First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Bloomberg, and Tass,; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, a link to commentary from Bloomberg Opinion. Then, a link to commentary from antiwar.com, in which the text of Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s speech in  Heksinki is linked. — MCM

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China Ukraine envoy urges governments to ‘stop sending weapons to the battlefield,’ negotiate peace, by Joe McDonald | AP  BEIJING — China’s Ukraine envoy called on other governments Friday to “stop sending weapons to the battlefield” and appealed . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. Defense Secretary Austin says Washington won’t stand for ‘coercion and bullying’ from China, by David Rising | AP  SINGAPORE — American Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin vowed today that Washington would not stand for any “coercion and bullying” of its allies and partners by China, while assuring . . . READ MORE . . .

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Indonesia proposes demilitarized zone, UN referendum for Ukraine peace plan. From Reuters. SINGAPORE – Indonesia’s defence minister today proposed a peace plan for the war in Ukraine, calling for a demilitarised zone and a United Nations referendum in what he called disputed territory. Mr Prabowo Subianto proposed a multi-point plan, including . . . READ MORE . . .

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What Secretary of State Antony Blinken sees as Russia’s strategic failings in Ukraine. Reported by Michele Kelemen | NPR  Visiting NATO’s newest member, Finland, Secretary of State Antony Blinken gives a speech about what he sees as Russia’s strategic failings in Ukraine and promises NATO support for Kyiv. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Zelenskiy says Ukraine ready to launch counteroffensive. From Reuters. Ukraine is ready to launch its long-awaited counteroffensive to recapture Russian-occupied territory, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said in an interview published today. READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskyy accepts Ukraine cannot become a NATO member until the war ends. Scott Simon of NPR talks with John R. Deni, a research professor at the U.S. Army War College, about developments in Ukraine’s bid to join NATO. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Debt-limit deal won’t restrict U.S. ability to fund Ukraine, by Jordan Fabian and Justin Sink | Bloomberg The bipartisan deal to avert a debt default won’t constrain the Biden administration’s\s ability to provide more . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian precision weapons hit Ukraine’s air defenses shielding key military sites. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia’s Aerospace Forces delivered a strike by air-launched precision weapons against Ukrainian air defenses shielding key military sites over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Friday in a general briefing. “At night, the Russian Aerospace Forces delivered . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine war may become a proving ground for AI, by James Stavridis | Bloomberg Opinion For better and worse, the arenas of warfare and geopolitics lend themselves to a variety of ways in which new technologies can suddenly break apart paradigms. Think of Agincourt in 1415, where the flower of the French nobility . . . READ MORE . . .

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Blinken dismisses calls for a ceasefire, says U.S. must build up Ukraine’s military, by Kyle Anzalone | antiwar.com The United States will focus its efforts on arming Ukraine and not attempting to bring the war to a negotiated settlement, America’s top diplomat said Friday in Finland. Secretary of State Antony Blinken laid out a plan to massively expand Kiev’s military before talks . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and Newsweek; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to a Newsweek story linked in an article from the Libertarian Institute cited HERE yesterday. — MCM

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Blinken says no Ukraine cease-fire without a peace deal that includes Russia’s withdrawal, by Susie Blann and Matthew Lee | AP  KYIV — U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today there can be no cease-fire in the war in Ukraine unless it is part of a “just and lasting” peace deal that includes Russia’s military withdrawal. He said “a cease-fire that simply freezes current lines in place” and allows Russian President Vladimir Putin “to consolidate control over . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says it downed 36 Russian missiles and drones, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters KYIV — Ukrainian forces in Kyiv said today they shot down 36 Russian missiles and drones in and around the capital overnight, with two people injured by falling debris before authorities lifted air raid alerts across most of the country. Russia has launched about 20 missile and drone attacks on Kyiv since the beginning of May, a surge . . . READ MORE . . .

