First, links to reports by the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Biden to meet eastern flank NATO leaders amid Russia worries, by Aamer Madhani | AP WARSAW — President Joe Biden is wrapping up a whirlwind, four-day visit to Poland and Ukraine today by reassuring eastern flank NATO allies that his administration is highly attuned to the looming threats and other impacts spurred by the grinding Russian invasion of Ukraine. Before departing Warsaw he is holding talks with leaders from the Bucharest Nine, a collection of nations on . . . READ MORE . . .
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Biden and Putin both gave speeches for the anniversary of Russian invasion. Reported by Asma Khalid and Charles Maynes| NPR President Biden spoke in Warsaw ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and a day after his Kyiv visit. Meanwhile, President Vladimir Putin addressed the Russian nation in Moscow. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Wagner chief urges Russians to pressure army to give his fighters ammunition. From AFP. The head of the Wagner mercenary outfit, Yevgeny Prigozhin, today on Telegram urged Russians to pressure Russia’s regular army into sharing ammunition with his fighters in Ukraine. “If every Russian at his own level — in order not to call anyone to rallies — would simply say ‘give ammunition to Wagner’, as is already going on on social media, then . . . READ MORE . . .
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The man behind the Wagner Group mercenaries fighting for Russia in Ukraine. Charles Maynes of NPR offers a portrait of Yevgeny Prigozhin, the man behind a mercenary force fighting for Russia in Ukraine, from Prigozhin’s home town Saint Petersburg. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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The stories of Ukrainian citizens who formed espionage cells to help liberate Kherson. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR The southern port of Kherson was the first major Ukrainian city occupied by Russian forces. Despite deep ties to Russia, an army of citizen spies helped to liberate the city in November. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Remembering 33-year-old Pete Reed, a frontline humanitarian medic killed in Ukraine. Reported by Quil Lawrence | NPR Pete Reed, a former U.S. Marine turned frontline humanitarian medic was killed by a Russian missile this month while treating wounded Ukrainian civilians in Bakhmut. We hear from those who knew him. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Top brands pull out of Russia, but their goods remain easy to find, by Alexander Marrow | Reuters * This content was produced in Russia where the law restricts coverage of Russian military operations in Ukraine | MOSCOW — Trucks carrying Coca Cola roll across the border into Russia, tourists return from abroad laden with Zara’s latest designs, and local online marketplaces snap up IKEA’s furniture stocks. Western brands may have left the country, but their goods haven’t. Despite European, North American and Japanese companies exiting Russia over its actions in Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED