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Russia's invasion of Ukraine looked very old-fashioned: Columns of tanks, prisoners of war, bombed buildings. Russia and the West have both put out their nuclear options, although neither has actually been used.

The stakes could hardly be higher. This is not just about Ukraine anymore, it has turned into a full-blown confrontation between nuclear powers. The unthinkable could become reality if the conflict continues to escalate.

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Some of that has already happened, and the West has committed to even more in order to get Russia out of the international financial system.

  • The Russian banks are no longer able to operate in the dollar-based financial system after actions taken by the Treasury Department on Thursday.

  • Russian banks will not be able to easily transact in dollars and euros if they are removed from the international financial-messaging system.

  • If the dollar and euro accounts are frozen, the Russian central bank will not be able to support the ruble.

Edward Fishman, a former Russia and Europe sanctions lead, says that the West is still allowing Russian energy exports.

  • Russia will be allowed to buy food, medical necessities, and the like.

The financial equivalent of a nuclear strike has been promised by the West, according to David Frum.

  • That hasn't happened yet. When markets open on Monday, it is not clear what the new sanctions will be.

The other side: Putin put his nuclear forces into a state of war after the sanctions announcement.

  • The clear message is that he is threatening a nuclear strike of his own, without specifying when or where such a strike might take place.

The bear has been poked and the stakes are high.

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  • Putin is threatening to use nuclear weapons. How can you ignore that from a man with 6,000 nuclear warheads?

  • The ship is expected to arrive at a port in Orkney, Scotland, on Tuesday.

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  • According to The New York Times, US officials are entertaining the possibility that Putin has lost touch with reality.

  • The top Chinese diplomat called on the U.S. to take steps to improve their relationship. The Foreign Minister's remarks were delivered to a forum marking the 50th anniversary of the Shanghai Communique signed during the 1972 visit to China by President Richard Nixon.

  • The Aeroflot flight from Miami to Moscow crossed into Canadian airspace on Sunday.

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  • Russian soldiers who surrender to Ukraine will receive 5 million ruble in cash or virtual currency, according to a local TV host. The Ukrainian woman said in a post that she had surrendered her soldiers.

  • The Chinese hacking tool that has been able to escape public attention for more than a decade has been discovered by security researchers. A U.S. official said that the discovery was shared with the U.S. government. On Monday, the research about the tool, which is called Daxin, was published by the division of chipmaker Broadcom.

  • Hugh Bonneville saluted Zelenskyy during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

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  • Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday that China is willing to work with the United States on a global infrastructure plan and welcomes Washington to join the Belt and Road Initiative. The Group of Seven richest democracies, consisting of the United States and its allies, proposed the B3W initiative in June to help developing countries meet infrastructure needs.

  • Ursula von der Leyen said the EU had a process with Ukraine, but did not specify a time frame for when the country would join.

  • New contracts can't be entered by aircraft-leasing companies and must be terminated within 30 days.

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  • While the world is distracted by Russia's invasion of Ukraine, North Korea is reported to have resumed missile testing.

  • During the Ukraine crisis, Turkey pledged to block some Russian warships from passing through its waters to the Black Sea, which could help mend its relationship with NATO. Over the next few days, a lot of Russian ships waiting to make the journey will test Ankara's resolve and show how far it is willing to go in changing its delicate diplomatic balance between east and west. On Sunday, Turkey changed its rhetoric to call the assault on Ukraine a war, a move that would allow Ankara to use parts of an international pact to limit the transit of some Russian warships from the Mediterranean to the Black Sea.

  • H.R. McMaster, who served as former President Trump's national security adviser, said that Russian President Putin got more than he bargained for when he invaded Ukraine last week. He is in a very difficult position.

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  • Toyota will suspend domestic factory operations on Tuesday due to a suspected cyber attack on a supplier of plastic parts and electronic components. It was not clear if the attack was related to Japan joining Western allies in cracking down on Russia after it invaded Ukraine. Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said his government would investigate the incident.

  • I hope the world gives Bynes the same energy and grace.

  • The government will ask the parliament to approve the dismissal of the defence minister and appoint Todor Tagarev to the post.

  • For the first time, the US has approved direct delivery of missiles to Ukraine as part of a package approved by the White House.

  • Many Ukrainians were forced to leave their homes in 48 hours. They need protection, according to Ryan Reynolds.

  • There were crude jokes about taking in fleeing Ukrainian women. They were quickly removed from the internet.