Day 221: NATO, US Statements; Russian Court Upholds Referendum

Facts

• In energy security developments, Nordstream AG informed Denmark authorities that the outflow of natural gas from the Nordstream 1 pipeline rupture has now stopped. Russian Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak stated that it was possible to fix the damaged infrastructure of both Nordstream 1 and 2, but that it would take "time and appropriate funds."
• Meanwhile, on Sunday, NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg suggested that Ukraine's recapture of the town of Lyman shows that Ukrainian forces are able to push back Russian forces, stating that the operation "demonstrates the Ukrainians are making progress." Stoltenberg also affirmed that Ukraine's application for accelerated NATO membership would need to consent of all 30 NATO members.
• Also on Sunday, US Senator Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) voiced concern that Russia could potentially strike within NATO territory "aiming at the airport in Poland or some other distribution point." Rubio stated that the threat of a nuclear attack from Russia was higher than a month ago, but he was more concerned about the "intermediate steps" Russian Pres. Putin could take.
• The Russian Constitutional Court has also reportedly ruled that the annexation of Donetsk and Lugansk and Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions to Russia are consistent with the Russian constitution. Russia's lower house will reportedly evaluate the ratification process on Monday.
• On the ground, Russian forces reportedly used Iranian-made 'suicide drones' in an attack on Krivyi Rih, the hometown of Ukrainian Pres. Zelenskyy - two stories of a school building were destroyed, according to Ukrainian officials. Elsewhere, Russia reported it destroyed seven artillery and missile depots in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Mykolaiv, and Donetsk.

Sources: Al Jazeera, Reuters, CNN, and Sputnik.

Narratives

• Pro-Russia narrative, as provided by Tass. Zelenskyy's bid to join NATO is nothing more than a provocation that won't bring anything to fruition. Due to the current situation, NATO's members will be hesitant to accept the bid, as it would result in a direct conflict between the alliance and Russia. This wasted retaliation in response to the reunification of Russian territories is likely to fall on deaf ears.
• Anti-Russia narrative, as provided by U.S. News. Russia's unprovoked war against Ukraine is the very thing that's pushing Kyiv straight into NATO's arms. While it remains to be seen whether all 30 members will welcome Ukraine, Zelenskyy's fast-track application takes a strong stance against Putin's illegitimate referenda and exposes that Putin is failing in one of his primary goals.

Predictions