FT News Briefing Why Ukraine and Russia are fighting over a teeny island
May 19, 2022
Wall Street suffered a downturn following Target's profit warning, tied to inflation and supply chain issues. A tiny yet strategically vital island in the Black Sea, known as Snake Island, plays a significant role in the Ukraine-Russia conflict, with valiant Ukrainian guards earning recognition. Meanwhile, tensions over the Northern Ireland protocol reveal Britain's fraught relationship with the EU, while the U.S. women's soccer team celebrates a historic equal pay agreement, shining a light on gender rights in sports.
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Snake Island Standoff
- At the start of the war, a Russian warship told Ukrainian guards on Snake Island to surrender.
- One guard responded: "Russian warship, go f*** yourself."
Strategic Significance of Snake Island
- Snake Island's strategic importance is often overlooked.
- Controlling it allows control of the surrounding airspace and potential incursions into Moldova and Transnistria.
Brexit Battle Continues
- Britain and the EU are clashing over Northern Ireland's trade rules post-Brexit.
- Britain's Foreign Secretary Liz Truss plans to change some of these rules.