For today, links to reports from Sputnik Africa, Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Tass, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance and Oronoco Tribune, commentary from Sputnik Africa. — MCM

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Paris says ready to conclude agreements on providing security guarantees to Kiev. From Sputnik Africa. PARIS — France is ready to conclude agreements with Ukraine on providing it with security guarantees together with NATO partners, the French Foreign Ministry said today. On Monday, the American media reported that the United States, together with the UK, Germany and France would all become guarantors of . . . READ MORE . . .

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Civilians flee, Kremlin ‘concerned’ after Ukraine border clashes. From AFP. Moscow today voiced deep concern on the second day of the most serious armed incursion to date over its border with Ukraine, after explosive strikes forced civilians to flee. Russia said the Belgorod border region had come under sustained artillery and mortar ire during fighting with a group that it claimed had crossed from Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Russia says pushed back, ‘destroyed’ Ukraine border assault group. From AFP. Russia said today its armed forces had beaten back and then wiped out a group of militants and military hardware that were dispatched to its southern Belgorod region from Ukraine. The incursion was the most serious attack on Russian soil since the beginning of Moscow’s offensive in Ukraine, prompting . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia fights alleged incursion from Ukraine for second day, reports more drone attacks, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — Russian troops and security forces today fought for a second day against an alleged cross-border raid that Moscow blamed on Ukrainian military saboteurs but which Kyiv portrayed as an uprising against the Kremlin by Russian . . . READ MORE . . .

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Pope’s Ukraine peace envoy blasts war as a ‘pandemic’ that affects everyone, by Nicole Winfield | AP  ROME — Pope Francis’ peace envoy for Ukraine, a veteran of the Catholic Church’s conflict-mediation efforts, today blasted war as a “pandemic” and said all Christians are called to be peacemakers. In his first public comments since being named Ukraine envoy, Cardinal Matteo Zuppi called . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine reaches agreement with Norway for more NASAMS supplies. From Tass. A Ukrainian government delegation visiting Oslo has agreed with Norway on additional deliveries of units of the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System (NASAMS), “and other essential weapons,” Ukrainian Verkhovna Rada [parliament] Speaker Ruslan Stefanchuk said today. READ MORE . . .

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Jester or rebel? Mercenary Prigozhin lays bare the strains of Putin’s war, by Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters MOSCOW — Yevgeny Prigozhin on Saturday delivered President Vladimir Putin one of the few battlefield victories of the president’s 15-month war in Ukraine. Even then, Russia’s most powerful mercenary could not resist breaking the taboos . . . READ MORE . . .

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African initiative on Ukraine settlement cements Africa’s new global role, by Muhammad Nooh Osman | Sputnik Africa  South African president Cyril Ramaphosa confirmed last week that Moscow and Kiev had agreed to receive a mission of African leaders with their peace initiative for the Russian-Ukrainian conflict. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov later confirmed that the African mission was planning to visit Russia in mid-June or early July. The mission . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Tass, Reuters, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Le Monde; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, via Popular Resistance, commentary on the battle for Bakhmut/Artyomovsk. Then, links to  French- and Spanish-language versions of reports from two news services.  — MCM

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President of Brazil proposes to hold UN summit on Ukraine. From Tass. HIROSHIMA, Japan — Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva said today he considers it necessary to hold a UN summit on the situation in Ukraine before September. “We could reschedule the General Assembly meeting, which usually takes place in September, to June or July to . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says it advances on Bakhmut’s flanks to entrap Russians, by  Olena Harmash | Reuters KYIV — Ukraine said its forces north and south of Bakhmut were advancing today, to entrap Russians inside the ruined city that Moscow says it captured over the weekend after Europe’s bloodiest battle for ground troops since World War Two. . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia claims eastern city of Bakhmut, but Ukrainian military leaders say battle isn’t over, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — Although Russia claims it has won control of Ukraine’s eastern city of Bakhmut after a grinding nine-month conflict in which tens of thousands of fighters have died, top Ukrainian military leaders say the battle is not over. Ukrainian officials acknowledge they control only a small part of Bakhmut. Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar said today that . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine ‘sabotage’ group crosses into Russia: Russian governor. From AFP. Russian troops and intelligence agents were seeking to “eliminate” a Ukrainian “sabotage” group that crossed the Russian border, a regional governor said today. Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov added that troops and the FSB security service were “taking . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says it is still fighting in Bakhmut, amid conflicting narratives. From Le Monde. Ukraine said it continued to fight for Bakhmut today, May 22, and still controlled a corner of the eastern city, as Russia’s paramilitary Wagner company said it would transfer control of the ruined hotspot to the Russian army by June 1. Both Wagner and the regular Russian army said over the weekend . . . READ MORE . . .