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U.S. seeking explosives in Japan for Ukraine artillery shells, by Tim Kelly, Nobuhiro Kubo, Yukiko Toyoda and Kaori Kaneko | Reuters TOKYO — The United States is seeking to secure supplies of TNT in Japan for 155mm artillery shells, as Washington rushes weapons and ammunition to Ukraine for a counteroffensive against Russian forces, two people familiar with the matter told Reuters. For war-renouncing Japan, any procurement would test its willingness to court controversy to help Kyiv because export rules ban Japanese companies from selling lethal items overseas, such as . . . READ MORE . .

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Europe suffering sharp munitions deficit due to military aid largesse to Kiev – newspaper. From Tass.  ROME — Europe is experiencing a palpable deficit of ammunition due to its generous military support for the Kiev regime, Italian daily La Repubblica reported today. According to the newspaper, among other items, there is a shortage of shells and explosives for warheads. That . . . READ MORE . . .

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Two wounded after drone hits Russian city near Ukraine: governor. From AFP. Two people were wounded on Thursday when a drone hit Russia’s southwestern city of Belgorod near Ukraine, regional officials said. “An unknown device exploded in Belgorod,” regional governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said. Belgorod Mayor Valentin Demidov said the explosion went off near a petrol station, adding . . . READ MORE . . .

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What is known about Kiev’s attack on city of Shebekino in Belgorod Region. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces thwarted a Ukrainian attempt to break into the city of Shebekino in the Belgorod Region, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Igor Konashenkov told reporters Thursday. He said Kiev lost over 60 servicemen and six vehicles; several civilians were injured as a result of Ukraine’s attack . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian commanders facing ‘acute dilemma’ as border regions attacked: U.K., by Isabel Van Brugen | Newsweek Russian commanders have faced an “acute dilemma” as its border regions came under attack for the second time in 10 days, the British Ministry of Defence (MoD) said today. The MoD’s intelligence update came a day after anti-Vladimir Putin militias said they crossed into Russia’s Belgorod region. Ilya Ponomarev, an exiled Russian politician . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia ‘on course’ for NATO conflict, Czech commander says, by David Brennan | Newsweek General Karel Rehka, the chief of the general staff of the Czech armed forces, said at a conference in the Czech parliament on Monday that NATO militaries must undertake the “essential” task of preparing for the “worst-case scenario” of a NATO war with Russia, according to Czech news service iROZHLAS. READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Moscow Times, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to a report from the Libertarian Institute. — MCM

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Latest Russian missile bombardment of Ukraine’s capital kills at least 3 people, including a child, by Hanna Arhirova and Susue Blann | AP  KYIV — The latest pre-dawn Russian missile attack on Kyiv killed at least three people today, including a 9-year-old child and her mother, Ukrainian officials said. Ukrainian air defenses . . . READ MORE . . .

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NATO presses Turkey to drop objections to Sweden’s membership as summit looms, by Mattew Lee and Lorne Cook | AP  OSLO, Norway — NATO today ramped up pressure on its member Turkey to drop its objections to Sweden’s membership as the military organization seeks to deal with the issue by the time U.S. President Joe Biden and his counterparts meet next month. Fearing that they . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelenskiy joins European leaders at summit in Moldova, by John Irish andAndrew Gray | Reuters BULBOACA, Moldova – President Volodymyr Zelensky pressed his case for Ukraine to be part of the Nato military alliance as he joined European leaders on Thursday in Moldova close to his nation’s border ahead of an expected counter-offensive against Russia’s invasion. Meeting Moldovan President Maia Sandu . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia lays mines at ‘industrial level’ ahead of Ukrainian counteroffensive, by Brawley Benson | The Moscow Times  When Ukrainian forces launch their long-awaited counteroffensive this summer, they will be up against multiple lines of Russian fortifications stretching hundreds of miles from the Black Sea to Ukraine’s northern border. The military . . . READ MORE . . .

