Russian polar vessel arrives in Cape Town as pact aims to quell tensions

Testing the Antarctic Treaty’s conflict-averse culture, the Kremlin’s grotesque invasion of Ukraine may be the peace and science agreement’s biggest challenge yet, say polar analysts. Some have asked why Russia, whose icebreaker nosed into Table Bay on Wednesday morning, may enjoy its seat at next week’s meeting of treaty nations at all. Others insist cooperation is key in the world’s greatest, most fragile deep freeze.