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Bakhmut has fallen; Artyomovsk has been liberated, by Moon of Alabama. The largest battle so far of the 21st century ended Sunday. Bakhmut has fallen. Artyomovsk (the Russian/Soviet name of the city) has been liberated. This was announced by the titular leader of the Wagner forces, Yevgeny Prigozhin. The destroyed city will continue to exist as an important logistical hub with several rail and road . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky dément la capture de Bakhmout revendiquée par la Russie. De AFP. L’armée ukrainienne affirme mener des contre-attaques dans la ville dévastée de Bakhmout, dont le président Volodymyr Zelensky a démenti la capture revendiquée par la Russie. Le chef du groupe paramilitaire russe Wagner, Evguéni Prigojine, dont les hommes sont en première ligne dans les combats . . . LIRE PLUS . . .

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Para Ucrania, el objetivo en Bájmut es mantener ocupadas a las fuerzas rusas hasta agotarlas, por Samya Kullab | AP  KIEV — La batalla de nueve meses por Bájmut ha destruido esa ciudad ucraniana de 400 años de antigüedad y dejado de miles de personas muertas, en una demostración mutuamente devastadora de la estrategia ucraniana de agotar a las fuerzas rusas. La neblina de guerra hizo imposible confirmar la situación en el terreno el domingo . . . LEA  MÁS . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM

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Zelenskyy meets world leaders at G-7. Reported by Anthony Kuhn and Scott Detrow | NPR  Ukraine’s president Zelenskyy has joined President Biden and G-7 leaders in Hiroshima to talk about Russia’s war. The summit also includes discussion about China, North Korea and denuclearization. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Zelenskyy denies Ukrainian city of Bakhmut occupied by Russian forces, by Zeke Miller, Elise Morton and Susie Blann | AP  HIROSHIMA, Japan — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today that Russian forces weren’t occupying Bakhmut, casting doubt on Moscow’s insistence that the eastern Ukrainian city had fallen. “Bakhmut is not occupied by the Russian Federation as of today. . . . We are not throwing people [away] to die,” he said in Ukrainian through an interpreter. “People are . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine denies fall of Bakhmut, says advancing in suburbs. From AFP. Ukraine today denied Bakhmut had fallen to Russian troops in the longest battle of the war and said it was instead advancing around the suburbs, making it “very difficult” for Russian troops to stay in the devastated city. A day after Russian President Vladimir Putin . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskyy’s recent diplomatic moves signal a new phase for the war in Ukraine. Reported by Ayesha Rascoe andJoanna Kakissis | NPR  A look at Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s diplomatic push and what it might mean for the the next phase of the war in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Germany’s supplies of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine not on agenda – Chancellor Scholz. From Tass. HIROSHIMA, Japan — German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said that the participation of his country in a possible delivery of F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine is not on the agenda. “First of all, everyone knows . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, a link to a statement from the Eisenhower Media Network that was linked yesterday in commentary HERE from Consortium News. Then, a link to AP’s translation into Spanish of one of its reports below. — MCM

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Zelenskyy arrives at Arab League summit, as Saudi Arabia flexes diplomatic muscle. Reported by Aya Batrawy | NPR  Following Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s tour of Europe last week, the Ukrainian leader spoke at the Arab summit as part of a broader pitch to firm up global support for his country against Russia’s almost 15-month-long invasion. And Syria’s return to the Arab League this year reflects . . . Click HERE to listen and read.