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Berlin set to close consulates in three Russian cities by November — German diplomat. From Tass.  BERLIN — The German government made the decision to close by this November its consulates general in the Russian cities of Yekaterinburg, Kaliningrad and Novosibirsk, after Moscow’s earlier decision to cap Germany’s diplomatic staff stationed in Russia at no more than 350 people, a German diplomat said today. Structural . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian involvement on Mount Athos didn’t draw attention until Russia invaded Ukraine. Reported by Julian Hayda | NPR  Mount Athos in Greece is a revered site for the Orthodox Church — and potentially attractive as an unorthodox route for Russian money into Europe. Click HERE to listen and read later.

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Czech general warns NATO ‘is currently on a course’ for war with Russia, by Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute The commander of the Czech Republic’s armed forces said the North Atlantic alliance and Russia are on the path to a direct war. The general described the potential war as the “worst-case scenario” but emphasized that it remains a distinct possibility. General Karel Rehka, the chief of the Czech armed forces general staff, told his country’s parliament on Monday . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Tass, National Public Radio, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Next, links to commentary from Common Dreams, Responsible Statecraft, and the Libertarian Institute. Then, a link to AP’s Spanish version of one of yesterday’s reports. — MCM

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Russia claims destroyed Ukraine’s ‘last warship.’ From AFP. “On May 29, a high-precision strike by the Russian Air Force on a ship anchorage site in the port of Odesa destroyed the last warship of the Ukrainian Navy, the ‘Yuri Olefirenko’,” the Russian army said today.

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Ukrainian shelling kills five, drone sparks fire at refinery – Russian officials. From Reuters. MOSCOW / KYIV — Ukrainian shelling killed five people in a village in the Luhansk region of eastern Ukraine, Moscow-installed officials said today, while a drone attack caused a fire at an oil refinery in southern Russia. Ukrainian artillery also hit a Russian town close to the border for the third time in a week, damaging buildings and vehicles and injuring four people, Russian officials said . A day after . . . READ MORE . . .

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IAEA chief announces plans to visit Moscow, Kiev. From Tass. UNITED NATIONS — Director-General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Rafael Grossi expressed hope that he will visit Kiev and the Zaporozhye Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) and also possibly Moscow soon. Grossi gave no exact timeframes. He said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia is hit with more air strikes. Does this point to an escalation in the war? Reported by A Martínez and Greg Myre | NPR  For well over a year, Russia has carried out air strikes across Ukraine. Now Russia finds itself on the receiving end, including drones that hit apartment buildings in Moscow. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Moscow drone attack exposes Russia’s vulnerabilities, fuels criticism of military. From AP. A drone attack that targeted Moscow on Tuesday exposed glaring breaches in its air defenses and underlined the capital’s vulnerability asmore Russian soil comes under fire amid expectations of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. The attack, which lightly damaged three apartment buildings, angered Russia’s hawks, who scathingly criticized President Vladimir Putin and the military brass for failing to protect the heart of Kremlin power more than 500 kilometers (310 miles) from the front line. . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian fighters lay the groundwork to reclaim land south of the Dnipro River. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Four soldiers in Ukraine’s south have spent months making clandestine trips across the river dividing Ukrainian and Russian forces, preparing for a counteroffensive to reclaim occupied land. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Could Russia’s economy finally be feeling the heat because of sanctions over the war? Reported by Stacey Vanek Smith | NPR  Russia’s economy has remained resilient in the face of sanctions and other trade and financial restrictions, but that could be changing now as economic challenges mount. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Deal that allows Ukraine to export grain across the Black Sea has been extended. Michel Martin of NPR speaks with European Commissioner for Transport Adina Valean about efforts to help Ukraine export grains and agricultural products.  Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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When will U.S. join global call to end Ukraine war? by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J.S. Davies | Common Dreams  When Japan invited the leaders of Brazil, India and Indonesia to attend the G7 summit in Hiroshima, there were glimmers of hope that it might be a forum for these rising economic powers from the Global South to discuss their advocacy for peace in Ukraine with the wealthy Western G7 countries that are militarily allied with Ukraine and have so far remained deaf to pleas for peace. But . . . READ MORE . . .

