turned out he wasn’t on the plane, so you have to worry a little about this. He’s kind of like a vampire. Are we really sure he’s dead?&#8221;

Yevgeniy Prigozhin

Second Jet Linked To Prigozhin Spotted, Sparks Rumor Russian Paramilitary Leader Is Still Alive

Global Politics

Russia

Ukraine-Russia War

Vladimir Putin

World

Wagner mercenary chief Yevgeny Prigozhin has arrived in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/belarus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belarus</a> following a brief uprising in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/russia" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Russia</a>, Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko said on Tuesday.
“Yes, indeed, he is in Belarus today,” Lukashenko said of Prigozhin, according to <a href="https://www.politico.eu/article/wagner-boss-prigozhin-is-in-belarus-official/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">multiple reports</a> <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/jun/27/belarus-exiled-wagner-chief-yevgeny-prigozhin-russia-ukraine" target="_blank" rel="noopener">that cited</a> Belarusian state media.
A deal to end the rebellion over the weekend, for which Lukashenko has been <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/06/26/lukashenko-wagner-prigozhin-putin-belarus/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">credited with mediating</a>, gave Prigozhin and his fighters the option of exile in Belarus after they stopped their march on Moscow.
After <a href="https://www.wsj.com/video/series/on-the-news/watch-wagner-leader-cheered-while-leaving-rostov/F4AC0338-2994-40D1-B929-460DA11D04F9" target="_blank" rel="noopener">leaving the southern Russian city</a> of Rostov on Saturday, Prigozhin&#8217;s exact whereabouts became unclear in the days that followed, though he did deliver an audio message on Monday that defended Wagner&#8217;s revolt, which appears to center on a standoff with Russia’s military leadership and their handling of the war in Ukraine.
Senate Intelligence Committee Chairman Mark Warner (D-VA) said <a href="https://www.msnbc.com/andrea-mitchell-reports/watch/sen-mark-warner-prigozhin-says-he-s-in-minsk-in-a-hotel-that-doesn-t-have-any-windows-185150533609" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reports claimed that Prigozhin</a> was in a Minsk hotel without any windows, underscoring a possible fear of being defenestrated.
John Kirby, the coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council, <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/white-house-says-u-s-wont-take-sides-in-russias-wagner-uprising" target="_blank" rel="noopener">told reporters on Monday</a> that he did not know where Prigozhin was located.
By Tuesday, <a href="https://www.flightradar24.com/data/aircraft/ra-02795#30e3dff3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">flight trackers</a> and <a href="https://www.cnn.com/europe/live-news/russia-ukraine-war-news-06-27-23/h_d843a46ee7ebe06270367842e05cf302" target="_blank" rel="noopener">satellite data</a> indicated two planes belonging to Prigozhin landed at a base outside the Belarusian capital of Minsk.
In addition to declaring Prigozhin&#8217;s arrival in Belarus, Lukashenko reportedly said at least some Wagner members are invited to stay at an <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/27/world/russia-ukraine-news" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;abandoned&#8221; base</a> in his country and touted their <a href="https://tass.com/defense/1639319" target="_blank" rel="noopener">&#8220;invaluable&#8221; experience</a>. The Belarusian leader also claimed he talked Russian President Vladimir Putin <a href="https://news.yahoo.com/lukashenko-explains-convinced-putin-not-132206593.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">out of escalating the conflict</a>.
Some leaders in the region voiced concerns about Wagner&#8217;s presence in Belarus.
&#8220;If Wagner deploys its serial killers in Belarus, all neighboring countries face even bigger danger of instability,&#8221; <a href="https://www.france24.com/en/europe/20230627-%F0%9F%94%B4-live-russia-conducts-fighter-jet-drills-over-baltic-sea" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said Lithuanian President Gitanas Nauseda</a>.
Although Russia <a href="https://tass.com/politics/1639005" target="_blank" rel="noopener">dropped criminal mutiny charges</a> against Wagner members and said they would <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/27/world/europe/russia-prigozhin-wagner-charges.html#:~:text=The%20Russian%20authorities%20said%20that,thousands%20of%20fighters%20was%20unclear." target="_blank" rel="noopener">hand over military equipment</a>, Putin said in a speech on Monday that the organizers of the rebellion would be &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/2023/06/26/putin-says-russia-mutiny-organizers-will-face-justice.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">brought to justice</a>.&#8221;
Putin also <a href="https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-reepels-russian-attack-shoigu-visits-troops/32475778.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">gave Wagner members the options</a> of entering a contract with the Russian Ministry of Defense or other law enforcement agencies, going home to their family and friends, or leaving for Belarus.