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Saudi surge of diplomacy brings Assad, Zelenskyy to Arab summit, by Bassem Mroue | AP  JEDDAH, Saudi Arabia — Saudi Arabia hosted an Arab League summit on Friday in which Syrian President Bashar Assad was welcomed back after a 12-year suspension and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy made a surprise visit to rally support against Russia. The odd pairing of the two leaders in the same . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskyy arrives in Hiroshima for G7 summit as world leaders sanction Russia, by Foster Klug, Adam Schreck and Zeke Miller | AP   HIROSHIMA, Japan — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy arrived in Japan today for talks with the leaders of the world’s most powerful democracies, a personal appearance meant to galvanize global attention as the nations ratcheted up pressure on Moscow for its 15-month invasion of Ukraine. Bolstering international support is . . . READ MORE . . .

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Why Ukraine’s spring offensive still hasn’t begun — with summer just weeks away, by Tara Copp | AP  WASHINGTON (AP) — For months, Western allies have shipped billions of dollars worth of weapons systems and ammunition to Ukraine with an urgency to get the supplies to Kyiv in time for an anticipated spring counteroffensive. Last week Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said it’s been delayed because his country lacks enough Western weapons to succeed without suffering too many casualties. Weather and training are . . . READ MORE   

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Russia to take into account West’s plan to send F-16 aircraft to Kiev – Senior diplomat. From Tass. MOSCOW — Western countries continue down the path of escalation and Moscow will take their plans to send F-16 aircraft to Ukraine into account, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Alexander Grushko said today. “We can see . . . READ MORE . . .

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Modi tells Zelensky India to do ‘whatever we can’ to resolve Ukraine crisis. From AFP. India will “do whatever we can” to resolve the Ukraine crisis, Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged today as he met President Volodymyr Zelensky for the first time since Russia’s invasion. “I understand your pain and the pain . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘The U.S. should be a force for peace in the world.’ From the Eisenhower Media Network. The Russia-Ukraine War has been an unmitigated disaster. Hundreds of thousands have been killed or wounded. Millions have been displaced. Environmental and economic destruction have been incalculable. Future devastation . . . READ MORE . . .

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Por qué Ucrania no ha iniciado su ofensiva de primavera, con el verano ya cerca, por Tara Copp | AP  WASHINGTON — Durante meses, los aliados occidentales han enviado a Ucrania sistemas de armas y municiones por un valor de miles de millones de dólares, con la urgencia de que los suministros arriben a tiempo a Kiev para una contraofensiva prevista para esta primavera boreal. La semana pasada, el presidente ucraniano Volodymyr Zelenskyy dijo que ha sido postergada porque su país carece de suficientes armas occidentales para alcanzar el éxito sin sufrir demasiadas bajas. El clima y el entrenamiento también . . . LEA MÁS  . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

Leading off in late morning, via Consortium News, a link to a piece of news and commentary from Common Dreams. Next, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Tass, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, also via Consortium News, a link to commentary by a professor of international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. — MCM

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U.S. national security experts call for peace in Ukraine, by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J.S. Davies | Common Dreams  On Tuesday, The New York Times published a full-page advertisement signed by 15 U.S. national security experts about the war in Ukraine. It was headed “The U.S. Should Be a Force for Peace in the World,” and was drafted by the Eisenhower Media Network. While condemning Russia’s invasion, the statement provides a more objective . .  . READ MORE . . .

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The G-7 is tightening up economic sanctions on Russia for its war on Ukraine. Reported by Scott Detrow and Lexie Schapitl | NPR  The United States plans to blacklist about 70 companies and organizations for selling restricted U.S. products to Russia, part of a push by G-7 nations to try to exact more economic pain on Russia for its war on Ukraine. Each of the G-7 countries has actions planned, said a U.S. official. “This is going . . . Click HERE to listen and read. 

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Ukraine arrests its top judge amid growing concerns about corruption. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Ukraine’s top judge has been arrested after allegedly receiving nearly $3 million in bribes for favorable rulings, the latest crackdown on endemic graft as Ukraine seeks to join the European Union. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the G7 meeting in person. Reported by Leila Fadel and Anthony Kuhn | NPR  Zelenskyy’s expected appearance on Sunday comes as Western allies harden their resolve in support of Ukraine. Russia’s military aggression toward its neighbor is on top of the G-7 summit’s agenda . Click HERE to listen and, later, read.  