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NATO members mull secret plans for responding to Russia attack, by Ian Davis | Responsible Statecraft The lack of transparency that characterizes NATO’s long-range military planning processes poses a serious challenge to democratic oversight. That applies in particular to the regular tri-annual meetings of the military alliance’s most senior generals, the Chiefs of Defence. The latest of these meetings took place on May 10 in Brussels. While media coverage . . . READ MORE . . .

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Democrats in Congress demand more aggressive Ukraine policy, by Kyle Anzalone | The Libertarian Institute Several members of the Democrat Party in Congress are urging the White House to provide Kiev with significantly more military support. One representative wants the Joe Biden administration to place “non-combatant observers” on the ground in Ukraine. Rep. Jason Crow (D-CO) called for . . . READ MORE . . .

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Rusia dice que drones causan leves daños en edificios en Moscú y culpa a Ucrania, por Susie Blann y Joanna Kozlowska | Agencia AP  KIEV — Un inusual ataque con drones despertó a Moscú a primeras horas del martes, causando apenas ligeros daños pero obligando a evacuar edificios residenciales que recibieron impactos en la capital rusa por primera vez durante la guerra contra Ucrania. El Kremlin, mientras tanto, continuó con su incesante bombardeo sobre Kiev con una tercera . . . LEA MÁS . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from the Moscow Times, the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. Then, links to two articles by an India Punchline commentator, published Sunday and yesterday. — MCM

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Moscow hit by swarm of drones in wartime first. From the Moscow Times. Moscow was targeted by a swarm of drones early this morning, marking the first time that unmanned aerial vehicles have struck residential areas of the Russian capital since the country’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine last year. The attack on Moscow, more than 1,000 kilometers from Ukraine, came as Kyiv was hit by another barrage . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia says drones damage Moscow buildings in pre-dawn attack, blames Ukraine, by Susie Blann and Joanna Kozlowska | AP  KYIV — Russian air defenses stopped eight drones converging on Moscow, officials said today, in an attack that authorities blamed on Ukraine, while Russia pursued its relentless bombardment of Kyiv with a third assault on the city in 24 hours. The Russian defense ministry said five drones were shot down and the systems of three others were jammed, causing . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine war comes to Moscow as both capitals hit by drones, by Guy Faulconbridge and Pavel Polityuk | Reuters * Two injured in Moscow, one dead in Kyiv attacks * Worst raid on Russian capital since world war – politician * Kyiv suffers 17 air attacks in May * Four dead in latest strikes around Ukraine | MOSCOW / KYIV — Ukrainian drones struck Moscow today but were neutralised, Russia said in what one politician called the worst attack on the capital since World War Two, while Kyiv was also hit by air for the third time in 24 hours. Since Russia sent troops into its neighbour in February last year, the war has largely been fought inside Ukraine. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russian authorities reported several drone attacks on the capital Moscow. Reported by Leila Fadel and Charles Maynes | NPR  (Audio will be available later today.) Russia launched a pre-dawn air raid on Ukraine’s capital Tuesday, killing at least one person while Moscow authorities said the Russian capital was attacked by drones. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Kremlin says Moscow drone attack a ‘response’ to recent Ukraine strikes. From AFP. The Kremlin said today that an unprecedented drone attack on Moscow was a “response” by Kyiv to a recent Russian hit in Ukraine. “It is completely clear that we are talking about response acts by the Kyiv regime to very effective strikes on a command centre [in Ukraine],” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, without clarifying where the Russian strike took place.

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Ukrainian army lost 16,000 troops, 400 tanks over past month – Shoigu. From Tass. MOSCOW — “Russian forces continue to inflict an effective fire impact on the enemy,” Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said today. “Its losses this month alone totaled over 16,000 troops, 16 aircraft, 5 helicopters, 466 drones, over 400 tanks and other armored combat vehicles, and 238 field artillery pieces and mortars.” Shoigu added . . . . READ MORE . . .

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Post-Bakmut scenario in Ukraine war, by M. K. Bhadrakumar | India Punchline / Educate! Conventional military doctrine says that an army attacking an entrenched force will need at least three times more soldiers than the defending force in fortifications. But Wagner fighters numbering 32,000 fighters faced off with a NATO proxy force almost four times bigger in numbers and equipped with modern weaponry. The shock over the crushing defeat was writ large on the faces of U.S. President Biden and Ukrainian President Zelensky in Hiroshima, Japan, on May 21. READ MORE . . .