Yevgeny Prigozhin

Wagner Leader Made It To Belarus, President Lukashenko Says

Yevgeny Prigozhin, the owner of Russia’s feared Wagner paramilitary group, allegedly said on Saturday that he was halting his force&#8217;s advance toward Moscow to avoid bloodshed after a last-minute deal was reportedly brokered to bring the crisis to an end. On Sunday, Wagner mercenaries were <a href="https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/wagner-halts-revolt-but-putin-seen-as-weakened/ar-AA1d06Le">reportedly</a> headed back to base after an agreement allowing Prigozhin to accept exile in Belarus.
The announcement comes after Prigozhin reportedly reached a deal with Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko to stop the situation from escalating further after Wagner had advanced hundreds of miles over the past 12 hours on its way to Moscow.
The New York Times <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/live/2023/06/24/world/russia-ukraine-news">reported</a> that some experts urged people to remain skeptical about whether Prigozhin had actually ordered his troops to suddenly reverse course. Dara Massicot, a senior policy researcher at the RAND Corporation, said, “I don’t believe it until I see it.”
The Wall Street Journal <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-shoots-down-russian-cruise-missile-barrage-9d9da03a">added</a> that Prigozhin &#8220;has a history of going back on his promises.&#8221;
Prigozhin allegedly said in an audio message posted to Telegram that he was “turning our columns around and going back in the other direction toward our field camps, in accordance with the plan.”
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&#8220;This morning, Russian President Vladimir Putin briefed his Belarusian counterpart on the situation in southern Russia with the private military company Wagner,&#8221; the Belarusian government claimed in a statement. &#8220;The heads of state agreed on joint actions.&#8221;
&#8220;As a follow-up to the agreements, the President of Belarus, having being additionally informed on the situation through his own channels, and in agreement with the President of Russia, held talks with the head of Wagner PMC Yevgeny Prigozhin,&#8221; the statement continued. &#8220;Yevgeny Prigozhin accepted the proposal of the President of Belarus Alexander Lukashenko to stop the movement of armed persons of the Wagner company on the territory of Russia and take further steps to de-escalate tensions.&#8221;
The Times noted that Prigozhin did not indicate if his forces would relinquish control of military installations they seized Rostov-on-Don.
This is a breaking news story; refresh the page for updates.

Wagner claims taking control of Russian southern military district in Rostov-Na-Don

Prigozhin Halts Wagner’s Advance Toward Russia’s Capital As His Forces Neared 100 Miles From Moscow: Report

