First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Moscow Times, Tass, Agence France-Presse, teleSUR, and india.com; others are accessible by clicking on their initials or names below. — MCM
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Putin signs annexation of Ukrainian regions as losses mount, by Adam Schreck | AP KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin signed the final papers today to annex four regions of Ukraine while his military struggled to control the new territory that was added in violation of international laws. . . . In a defiant move, the Kremlin held the door open for further land grabs in Ukraine. Speaking in a conference . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kremlin says annexation and retreat are not a contradiction amid Ukrainian successes, by Guy Faulconbridge and Felix Light | Reuters * Putin signs annexation documents * Russian forces battle counter-offensive * Putin appoints officials to run regions * Kremlin: the territories will be returned | LONDON — As President Vladimir Putin completed paperwork for the annexation of four regions of Ukraine today, the Kremlin said there was no contradiction between Russian retreats and Putin’s vow that they would always be part of Russia. . . . The conclusion of the legalities of the annexation of up to 18% of Ukrainian territory came as Russian forces battled to halt Ukrainian counter-offensives . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia claims front ‘stabilized’ as Ukraine pushes on with counteroffensive, by Leyla Latypova | The Moscow Times Russian officials sought today to allay concerns that Ukraine could achieve a major breakthrough in its ongoing counteroffensive amid reports that Kyiv’s forces were advancing in both the south and east of the country. Russian pro-war blogger Semyon Pegov confirmed today that Ukraine had recaptured a number of locations in the southern Kherson region . . . . At the same time, Kyiv’s forces appeared to be moving forward in the eastern Luhansk region . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia has great respect for everything Ukrainian, including language, culture — Putin. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia has always had tremendous respect for the Ukrainian people, culture and language, Russian President Vladimir Putin said today. . . . “Despite the current tragedy we have always had great respect for the Ukrainian people, Ukrainian culture, Ukrainian language and literature, and so on. And we have never permitted anything that is allowed in Ukraine in relation to Russian culture and the Russian language,” Putin said. He stressed . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia says ready to supply gas via undamaged pipeline. From AFP. MOSC OW — Moscow said today it was ready to quickly supply gas to Europe through an undamaged section of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline between Russia and Germany, after recent leaks heightened geopolitical tensions. “If the necessary legal decisions are made by European colleagues regarding [Nord Stream 2’s] certification . . . I think Russia in a short period of time could . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kremlin on Ukraine’s decree banning negotiations with Putin. From teleSUR. In the face of Ukraine’s decree “to recognize the impossibility of holding negotiations with the president of the Russian Federation, Vladimir Putin,” Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said Tuesday that Russia will await a new position by Ukraine or its new leader to resume peace talks. “It takes two sides to negotiate,” Peskov said, calling Russia an “advocate of the idea of achieving the terms proposed by the Russian side by diplomatic means” even before the country’s special military . . . READ MORE . . .
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In other news . . .
SpaceX spaceship blasts off to ISS carrying 4 including cosmonaut. AFP / india.com SpaceX spaceship Dragon carrying four astronauts blasted off today. Aboard were NASA astronauts Josh Cassada and Nicole Mann, Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, and Russian cosmonaut Anna Kikina. While on the orbiting laboratory, they will conduct over 200 science experiments and technology demonstrations in areas such as human health and lunar fuel systems. Click HERE and HERE for a photo and a video.