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Erdogan’s mediatory role in Ukraine cannot be wished away, by M. K. Bhadrakumar | India Punchline Among the host of implications for international security stemming out of Turkish President Recep Erdogan’s election victory in the runoff on Sunday, what stands out is his mediatory role in the Ukraine conflict. The Japanese government in its congratulatory message to Erdogan expressed the hope for cooperation to bring closer a peaceful solution to the Ukraine conflict and ensure security in the region. Moscow walked . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED

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

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Russia strikes Kyiv in daylight after hitting Ukrainian capital with a more common nighttime barrage, by Hanna Arhirova | AP  KYIV — Explosions rattled Kyiv during daylight today as Russian ballistic missiles took aim at the Ukrainian capital, hours after a more common nighttime barrage of the city by drones and cruise missiles. Debris from missiles intercepted by Ukrainian air defenses fell in Kyiv’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia hits Ukrainian military facility and Odesa port in air strikes, by Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich | Reuters KYIV — Russia put five aircraft out of action in an attack on a military target in western Ukraine and caused a fire at the Black Sea port of Odesa in heavy air strikes early today, Ukrainian officials said. The attacks there and in the capital city today were part of a new wave of increasingly frequent and intense air strikes launched by Moscow this month as Kyiv prepares . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says downed all 11 Iskander missiles launched by Russia. From AFP.  Ukraine said it had downed all the Russian missiles fired on the country today in a second wave of attacks. “A total . . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia Issues arrest warrant for U.S. senator Lindsey Graham. From the Moscow Times. Russia has issued an arrest warrant for United Statee senator Lindsey Graham for “Russophobic statements,” Russian media reported today. Russian officials and state-conotrolled media have slammed Graham for comments he made Friday in Kyiv with . . . READ MORE . . .

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‘Clumsy excuses’: Russian Foreign Ministry on claim Graham’s words taken out of context. From Tass. MOSCOW — Reports by Reuters that remarks by U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican, South Carolina) made during a meeting with Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky may have been taken out of context represent “clumsy, shameful excuses,” a statement by the Russian Foreign Ministry . . . READ MORE . . .   

On May 15, John Durham, Special Counsel for the U.S. Department of Justice, released the results of an investigation into the FBI’s investigation into alleged links between the 2016 Trump campaign and Russia. The report condemned the FBI probe. Here are links to two commentaries for ScheerPost on the report and its consequences, both published last week. — MCM

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Why the conspiracy theory about Trump and Russia won’t go away, by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost  There is no report, investigation or new revelation, including the recent release of Special Counsel John Durham’s “Report on Matters Related to Intelligence Activities and Investigations Arising Out of the 2016 Presidential Campaigns” that will implode the myth that Russia was responsible for the election of Donald Trump. Myths are impervious to facts. They fulfill an emotional yearning. They are a short circuit from reality . . . READ MORE . . .

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John Durham and the burying of American history, by Patrick Lawrence | ScheerPost  There are certain things I do not quite get since Special Counsel John Durham’s report on the epically corrupt conduct of Donald Trump’s enemies during the 2016 election campaigns went to Congress last week. Many things, actually. For all the ground Durham covers in his 306–page report, I don’t get why he left a lot of things undone and unexamined . . . . And then there are a few things I do get. Chief among these . . . READ MORE . . .

First, from GlobalResearch, a link to an article and a video. — MCM

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The ‘Covid Pandemic’ was the result of extensive media propaganda: ‘Nobody is safe, be AFRAID!’ by Matt Orfalea, Paul Craig Roberts and Michel Chossudovsky | Global Research From the outset in January 2020 we have been accused by the mainstream media of  “spreading disinformation”. Who was spreading “fake news”? Who was behind the fear campaign? Amply documented, there never was a Covid-19 pandemic. “Least we forget how intensely . . . Click HERE to read more, and HERE to watch video.