Conflicts

Ukraine

Russian President <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/vladimir-putin" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Vladimir Putin</a> is planning to move tactical nuclear weapons to storage facilities in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/belarus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Belarus</a> — and potentially deploy them from that location later — in a move he compared to U.S. nuclear installments in <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/nato" target="_blank" rel="noopener">NATO</a> countries.
Russia is building storage units for the weapons that are expected to be ready on July 1, according to the <a href="https://www.ft.com/content/32cdce4a-7f89-4c3a-a9b3-fa113d87bef3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Financial Times</a>. Lukashenko has allowed Belarus to serve as a staging ground for the Russian invasion of Ukraine from the earliest days of the war.
Putin said in remarks on Saturday that he was moving the nuclear weapons to Belarus in response to a longstanding request from Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko to counter NATO. He also said the move is a counter to the U.K.’s decision to send armor-piercing rounds containing depleted uranium to Ukraine.
Moscow would retain control of the nuclear armaments, Putin said.
“There is nothing unusual here: first of all, the US has been doing this for decades,” Putin said. “They placed their tactical nuclear weapons in six different allied NATO countries in Europe. … We have agreed to do the same thing, without, I stress, violating our international non-proliferation obligations.”
“They have [tactical nuclear weapons] in certain countries, prepare the delivery systems, and train the crews. We’re planning to do the same thing,” he added.
In response to the Russian maneuvering, Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry called for an emergency meeting of the United Nations Security Council. Ukraine called for members of the council to intervene directly to stop the nuclear threat.
“Ukraine expects effective actions to counter the nuclear blackmail of the Kremlin,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement, according to <a href="https://www.wsj.com/articles/ukraine-warns-against-russian-threat-to-put-nuclear-weapons-in-belarus-fd94ae39" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Wall Street Journal</a>. “We demand to immediately convene an extraordinary meeting of the U.N. Security Council for this purpose.”
Russia’s move appears calculated to threaten that the conflict in Ukraine could escalate to a nuclear conflict, though officials in the U.S. remain skeptical that Putin would actually follow through with a nuclear strike. U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby said the White House is monitoring Russia’s moves, but has no reason to believe that Moscow intends to use the nuclear weapons.
“We have not seen any indication that he has made good on this pledge or moved any nuclear weapons around,” Kirby <a href="https://www.axios.com/2023/03/26/us-russia-nuclear-weapon-belarus" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a> on Sunday. “We’ve in fact seen no indication he has any intention to use nuclear weapons, period, inside Ukraine.”
It’s unclear how many tactical nuclear weapons Putin intends to house in Belarus. The U.S. <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-belarus-nuclear-weapons-2d9584534da25c00c56dbf7b14694e0e" target="_blank" rel="noopener">estimates</a> that Russia’s entire nuclear arsenal comprises around 2,000 such bombs.

Russia To House Nuclear Weapons In Neighboring Belarus, Putin Says

U.S.

United States

Tennis star Victoria Azarenka blasted reporters who kept asking her political questions about Russia following her match at the Australian Open, accusing them of &#8220;dragging players&#8221; into it.
During the Belarusian player&#8217;s recent press conference following her semifinals match, one reporter after another kept trying to get the professional tennis player to weigh in on pro-Russian demonstrations at the tournament by supporters, <a href="https://www.foxnews.com/sports/victoria-azarenka-blasts-reporters-australian-open-over-political-questions">Fox News</a> noted.
&#8220;I don&#8217;t know what you guys want us to do about it,&#8221; Azarenka said. &#8220;Like talk about it? I don&#8217;t know what&#8217;s the goal here that it&#8217;s continuously brought up.&#8221;
&#8220;These incidents that, in my opinion, have nothing to do with players, but somehow you keep dragging players into it. So what&#8217;s the goal here?&#8221; she added. &#8220;I think you should ask yourself that question, not me.&#8221;
WATCH:
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Tennis star Victoria Azarenka is sick of Left wing journos asking her about Russia:
&quot;Whatever the answer I&#39;m going to give to you right now, it&#39;s going to be turned whichever way you want to turn it.&quot;
 <a href="https://t.co/S5y4pUzu1E">pic.twitter.com/S5y4pUzu1E</a>
&mdash; Citizen Free Press (@CitizenFreePres) <a href="https://twitter.com/CitizenFreePres/status/1620298348375998465?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">January 31, 2023</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Another reporter then tried to ask the same question about pro-Russian displays just in a different way and Azarenka blasted right back, saying that no answer she gave would make them stop.
&#8220;Whatever the answer I&#8217;m going to give it to you right now, it&#8217;s going to be turned whichever way you want to turn it to,&#8221; the tennis star shared. &#8220;So does it bother me? What bothers me is there&#8217;s real things that&#8217;s going on in the world. And I don&#8217;t know. Are you a politician? Are you? Are you covering politics?&#8221;
The reporter replied that they cover sports and the tennis player hit back, &#8220;Yes, and I&#8217;m an athlete.&#8221;
&#8220;And you&#8217;re asking me about things that maybe somebody says are in my control, but I don&#8217;t believe that,&#8221; Azarenka shared.  &#8220;So I don&#8217;t know what you want me to answer. And if it&#8217;s a provocative question, then, you know, you can spin the story however you want.&#8221;
She was also asked her thoughts on the &#8220;scrutiny surrounding Russian and Belarusian players&#8221; and if was &#8220;difficult&#8221; for her to &#8220;put all those things out&#8221; of her mind while she played, the outlet noted.
&#8220;Other players get impacted by what exactly are you asking me?&#8221; the tennis star shared, and the reporter tried again, but got called out.
&#8220;You&#8217;re here talking about it right now, so obviously it&#8217;s a topic you want to continue to bring up and up and up again,&#8221; Victoria replied.  &#8220;So I don’t know what you want me to say.&#8221;
Images recently surfaced showing tennis great <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/topic/novak-djokovic">Novak Djokovic</a>&#8216;s father, Srdjan Djokovic, reportedly posing with fans holding Russian flags, <a href="https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/tennis/novak-djokovic-father-putin-australian-open-b2271411.html">the Independent</a> noted. Djokovic&#8217;s father has insisted he accidentally got caught up in the pro-Russian demonstration.
Related: <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/it-stays-with-you-novak-djokovic-back-in-australia-after-dramatic-detention-deportation-over-vaccine">It &#8216;Stays With You&#8217;: Novak Djokovic Back In Australia After Dramatic Detention, Deportation Over Vaccine</a>