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$3 billion accounting error means the Pentagon can send more weapons to Ukraine, by Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor | AP  WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by at least $3 billion — an accounting error that could be a boon for the war effort because it will allow the Defense Department to send more weapons now without asking Congress for more money. The acknowledgment Thursday comes . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian arms, ammo depots with precision weapons. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces hit Kiev’s large foreign equipment and armament depots and army reserves with seaborne and air-launched precision weapons, destroying substantial weapon and ammunition stockpiles during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday in a briefing. “Last night . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian forces in retreat near Bakhmut, Ukraine and Wagner say. From Reuters. The Ukrainian military and Russia’s Wagner private army both reported further Russian retreats on the outskirts of Bakhmut on Thursday, as Kyiv pressed on with its biggest advance in six months ahead of a planned counteroffensive. Ukrainian troops near the front line said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Poland asks China to ‘condemn China’s aggression’ in Ukraine. From AFP. WARSAW — Poland today asked Beijing to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and criticised Moscow’s nuclear “blackmail” during a meeting in Warsaw with China’s special Ukraine envoy Li Hui. Deputy Foreign Minister Wojciech Gerwel “expressed the hope . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. values, vertities & global failure, by Michael Brenner | Consortium News  Today’s Russia is viewed in Washington as the avatar of the Soviet Union, and China as posing an even more ominous danger than did Imperial Japan. Ignorance of far more subtle and complex realities is cultivated seemingly as an automatic preference for stereotypes that conveniently match . . . READ MORE . . .

For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below.— MCM

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Russia fires 30 cruise missiles at Ukrainian targets; Ukraine says 29 were shot down, by Susue Blann | AP  KYIV — Russia fired 30 cruise missiles against different parts of Ukraine early today, killing one person and wounding two, in the latest nighttime test of Ukrainian air defenses, which shot down 29 of them, officials said. Amid the recently intensified Russian air assaults, China said its special envoy met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during . . . READ MORE . . .

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The Ukraine grain deal is extended 2 months, helping ease the global food crisis, by Charles Maynes and Joanna Kakissis | NPR  An agreement allowing Ukrainian grain exports to ship through the Black Sea to help ease global hunger has been extended for two months just a day before its expiration — overcoming Russia’s threats to pull out of the deal. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday announced . . . READ MORE . . .

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G7 to discuss sanctions on Russian diamonds: EU. From AFP. G7 leaders meeting in Japan will discuss sanctioning Russia’s billion-dollar diamond trade, an EU official said today, hoping to further starve Moscow of funds for its war in Ukraine. Russia exported almost $5 billion worth of diamonds in 2021, according to . . . READ MORE . . .

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About eight railway cars derail in Crimea, authorities report. From Tass. SIMFEROPOL — Eight railway cars derailed in the Simferopol district of Crimea, Nikolay Lukashenko, Crimean transport minister, said today. Crimean . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kiev’s pilots not allowed to train on European F-16s amid Washington’s skepticism – NYT. From Tass. NEW YORK — Ukrainian pilots are not allowed to train on F-16 fighter jets owned by European countries, as Washington remains unconvinced that Kiev needs the expensive aircraft, the New York Times reported on Wednesday, citing a senior Ukrainian official. Despite . . . READ MORE . . .

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Traitor next door? Fear stalks Kherson after Russian occupation ends, by Elizabeth Piper | Reuters  Fear and suspicion stalk the streets of Kherson, a southern port that was occupied by Russian troops for over eight months before they were driven out by Ukrainian forces in November. The city is now the focus of relentless Russian bombardment. A district administrator said . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Tass, National Public Radio, the Associated Press, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, a link to an investigative report self-published by an investigative journalist on Substack. — MCM

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Ukrainian spymaster calls for establishing 100-km demilitarized zone with Russia. From Tass. MOSCOW — Top Ukrainian intelligence official Kirill Budanov has proposed creating a 100-km-long demilitarized zone between Ukraine and Russia. “The question of ending the war [involves] the creation of a demilitarized zone; this is our goal,” the head of the Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s Main Intelligence Directorate said. Further elaborating . . . READ MORE . . .

