First, a link to an opinion piece by a longtime participant in and analyst of foreign affairs in the nation’s capital in and out of government, containing further links. Then, links to reports from National Public Radio, Tass, Reuters, the Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Biden has an ‘off-ramp’ on Ukraine, by Ray McGovern | Antiwar.com / Educate! A Rose has bloomed In the Blinken/Sullivan/Biden desert of ideas on Ukraine. I refer to Rose Gottemoeller, 69, who was Under Secretary of State for Arms Control during the Obama/Biden second term and knows . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s power grid sustains record damage in Russian strikes, utility says. Reported by Julian Hayda | NPR KYIV — The Ukrainian General Staff reported that 40 cruise missiles and 16 allegedly Iranian-made drones hit Ukraine throughout Saturday. The power utility, Ukrenergo, says the extent of the damage has set a new record, eclipsing the attacks the country sustained earlier in October. The earlier . . . Click HERE to listen and read.
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Two killed, 12 wounded in Belgorod Region in shelling by Ukrainian forces – official. From Tass. MOSCOW — The number of people wounded in the shelling by the Ukrainian armed forces on the town of Shebekino in the Belgorod Region of Western Russia has risen to 12, while two civilians were killed, the region’s health minister said on Saturday. “Today, as . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia’s Shoigu warns of ‘uncontrolled escallation’ in Ukraine conflict. From Reuters. Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu told his French counterpart in a telephone call today that the situation in Ukraine was rapidly deteriorating and trending towards “uncontrolled escalation”. According to a report published by the Russian side, he told French Defence Minister Sebastien Lecornu that . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia builds defensive lines to stem Ukraine’s advance, by Andrew Meldrum | AP KYIV — Russian authorities are building defensive positions in occupied areas of Ukraine and border regions of Russia, reflecting fears that Ukrainian forces may attack along new sections of the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line . . . READ MORE . . .
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UK ‘refuted’ Ukraine escalation claims by Russia: govt. From AFP. LONDON — UK Defence Secretary Ben Wallace today “refuted” claims by Moscow that Western countries were facilitating a planned escalation of the war in Ukraine, in a rare call with Russian counterpart Sergei Shoigu. “The defence secretary refuted these claims and cautioned . . . READ MORE . . .
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Support for Ukraine becomes the focus of Italy’s politics. Reported by Sylvia Poggioli | NPR A rift between Italy’s new Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and coalition member Silvio Berlusconi over his ties to Russia complicates her effort to reassure the West of her support for Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.
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What the rhetoric used by Zelensky and Putin can tell us about the war in Ukraine. Ayesha Rascoe of NPR talks with Nina Jankowicz, an expert on information wars, about how Presidents Zelensky and Putin are talking about Ukraine, for both domestic and international audiences. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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TO BE CONTINUED