Victoria Azarenka-2

‘You Keep Dragging Players Into It’: Tennis Star Victoria Azarenka Blasts Reporters For Asking Political Questions

Tennis Star Victoria Azarenka Blasts Reporters For Asking Political Questions

Australia

Media

Tennis

Wokeness

Tennis players from Russia and Belarus will be forced to compete under a neutral flag in the upcoming U.S. Open, according to a statement from the United States Tennis Association (USTA).
The USTA made the announcement on Tuesday due to Russia&#8217;s military invasion of Ukraine. Belarus has served as one of Russia&#8217;s main allies in the invasion.
&#8220;Alongside the other Grand Slams, the ITF, the ATP, and the WTA, the USTA, which owns and operates the U.S. Open, has previously condemned, and continues to condemn, the unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia,&#8221; the USTA&#8217;s statement <a href="https://www.usta.com/en/home/stay-current/national/usta-statement-regarding-russian-and-belarusian-players-at-the-2.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">read</a>.
&#8220;The USTA, standing with these other tennis entities, supported the banning of the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federations from the ITF, and therefore all international team competitions, and the directive for players from those countries to play under a neutral flag when competing outside of international team competitions,&#8221; it added.
The USTA, in its capacity as owner and operator of the U.S. Open, had previously banned the Russian and Belarusian Tennis Federations from the ITF. To allow individual athletes from the two nations to compete, players from those countries must play under a neutral flag when competing outside of international team competitions, according to the USTA.
The U.S. Open is scheduled for August 29 to September 11 in New York City. The popular event claimed an <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2021-09-12/us_open_final_by_the_numbers.html#:~:text=631%2C134%3A%20Total%20attendance%20for%20the,record%2Dsetting%20attendance%20of%20737%2C919." target="_blank" rel="noopener">attendance</a> of 631,134 people in total in 2021.
The 2021 U.S. Open set a new record in prize money and total player compensation, with $57.5 million on offer in 2021 in the first year following the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Mike McNulty, USTA Chairman of the Board and President, shared the association&#8217;s solidarity with the people of Ukraine.
“Tennis has done much through Tennis Plays for Peace for humanitarian support of Ukraine. Unfortunately, the need for help only continues to grow. The USTA will be responding very soon with a broad set of initiatives that will include significant financial assistance and other programs to further support humanitarian relief and the people of Ukraine,&#8221; he <a href="https://www.usopen.org/en_US/news/articles/2022-06-14/usta_statement_regarding_russian_and_belarusian_players_at_the_2022_us_open.html#:~:text=Mike%20McNulty%2C%20USTA%20Chairman%20of,help%20only%20continues%20to%20grow.">said</a>.
The move comes after Russia was <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/Sports/wireStory/russian-tennis-players-allowed-compete-us-open-85387217" target="_blank" rel="noopener">restricted</a> from two international team events in tennis in which it was the reigning champion, the Billie Jean King Cup and Davis Cup.
Wimbledon, which begins June 27, announced in April that it would ban all Russian and Belarusian athletes. The move barred men&#8217;s top-ranked player, Russian Daniil Medvedev, from the competition.
The USTA&#8217;s approach has also been different from other athletics organizations. Some sports, such as soccer&#8217;s World Cup, have completely banned Russia from competition.
The USTA also announced plans to offer additional financial assistance for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine. The association intends to use the U.S. Open as a platform to raise awareness about the war.
“This is a horrific situation and we, along with everyone else in tennis, absolutely condemn what is an unprovoked and unjust invasion of Ukraine by Russia, and everything is framed in that context,” U.S. Tennis Association CEO and Executive Director Lew Sherr <a href="https://apnews.com/article/russia-ukraine-sports-tennis-belarus-5c1877b35c79331ce14ab0475911ccff" target="_blank" rel="noopener">said</a>. “As difficult as some of these decisions may be, none of it amounts to the difficulties being experienced in Ukraine right now, and the tragedies and atrocities.”
</div>
</div>

