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What happened in politics on 15 March 2022
Summary
A look back at a day of sanctions, parliamentary changes in Kyiv and a visit by three European prime ministers.
What did politics look like on 15 March 2022, the 20th day of the Russian invasion of Ukraine? Across several capitals, the day brought retaliatory sanctions, new US measures, a legislative step in Washington and a notable visit to Kyiv.
Three prime ministers arrive by train
The prime ministers of Poland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic travelled to Kyiv by train on 15 March 2022. They met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal. The stated aim was to demonstrate the "unequivocal support" of the European Union for Ukraine's sovereignty and independence.
The same day, Zelenskyy acknowledged that Ukraine would not be able to join NATO. Two days earlier, on 13 March, he had again called for a no-fly zone over Ukraine, saying it was only a matter of time before Russian rockets fell on NATO territory. He had also said that the purpose of talks between the Russian and Ukrainian delegations was to secure direct talks between himself and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Changes in the Verkhovna Rada
In parliament, Illia Kyva, a politician for the pro-Russian Opposition Platform — For Life, was deprived of his MP status in the Verkhovna Rada. A further four MPs quit the party on the same day.
Washington acts
In the United States, the Senate unanimously passed a bipartisan resolution declaring Putin a war criminal and calling for the International Criminal Court to investigate him. President Joe Biden signed a $1.5 trillion budget bill that included $13.6 billion in aid for Ukraine. The United States also imposed additional sanctions on Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko.
Moscow answers with its own lists
Russia responded to US sanctions on Russian officials by sanctioning Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, CIA Director William Burns and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton.
Russia also targeted Canada. Its sanctions covered Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Foreign Affairs Minister Mélanie Joly, General Wayne Eyre and most members of the Canadian parliament. Everyone on the list was banned from entering Russia.
A reminder from 13 March
Also on 13 March, the 18th day of the invasion, Ukraine's foreign minister, Dmytro Kuleba, said Russian forces had abducted Yevhen Matveev, the mayor of Dniprorudne.
Taken together, the events of 15 March 2022 show diplomacy moving on several tracks at once: European leaders travelling to Kyiv, Washington adding legislation, aid and sanctions, and Moscow answering with entry bans on Western officials.
