First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, the Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to commentary in early June by a presidential candidate on U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s June 2 address in Helsinki, Finland. Finally for today, via the Gleanville Post, a long, detailed commentary by a Serbian identified as an executive, engineer, economist and geopolitical analyst. — MCM
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Ukraine downs Russian drones but some get through due to gaps in air protection, by Susie Blann | AP KYIV — Ukrainian air defenses downed 32 of 35 Shahed exploding drones launched by Russia early today, most of them in the Kyiv region, officials said, in a bombardment that exposed gaps in the country’s air protection after almost 16 months of war. Russian forces mostly . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia attacks Kyiv and other cities in overnight air strikes. From Reuters. KYIV — Russia attacked military and infrastructure targets across Ukraine early today, including in the capital Kyiv and the western city of Lviv, Ukrainian officials said. Ukraine said it had shot down 32 of 35 drones. But a “critically important facility” was struck in Lviv, far from . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian forces wipe out two Ukrainian artillery ammo depots near Zaporozhye city. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces delivered multiple strikes by seaborne precision weapons targeting the Ukrainian army’s foreign equipment storage sites over the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today in a briefing. Russian forces . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine summer offensive ‘continues according to plan,’ by Pete Shmigel | The Kyiv Post There were ongoing offensive actions by Ukraine in all three of its chosen theaters of operation, as well as mine clearing activity, but no substantive territorial gains reported. Eight villages and an additional 113 square kilometers are now under Ukrainian . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s counteroffensive against Russia appears to produce limited gains so far. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR Ukraine’s troops have retaken a number of villages from Russian forces. But the increased fighting is also generating heavy casualties on both sides, according to a British military assessment. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Secretary Blinken and China’s Xi Jingping didn’t reach agreement on military contact. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken met with Chinese leader Xi Jingping. He called the talks “candid and constructive,” but they did not reach an agreement on resuming military-to-military contact. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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On Blinken war speech, by Robert F. Kennedy Jr. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s speech highlights once again that the Biden Administration has no intention of ending this conflict peacefully. The plan, which members of the administration including . . . READ MORE . . .
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Several topics regarding Ukraine, by Aleks | The Greanville Post This article will be about reminding you about some stuff that I already said months ago, stuff that is still current and more than relevant. Moreover, I want to issue very briefly some new considerations. Please don’t take them as an analysis, since I do not have the time currently for proper research. Take them as opinions. READ MORE . . .