U.S. Open

Russia, Belarus Tennis Athletes Forced To Play Under Neutral Flags In U.S. Open

Sports

Tennis greats Rafael Nadal and Novak Djokovic are preparing for the Madrid Open in Spain, but a decision made in England was the topic at hand on Sunday. 
Both Nadal and Djokovic ripped Wimbledon’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian players from the upcoming Wimbledon tournament, with Nadal insinuating that players might take action over the next few weeks. 
“I think it’s very unfair [on] my Russian tennis mates, my colleagues &#8230; it’s not their fault what’s happening in this moment with the war,” Nadal <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/it-s-very-unfair-nadal-djokovic-slam-wimbledon-ban-on-russian-players-20220502-p5aht6.html">said</a> on Sunday. “I’m sorry for them. Wimbledon just took their decision &#8230; the government didn’t force them to do it.”
“Let’s see what happens in the next weeks, if the players will take some kind of decision in that regard,” Nadal added. 
Djokovic compared the situation to his experience at the 2022 Australian Open when he was banned from playing in the tournament and deported from the country for remaining unvaccinated against COVID-19.
“It’s not the same thing, but going through something similar earlier this year for myself, it’s frustrating knowing that you’re not able to play,” Djokovic <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/sport/tennis/it-s-very-unfair-nadal-djokovic-slam-wimbledon-ban-on-russian-players-20220502-p5aht6.html">said</a>. “I still stand by my position that I don’t support the [Wimbledon] decision. I think it’s just not fair, it’s not right, but it is what it is.”
In late April, the All England Club made the decision to ban players from Russia and Belarus from playing, citing Vladimir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.  
“In the circumstances of such unjustified and unprecedented military aggression, it would be unacceptable for the Russian regime to derive any benefits from the involvement of Russian or Belarusian players with The Championships,” the All England Club <a href="https://www.wimbledon.com/en_GB/news/articles/2022-04-20/statement_regarding_russian_and_belarusian_individuals_at_the_championships_2022.html">said</a> in a statement.
“It is therefore our intention, with deep regret, to decline entries from Russian and Belarusian players to The Championships 2022,” the statement continued.
The decision was met with immediate backlash, including from the Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) and the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA), who both called the ban “discrimination” in their statements. 
On Tuesday, Wimbledon Chairman Ian Hewitt defended the decision, essentially putting the blame on the U.K. government for why players from Russia and Belarus will be denied entry into the tournament. 
“The UK Government has set out directive guidance for sporting bodies and events in the UK with specific aim of limiting Russia’s influence,” Hewitt <a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12599343/wimbledon-chairman-ian-hewitt-and-chief-executive-sally-bolton-explain-decision-to-ban-russian-an-belarusian-players">said</a>, according to Sky Sports.  
“We have considered at length the options available,” Hewitt continued. “These are in effect two options: declining entries or allowing entries but only with specific declarations (against the invasion of Ukraine) from individual players.”
Hewitt said that while considering the option for Russian and Belarusian players to enter Wimbledon after presenting written declarations against the war in Ukraine, the safety of the players and their families was a concern. 
“We believe we have made the most responsible decision possible,” Hewitt <a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12599343/wimbledon-chairman-ian-hewitt-and-chief-executive-sally-bolton-explain-decision-to-ban-russian-an-belarusian-players">said</a>. “We believe [given Government guidance] there is no viable alternative in this truly exceptional and tragic situation.”
Wimbledon is scheduled to be played from June 27 to July 10.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