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There are signs Ukraine’s spring counteroffensive may have already started. Reported by Leila Fadel and Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Ukrainian forces claim they’ve made advances in the battle for Bakhmut — a city in the east that Russia has been trying to capture for more than 10 months. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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G-7 leaders likely to focus on the war in Ukraine and tensions in Asia at summit in Hiroshima, by Adam Schreck | AP  HIROSHIMA, Japan — The symbolism will be palpable when leaders of the world’s rich democracies sit down in Hiroshima, a city whose name evokes the tragedy of war, to tackle a host of challenges including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine denies Russia destroyed Patriot missile defence system. From Reuters. Ukraine denied today that a Russian hypersonic missile had destroyed a US-made Patriot missile defence system during an air strike on Kyiv. Russia’s defence ministry made the assertion Tuesday after an overnight air attack on the Ukrainian capital. Two US officials later said a Patriot system had probably suffered damage but . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia poised to decide if Ukraine’s grain deal survives. That’s a risk to global food security, by Jamey Keaten and Courtney Bonnell | AP  GENEVA — The United Nations is racing to extend a deal that has allowed shipments of Ukrainian grain through the Black Sea to parts of the world struggling with hunger, helping ease a global food crisis exacerbated by the war Russia launched more than a year ago. The breakthrough accord . . . READ MORE . . .

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Can Ukraine use Patriot defense systems to knock out Russian hypersonic missiles? From Reuters. Ukraine said on Tuesday that it downed six Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in a single night, in what would be a major setback for Moscow’s efforts to develop an unstoppable next-generation weapon. Last week the U.S. military confirmed that Ukraine had shot down a Kinzhal missile using the U.S.-produced . . . READ MORE . . .

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How well prepared is Ukraine for its expected counteroffensive? Reported by Ailsa Chang, Elena Burnett and Christopher Intagliata | NPR  Max Bergmann of the Center for Strategic and International Studies talks about Ukraine’s planned counteroffensive and what it will take to be successful. Click HERE to listen and read.

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‘I only operate’: A Ukrainian trauma surgeon has an all-consuming task during Russia’s war, by Illia Novikov and Vasilisa Stepanenko | AP  KYIV — As the lead trauma surgeon at a military hospital in Ukraine’s capital, Petro Nikitin has his hands deep in a war churning hundreds of kilometers (miles) away. The 59-year-old doctor’s work . . . READ MORE . . .

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The Ukraine refugee question, by Seymour Hersh | Substack A driving force for the quiet European talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has been the more than five million Ukrainians fleeing from the war who have crossed the country’s borders and have registered with its neighbors under an EU agreement for temporary protection that includes residency rights, access to the labor market, housing, social welfare assistance, and medical care. An assessment published by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees reports that the estimate excludes roughly 3 million Ukrainian refugees who escaped from the war zone without a visa into . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, links to two articles opposing U.S. policy toward Russia, the first in the context of NATO expansion and the second focusing on Washington’s prioritizing warfare over diplomacy. — MCM

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Russia launches ‘exceptional’ air attack on Kyiv as Europe, China look to exert influence, by Samya Kulla | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian air defenses thwarted an intense Russian air attack on Kyiv early today, shooting down all 18 missiles aimed at the capital with the help of Western-supplied weapons, officials said. Loud explosions boomed over Kyiv as the nighttime attack combined Russian missiles launched from the air, sea and land in an apparent attempt to overwhelm Ukraine’s air defenses. No casualties were reported. The barrage . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kyiv says it shoots down volley of hypersonic missiles, by Gleb Garanich and Sergiy Karazy | Reuters  * First time Kyiv has claimed to shoot down multiple Kinzhals * Putin had touted the nuclear-capable missile as a world beater * Ukraine preparing major counteroffensive * Already claims biggest battlefield gains for six months | KYIV — Ukraine said today it had shot down six Russian hypersonic Kinzhal missiles in a single night, thwarting a superweapon Moscow had previously touted as all but unstoppable. It was the first time Ukraine had claimed to have struck an entire volley of multiple hypersonic missiles, and if confirmed would be a demonstration of the effectiveness of newly deployed Western air defences. READ MORE . . .