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

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Russia launched ‘largest drone attack’ on Ukrainian capital before Kyiv Day; 1 killed, by Susie Blann and Elise Morton | AP  KYIV — Ukraine’s capital was subjected to the largest drone attack since the start of Russia’s war, local officials said, as Kyiv prepared to mark the anniversary of its founding today. At least one person, a 41-year-old man, was killed. Russia launched the “most massive attack” on the city overnight Saturday with . . . READ MORE . . .  

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‘Most important’ drone attack on Kyiv since war began: Authorities. From AFP. Russia carried out the “most important” drone attack on Kyiv overnight Saturday-Sunday since the start of the invasion, military authorities said. Forty of the 54 drones launched targeted the capital, killing two people and wounding three. The attack “took place over several waves and the air raid alert lasted more than . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine claims Russia is plotting ‘a provocation’ at nuclear plant, by Susie Blann | AP  KYIV — Ukraine’s military intelligence has claimed Friday, without offering evidence, that Russia is plotting a “large-scale provocation” at the nuclear power plant it occupies iin Zaporizhzhia in the southeast of the country with the aim of disrupting a looming Ukrainian counteroffensive. The intelligence directorate of Ukraine’s Defense Ministry . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia ready for peace talks with Ukraine, but on its conditions – ambassador. From Tass. LONDON — “We want peace, but on certain conditions, of course,” Russian Ambassador to Great Britain Andrew Klein said today in an interview with the BBC today. ”For us, two things . . . READ MORE . . .

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Lavrov slams West’s plans to send F-16s to Kiev as ‘unacceptable escalation.’ From Tass. MOSCOW — “Certainly, this is an unacceptable escalation. I hope there are sensible people in the West who understand that,” Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today. “Western political analysts have been discussing how to decolonize Russia.” “They mean dividing our country. I hope sensible people will abandon their reckless support for the neo-Nazi regime which was created . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to reports from Tass, Reuters, the Associated Press, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to commentary by the Berkshire Eagle’s foreign affairs columnist, — MCM

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Oil pipeline administrative building damaged by explosion in Pskov Region – authorities. From Tass. PSKOV, Russia — In an attack of two drones an explosion occurred in Pskov Region’s Nevelsky District this morning, damaging an oil pipeline administrative building, Governor Mikhail Vedernikov said, adding that no one was injured in the incident. READ MORE . . .

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Russian air defenses intercept two Storm Shadow missiles, 19 HIMARS rockets – top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW Russian air defenses intercepted two Storm Shadow missiles, 19 HIMARS rockets, two HARM missiles and shot down 12 Ukrainian combat drones in the past 24 hours, Russian Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said today. In addition, he said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kyiv says Russian forces ease attacks on Bakhmut to regroup. From Reuters. KYIV — Russian forces have temporarily eased their attacks on the besieged eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut to regroup and strengthen their capabilities, a senior Kyiv official said today. READ MORE . . .

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Russia acknowledges Vatican peace initiative, says no steps yet for a mission to Moscow, by Paolo Santalucia and Nicole Winfield | AP  VATICAN CITY — Russia on Friday indicated that it views Pope Francis’ Ukraine peace initiative positively, but stressed that “at the same time, no practical steps have been taken by the Vatican side to organize the trip to Moscow.” READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s Lavrov tells China envoy ‘serious obstacles’ to Ukraine peace. From AFP. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told China’s special envoy Li Hui on Friday that there were “serious obstacles” to resuming peace talks, blaming Ukraine and Western countries. During the meeting with Li, who was China’s ambassador in Russia between 2009 and 2019 . . . READ MORE . . .

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Three strikes for Hungary? Orban’s friendliness with Russia undermines EU’s unity for Ukraine, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle Hungary is blocking $540 million in European Union military to aid to Ukraine. Of the 27 countries in the EU and of the 31 countries in NATO, Hungary stands out as the sole pro-Russia outlier. In contrast to Europe’s overwhelming solidarity with Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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MAY BE CONTINUED