Mutua Madrid Open – Day 6

Nadal, Djokovic Lay Into Wimbledon For Banning Russian, Belarusian Players From Competing

Nadal, Djokovic Disagree With Wimbledon's Decision To Ban Russian, Belarusian Players From Competition 

Novak Djokovic

The All England Club’s decision to ban Russian and Belarusian tennis players from competing at this summer&#8217;s Wimbledon tournament has been highly controversial. 
On Tuesday, Wimbledon chairman Ian Hewitt defended the decision, essentially putting the blame on the U.K. government for why players from Russia and Belarus will be denied entry into the tournament. 
&#8220;The UK Government has set out directive guidance for sporting bodies and events in the UK with specific aim of limiting Russia&#8217;s influence,” Hewitt <a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12599343/wimbledon-chairman-ian-hewitt-and-chief-executive-sally-bolton-explain-decision-to-ban-russian-an-belarusian-players">said</a>, according to Sky Sports.  
&#8220;We have considered at length the options available,” Hewitt continued. “These are in effect two options: declining entries or allowing entries but only with specific declarations (against the invasion of Ukraine) from individual players.”
Hewitt said that while considering the option for Russian and Belarusian players to enter Wimbledon after presenting written declarations against the war in Ukraine, the safety of the players and their families was a concern. 
&#8220;We believe we have made the most responsible decision possible,” Hewitt <a href="https://www.skysports.com/tennis/news/12110/12599343/wimbledon-chairman-ian-hewitt-and-chief-executive-sally-bolton-explain-decision-to-ban-russian-an-belarusian-players">said</a>. “We believe [given Government guidance] there is no viable alternative in this truly exceptional and tragic situation.&#8221;
Following the All England Club’s ban, many within the tennis world spoke out against the decision. 
The Association of Tennis Professionals (ATP) criticized the decision by Wimbledon, calling the ban of players from Russia and Belarus “discrimination.” 
“Discrimination based on nationality also constitutes a violation of our agreement with Wimbledon that states that player entry is based solely on ATP Rankings,” the men’s governing body <a href="https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/sports/russian-players-be-barred-competing-wimbledon-report-2022-04-20/">said</a>. “Any course of action in response to this decision will now be assessed in consultation with our board and member councils.” 
The Women’s Tennis Association said that tennis professionals from both countries should not be banned from competing.
&#8220;As the WTA has consistently stated, individual athletes should not be penalized or prevented from competing due to where they are from, or the decisions made by the governments of their countries,&#8221; the WTA <a href="https://www.wtatennis.com/news/2582411/wta-statement-on-decision-to-ban-russian-belarusian-players">said</a> on April 20 in a statement on its website. &#8220;Discrimination, and the decision to focus such discrimination against athletes competing on their own as individuals, is neither fair nor justified.&#8221;
The world’s number one tennis player — Novak Djokovic — also weighed in, calling the decision by the All England Club “crazy.” 
“I know how much emotional trauma [war] leaves,” Djokovic <a href="https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10033367-novak-djokovic-says-he-cannot-support-wimbledon-banning-russian-belarusian-players">said</a>. “In Serbia we all know what happened in 1999. In the Balkans, we have had many wars in recent history. However, I cannot support the decision of Wimbledon, I think it is crazy.”
“When politics interferes with sport, the result is not good,” he continued. 
Wimbledon is scheduled to be played from June 27 to July 10.
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers, and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

TENNIS-GBR-WIMBLEDON

‘No Viable Alternative’: Wimbledon Defends Decision To Ban Players From Russia, Belarus