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Russia says ‘all targets hit’ in overnight barrage on Ukraine. From AFP. Russia says that all the targets assigned by its military in an overnight missile barrage on Ukraine had been hit, after Kyiv announced it had downed nearly 20 Russian missiles. The defense ministry in Moscow says long-range precision-strike missiles had targeted . . . READ MORE . . .

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Situation in Artymovsk ‘tense’, but Russian forces continue to advance, says DPR head. From Tass. MOSCOW — The acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic, Denis Pushilin, said today there were “fewer and fewer high-rises” in Artymovsk (Ukrainian name Bakhmut) controlled by the Ukrainian units.” READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says recaptured 50 sq. km. near Bakhmut in recent days. From AFP. A Ukrainian deputy defence minister said today that Kyiv’s troops have pushed Russian forces from chunks of territory around the embattled city of Bakhmut in the east of the country. “In the last few days,” Ganna Malyar said, “our troops liberated around 20 square kilometers (7.7 square miles) in the north and south of the outskirts of Bakhmut. At the same time, . . . READ MORE . . .

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Why are we in Ukraine? On the dangers of American hubris, by Benjamin Schwarz and Christopher Layne | Harper’s Magazine From the early Nineties, Washington’s message to Moscow could not have been clearer or more disquieting: Normal diplomacy among great powers was obsolete. Russia was expected to acquiesce to a new world order created and dominated by the United States. The radical expansion of NATO’s writ reflected . . . READ MORE . . .

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Why RFK’s candidacy matters to the conservative cause, by David Stockman | antiwar.com  There is nothing more stupid, pointless, unnecessary and morally repugnant than Washington’s proxy war against Russia in Ukraine. Owing to that folly, Ukrainians in their tens of thousands are being slaughtered and what was once the breadbasket and industrial heartland of eastern Europe is being smashed to smithereens. And all because . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from Reuters, Tass, the Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, links to two Spanish-language versions of AP reports. Finally for today, from 1945, links to two recent military analyses. — MCM

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Ukraine hails its first offensive success in defence of Bakhmut, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters — Ukraine’s military today hailed recent advances around Bakhmut as its first successful counterattack in the battle against Russian forces fighting for control of the eastern city. But Kyiv also . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine steps up efforts in all areas, but it is not counteroffensive, says DPR head. From Tass. MOSCOW — Ukraine has stepped up efforts along the entire line of engagement, but it is not yet a counteroffensive announced by Kiev, acting head of the Donetsk People’s Republic Denis Pushilin said today. “We had to prepare for this . . . READ MORE . . .

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France pledges more military aid as Ukraine’s Zelenskyy makes surprise Paris visit to meet Macron, by John Leicester and Frank Jordans | AP  PARIS — France pledged additional military aid for Ukraine on Sunday, including light tanks, armored vehicles, training for soldiers and other assistance as the Ukrainians gear up for a counteroffensive against Russian forces, following surprise talks in Paris between the Ukrainian and French presidents. READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin says shot down new Storm Shadow missile fired by Kyiv. From AFP. Russia’s defense ministry said today it had downed a long-range Storm Shadow missile fired by Ukrainian forces that had been provided by the UK. “Air defense systems intercepted seven HARM anti-radar missiles, one Storm Shadow long-range cruise missile” as well as 10 projectiles fired by HIMARS, Russian defense ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov said in a briefing, referring to the last 24 hours.

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Kremlin says new UK weapons for Ukraine will only cause ‘further destruction.’ From AFP. The Kremlin said today new British weapons due to be supplied to Kyiv will only cause “further destruction,” as Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky visits the UK for talks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. “Britain aspires . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian missile strike kills 4 in Ukraine as Zelensky visits UK, by Joshua Melvin and Jitendra Joshi | AFP  A Russian missile strike killed four people and hit a hospital in eastern Ukraine, officials said today, as President Volodymyr Zelensky won the promise of “hundreds” more missiles and drones on a visit to Britain. But elsewhere . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskyy: la contraofensiva no pretende atacar territorio ruso, por Frank Jordans | AP  BERLÍN — Ucrania prepara una contraofensiva diseñada para liberar zonas ocupadas por Rusia, no para atacar territorio ruso, indicó el domingo el presidente de Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. El periódico Washington Post citó documentos no revelados anteriormente procedentes de un conjunto de filtraciones de los servicios de inteligencia estadounidenses que sugieren . . . LEA MÁS  . . .

