• Pres. Biden is poised to impose sanctions on number of Russian oligarchs and their families on Thursday (Bloomberg reports)
• sanctions will be in keeping with EU measures, but broader
• looks to prohibit oligarchs travel to US and targeting their families

Meanwhile in other news on Ukraine/Russia today

• EU is looking into the possibility of removing Russia’s most favored nation status at the WTO
• US assesses that Putin has put in 90% of pre-stage combat power into Ukraine
• Earlier today Putin told French Pres. Macron that the goals of Russia’s operation in Ukraine – it’s demilitarization and neutral status – will be achieved in any case
• Macron told Koopman he was making a major mistake and that the war would cost Russia dearly over the long term
• Ukraine’s Zelensky said that his defense lines were holding against constant shelling from Russian forces
• France and Germany have ceased to Cypriots owned by Russian oligarchs
• Russia’s Lavrov said that “The thought of nuclear is constantly spinning in the heads of Western politicians, but not in the heads of Russians” (HMMMMM)
• 480 Russian missiles launches so far
• US cannot confirm presence of Russian use of Thermobaric weapons in Ukraine

Via India media:

• The government may soon give the green light to bilateral trade between Russia and India in their national currencies to avoid any trade disruptions, multiple people aware of the matter said.
• While the Department of Commerce has recommended the proposal, an announcement is likely to be made by the finance ministry after further deliberations between the Department of Economic Affairs and Department of Financial Services.

You have to wonder if they’ve thought this through. It’s one thing to abstain from a UN vote and another to actively seek to subvert sanctions on a globally reviled pariah state. Even China is dialling back its support for Putin.

Moody’s says the rating level remains under review for further downgrade.

Fitch earlier:

The ostensible reason is to adopt anti-crisis laws but a Russia analyst suggests it may approve martial law for the country:

Adding further reasons: