The financial services corporations move to cut all Russia-issued bank cards from international transactions International card companies Mastercard and Visa have announced they are ceasing operations and disconnecting all Russian banks from their payment systems due to sanctions related to Moscow’s ongoing war in Ukraine.

US lawmakers call for more military assistance to Kiev following a meeting with the Ukrainian president Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky demanded that the US help provide either fighter jets or a no-fly zone during a virtual meeting with American lawmakers on Saturday as Russia’s military action in Ukraine continues.

Defense Minister Peter Dutton likened China’s situation with Taiwan to Russia’s conflict with Ukraine Australian Defense Minister Peter Dutton refused to rule out arming Taiwan against China in the same way that the West has armed Ukraine against Russia, claiming Australia would do whatever it can to “deter China from acts of aggression.”