First, second and third, beginnings of a pair of Associated Press stories and a Reuters summary of events related to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. — MCM

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Ukraine strike on Russian territory reported as talks resume, by Nebi Qena and Yuras Karmanau | The Associated PressKYIV, Ukraine — Talks to stop the fighting in Ukraine resumed today, as another attempt to rescue civilians from the besieged port city of Mariupol broke down and Russia accused the Ukrainians of launching a cross-border helicopter attack on an oil depot. The governor of Russia’s Belgorod region said the alleged airstrike by a pair of helicopter gunships caused multiple fires and injured two people. A Kremlin spokesman said the incident on Russia’s territory could undermine the negotiations between Russian and Ukrainian representatives. “Certainly, this is not something that can be perceived as creating comfortable conditions for the continuation of the talks,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov replied when asked if the strike could be viewed as an escalation of the war in Ukraine. It was not immediately possible to verify the claim that Ukrainian helicopters targeted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Biden oil move aims to cut gasoline prices ‘fairly significantly’, by Zeke Miller and Josh Boak | The Associated Press WASHINGTON — President Joe Biden yesterday ordered the release of 1 million barrels of oil per day from the nation’s strategic petroleum reserve for six months, a bid to control energy prices that have spiked after the United States and allies imposed steep sanctions on Russia over its invasion of Ukraine. The president said it was not known how much gasoline prices could decline as a result of his . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian gas flows to Europe despite Putin deadline, by Sergiy Karazy | Reuters * Gas still flowing to Europe despite Putin threat to cut it off * Hopes for evacuations from Mariupol but aid not allowed in * Workers collect the bodies in recaptured Irpin | IRPIN, Ukraine — Russia allowed gas to keep flowing to Europe on today despite a deadline for buyers to pay in roubles or be cut off, and peace talks resumed, with Moscow saying it would respond to a Ukrainian offer. An order by President Vladimir Putin cutting off gas buyers unless they pay in roubles from today had caused alarm in Europe, where it was seen as Moscow’s strongest card to play to retaliate for Western financial sanctions. . . . Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said the decree would not affect shipments which were already paid for, only becoming an issue when new payments were due in the second half of the month. . . .  Negotiations aimed at ending the war resumed by video link, even as Ukrainian forces made more advances on the ground in a counterattack that has repelled the Russians from Kyiv and broken the sieges of some cities in the north and east. Russia said . . . READ MORE . . .

TO BE CONTINUED