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Gran Bretaña promete más armas a Ucrania durante la gira de Zelenskyy, por Jill Lawless y Danika Kirka | AP  LONDRES — El presidente de Ucrania, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, estaba el lunes en Gran Bretaña dentro de su gira relámpago por Europa. Londres, firme aliado de Kiev, prometió cientos de misiles más y drones de ataque en un esfuerzo de cambiar el rumbo de la guerra. La guerra, Zelenskyy señaló, es un asunto de “seguridad no sólo para Ucrania, es importante para . . . LEA MÁS  . . .

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Ukraine’s long-expected offensive: Why it won’t beat Putin, by Daniel Davis | 1945  Ukraine has a complex reality it must face: U.S., UK, and EU senior leaders have voiced over the past few days strong support for Ukraine and their widely reported upcoming offensive. Reading some of the off-headline comments they’ve made, however, exposes the growing realization . . . READ MORE . . .

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Putin can’t hide this: The Ukraine war crushed the Russian military, by Peter Suciu | 1945  The Russian military in Ukraine is increasingly unlikely to be able to mount successful operations as a combined ground force, according to a British Ministry of Defence intelligence update, which . . . READ MORE . . .

First, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, and (from yesterday and today) National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally, a link to an AP report from yesterday. — MCM

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Russia says two military commanders killed in eastern Ukraine. From AFP. Russia said today that two of its military commanders had been killed in combat near the frontline hotspot of Bakhmut in eastern Ukraine. In a rare announcement of its losses on the battlefield, the Russian Defense Ministry said the commander of the 4th motorized rifle brigade, Vyacheslav Makarov, and the deputy commander of the Army Corps for military-political work, Yevgeny Brovko, had been killed in fighting in eastern Ukraine. The announcement came as . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine troops, Western arms targeted in strikes: Russia. From AFP. Moscow said today that Russian forces had struck Western arms depots and Ukrainian troops in the western city of Ternopil and the eastern town of Petropavlivka. Russia’s armed forces “delivered a strike with high-precision long-range . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian president says counteroffensive does not aim to attack Russian territory, by Frank Jordans  | AP  BERLIN — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said today his country is preparing a counteroffensive designed to liberate areas occupied by Russia, not to attack Russian territory. He said Ukraine’s goal is to free the territories within its internationally recognized borders. “We don’t attack Russian territory, we liberate our own legitimate territory.” READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskiy in Berlin: we can make Russia’s defeat ‘irreversible,’ by Pavel Polityuk and Sarah Marsh | Reuters KYIV — President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said today Kyiv and its Western supporters could make Russia’s defeat in the war in Ukraine “irreversible” this year, as he thanked Germany for its military support. The Ukrainian leader told a joint news conference with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Berlin that Kyiv would always be grateful to Germany for its support during Russia’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin believes it’s obvious that Kiev is complicit in murdering Russians. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia is confident that Ukraine is complicit in attacks on Russians, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Friday. He was responding to a statement by Kirill Budanov, the head of the main intelligence directorate at the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, that Kiev was ready to kill Russians around the world. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine’s currency is being bolstered with financial support from other nations. Reported by Julian Hayda | NPR  Financial assistance to Ukraine will help shore up the country’s currency, which has maintained strong buying power despite the war. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Ukraine is expected to make a counteroffensive to take back Crimea. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR  Ukraine’s counteroffensive is expected any day, and there’s a debate about whether taking back Crimea is a good idea for Ukraine to do. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Zelenskyy meets Pope Francis at Vatican and seeks backing for Ukraine’s peace plan. From AP. ROME — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had private talks with Pope Francis at the Vatican on Saturday, later saying he sought support for Ukraine’s peace plan from the pontiff, who in the past has offered to try to help end the full-scale war launched by Russia a year ago. Earlier in the day, Zelenskyy received from Italian officials pledges of open-ended . . . READ MORE . . .