The sports world continues to shun Russian and Belarusian athletes from competitions. 
On Wednesday, the Boston Athletic Association announced that Russian and Belarusian citizens who reside in either country will not be allowed to compete in the 2022 Boston Marathon. 
“The Boston Athletic Association (B.A.A.) announced today that Russians and Belarusians, who were accepted into the 2022 Boston Marathon or 2022 B.A.A. 5K as part of the open registration process and are currently residing in either country, will no longer be allowed to compete in either event,” the B.A.A <a href="https://www.baa.org/baa-policy-russian-and-belarusian-athletes">said</a> in a statement on its website.
“Russian and Belarusian citizens, who were accepted into the 2022 Boston Marathon or 2022 B.A.A. 5K as part of the open registration process but are not residents of either country, will be able to compete,” the statement <a href="https://www.baa.org/baa-policy-russian-and-belarusian-athletes">continued</a>. “These athletes, however, will not be able to run under the flag of either country.”
Following Vladamir Putin’s invasion of Ukraine in February, the sports world quickly reacted by banning Russian and Belarusian athletes from competing in events around the globe. 
In early March, the International Paralympic Committee (IPC) reversed an earlier decision to allow Russian and Belarusian athletes to compete at the 2022 Paralympic Winter Games in Beijing. 
“The war has now come to these Games, and behind the scenes many governments are having an influence on our cherished event,” IPC President Andrew Parsons said Thursday according to <a href="https://www.espn.com/olympics/story/_/id/33410388/russian-belarusian-athletes-banned-winter-paralympic-games">ESPN</a>. “We were trying to protect the Games from war.”
Parson said delegations threatened to boycott the games if Russia and Belarus were allowed to participate. 
“In the last 12 hours an overwhelming number of members have been in touch with us and been very open, for which I am grateful,” Parsons <a href="https://www.paralympic.org/news/ipc-decline-athlete-entries-rpc-and-npc-belarus-beijing-2022">said</a>. “They have told us that if we do not reconsider our decision, it is now likely to have grave consequences for the Beijing 2022 Paralympic Winter Games. Multiple NPCs, some of which have been contacted by their governments, teams and athletes, are threatening not to compete.ll boycott, will not participate.”
Also in March, the International Skating Union (ISU) announced that skaters from Russia and Belarus will not be “invited or allowed to participate in International ice skating competitions including ISU Championships and other ISU events.” 
“The ISU Council reiterates its solidarity with all those affected by the conflict in Ukraine and our thoughts are with the entire Ukrainian people and country,” the union <a href="https://www.isu.org/media-centre/press-releases/2022-4/27825-isu-statement-on-the-ukrainian-crisis-01-03-2022/file">said</a> in a statement. “The ISU Council reaffirms its full solidarity with the ISU Members in Ukraine, the Ukrainian Speed Skating Federation and the Ukrainian Figure Skating Federation.”
On Wednesday, the B.A.A. stated that while non-residents of either Russia or Belarus will be able to compete, they will not be allowed to run under their countries flag. 
“Like so many around the world, we are horrified and outraged by what we have seen and learned from the reporting in Ukraine,” <a href="https://www.baa.org/baa-policy-russian-and-belarusian-athletes">said</a> President &amp; CEO of the B.A.A. Tom Grilk. “We believe that running is a global sport, and as such, we must do what we can to show our support to the people of Ukraine.”
The Boston Marathon takes place on Monday, April 18. 
Joe Morgan is the Sports Reporter for The Daily Wire. Most recently, Morgan covered the Clippers, Lakers and the NBA for Sporting News. Send your sports questions to sports@dailywire.com.

2021 Boston Marathon

Boston Marathon Bans Residents Of Russia And Belarus

Boston Marathon

The leaders of the top House and Senate Committees overseeing trade policy have announced bipartisan legislation suspending normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
CSPAN Capitol Hill Producer Craig Caplan reported that House Ways and Means Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) and Ranking Member Kevin Brady (R-TX), along with Senate Finance Committee Chairman Ron Wyden (D-OR) and Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-ID) had announced the deal Monday.
&#8220;As Russia continues its unprovoked attack on the Ukrainian people, we have agreed on a legislative path forward to ban the import of energy products from Russia and to suspend normal trade relations with both Russia and Belarus,&#8221; the four Congressional leaders said in a statement Monday, via Caplan. &#8220;While Congress needs to do more, as congressional [leaders with] jurisdiction over our nation’s trade policy, we are committed to using the tools at our disposal to stop Russia’s unconscionable &amp; unjust war on Ukraine &amp; hold Belarus accountable for its involvement.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Neal/Brady/Wyden/Crapo: &quot;As Russia continues its unprovoked attack on the Ukrainian people, we have agreed on a legislative path forward to ban the import of energy products from Russia and to suspend normal trade relations with both Russia and Belarus.&quot;
&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1500881001408602116?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
Neal/Brady/Wyden/Crapo:&quot;While Congress needs to do more,as congressional ldrs w/jurisdiction over our nation’s trade policy,we are committed to using the tools at our disposal to stop Russia’s unconscionable &amp; unjust war on Ukraine &amp; hold Belarus accountable for its involvement.&quot;
&mdash; Craig Caplan (@CraigCaplan) <a href="https://twitter.com/CraigCaplan/status/1500881277318307842?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Brady confirmed the news Monday in an appearance on Fox Business&#8217;s &#8220;Mornings with Maria.&#8221; &#8220;Congress is moving and I expect bipartisan legislation to be introduced very soon, as early as today, that would both ban Russian imports of energy to America and would suspend normal trade relations with both Russia and Belarus,&#8221; Brady told host Maria Bartiromo. &#8220;We ought not to be providing any financial support to the Russian economy in this war, nor should we be giving them favored trading status for their products coming into the United States, and so I think this sends a clear signal to [Russian president Vladimir] Putin that this war is unacceptable and that we stand with the people of Ukraine.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
.<a href="https://twitter.com/RepKevinBrady?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@RepKevinBrady</a>: &quot;Congress is moving and I expect bipartisan legislation to be introduced very soon, as early as today, that would both ban Russian imports of energy to America and would suspend normal trade relations with both Russia and Belarus.&quot;<a href="https://twitter.com/MariaBartiromo?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@MariaBartiromo</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/FoxBusiness?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@FoxBusiness</a> <a href="https://t.co/xpIVL7S3c1">pic.twitter.com/xpIVL7S3c1</a>
&mdash; Mornings with Maria (@MorningsMaria) <a href="https://twitter.com/MorningsMaria/status/1500842486788460555?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Democratic Speaker of the House <a href="https://www.speaker.gov/newsroom/3622">Nancy Pelosi</a> also issued a statement Sunday indicating that the House was proposing a ban on Russian oil imports. &#8220;[The] House is currently exploring strong legislation that will further isolate Russia from the global economy,&#8221; Pelosi wrote in a dear colleague letter. &#8220;Our bill would ban the import of Russian oil and energy products into the United States, repeal normal trade relations with Russia and Belarus, and take the first step to deny Russia access to the World Trade Organization. We would also empower the Executive branch to raise tariffs on Russian imports.&#8221;
The Biden administration has yet to make a decision on a potential import ban. &#8220;No decision has been made, at this point, by the president, about a ban on &#8230; importing oil from Russia,&#8221; White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki said at the daily press briefing Monday afternoon. &#8220;Those discussions are ongoing internally, and also with our counterparts and partners in Europe and around the world.&#8221;
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true">
President Biden has not decided whether to ban Russian oil imports to the U.S., Psaki says, but discussions are taking place <a href="https://t.co/EuEZ3fa4YH">https://t.co/EuEZ3fa4YH</a> <a href="https://t.co/JGH8bId91s">pic.twitter.com/JGH8bId91s</a>
&mdash; Bloomberg Originals (@bbgoriginals) <a href="https://twitter.com/bbgoriginals/status/1500935348733583366?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 7, 2022</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
Congress and the Biden administration have been aggressive in putting sanctions on Russia both before and after the invasion of Ukraine, but so far, the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-admin-takes-toughest-sanctions-off-the-table-for-dealing-with-potential-russian-invasion-of-ukraine-report">sanctions</a> imposed on the Russian economy have not been directly targeted at the country&#8217;s energy sector, except for some sanctions targeting the Russian company behind the <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/biden-sanctions-russian-owned-company-behind-nord-stream-2-pipeline">Nord Stream 2</a> natural gas pipeline. Congressional <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/senator-barrasso-biden-has-enabled-putins-military-aggression-by-funding-his-energy-efforts">Republican leaders</a> have <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/graham-on-russia-sanctions-talking-way-too-much-and-doing-too-little">criticized</a> the Biden administration for failing to crack down on Russian energy or revitalize <a href="https://www.dailywire.com/news/hawley-boebert-press-for-more-american-oil-production-amid-ukraine-invasion">American energy production</a> at home.

TOPSHOT-RUSSIA-POLITICS-PUTIN

Congress Introduces Bill Banning Russian Oil Imports, Suspending Normal Trade Relations With Russia, Belarus

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