To begin, links to reports from The Associated Press, Reuters, TeleSUR, and National Public Radio, most linked to others. Then, via Popular Resistance, links to analyses by John Kiriakou and Moon of Alabama. — MCM

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Russia hits east Ukraine, Finland moves toward joining NATO, by Oleksandr Stashevskyi | The Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces pounded areas in Ukraine’s east today, including the last pocket of resistance in besieged Mariupol, as a war that is redrawing Europe’s security map pushed Russia’s neighbor Finland closer to joining NATO. Even as the globe-shaking repercussions of the invasion spread, the conflict on the ground slogged on, with Ukraine’s military recapturing some towns and villages in the country’s northeast but acknowledging that Russian forces have seen “partial success” farther south in the eastern industrial heartland of the Donbas. Finland’s president and prime minister said today that the Nordic country should apply “without delay” for membership in the Western alliance, founded in part to counter the Soviet Union. The announcement means Finland is all but certain to apply to — and be accepted in — the military alliance . . . . Neighboring Sweden could do the same within . . . READ MORE . . .

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Finland, worried by Russian invasion of Ukraine, moves to join NATO; Kremlin warns of response, by Anne Kauranen and Essi Lehto | Reuters * Membership expected to happen quickly * Finnish public opinion turned over Ukraine war HELSINKI — Finland must apply to join the NATO military alliance “without delay”, its president and prime minister said today, in a historic policy shift triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine Shuts off Flow of Russian Gas to Europe at Donbas. From TeleSUR. Ukraine on Wednesday shut off the flow of natural gas exported from Russia to Europe from a station located in Donbas, now controlled by Russian forces. In a statement, the operator of the gas transmission system in Ukraine (GTSOU) announced its decision to suspend transit operations due to security reasons and “force majeure”. According to the note, the company blocks the flow of gas from the Sokhranivka connection point, located in the eastern Ukrainian region of Lugansk, in the conflict-ridden Donbas area, which is currently under the control of the Russian Army. Kiev has also demanded that Russia’s state-owned Gazprom — which holds a monopoly on gas pipelines and Russian gas sent to Europe — shift gas volumes to the transit point in the northern city of Sudzha, in territory that Ukraine controls. Russia’s Gazprom . . . maintains . . . such a reorganization would be “technically impossible” and [says] there is no reason for the interruption of the flow. [T]he European Commission considers that this cut may affect the transit of gas to European Union (EU) member countries [but] does not represent an immediate problem of security of supply. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian fighter trapped in Mariupol steel plant asks Elon Musk for help, by Natalia Zinets and Timothy Heritage | Reuters KYIV — One of the fighters holed up in a steelworks besieged by Russian forces in the Ukrainian city of Mariupol has appealed to SpaceX billionaire Elon Musk to help evacuate them. Many civilians were rescued from the sprawling Azovstal plant last week under an agreement with Russia, but no deal has been reached with Moscow on allowing out hundreds of fighters, some of whom are wounded, after weeks of bombardment. READ MORE . . .

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As the EU tries to ban Russian oil imports, it has 1 major obstacle: Hungary. National Public Radio’s Steve Inskeep talks to András Simonyi of the Atlantic Council’s Global Energy Cente,, about Hungary being an obstacle to Europe’s aim of banning Russian energy imports. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Finnish government leaders say their country must join NATO without delay. Reported by Frank Langfitt | NPR Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Finland is on the brink of joining NATO. Finns have their own memories of Russian aggression. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Info-Warrior Malcolm Nance, by John Kiriakou | Consortium News / Educate! Malcolm Nance, the MSNBC talking head who bills himself as an “intelligence professional,” recently quit his media gig, signed on to the so-called International Legion of Territorial Defense of Ukraine and left to battle the Russians. . . . There are so many things wrong with this story that I don’t know where to begin.  So, I guess the best place to begin is at the beginning. I met Malcolm Nance in the spring of 2001.  I had returned from an overseas assignment as a C.I.A. counterterrorism officer to take a course called “advanced counterterrorism operations.”  As part of the class, the participants were given about a dozen books related to the latest thinking on terrorism and how to combat it. . . . I put them on eBay for $50.  They sold a week later, and I got an email from the high bidder saying that he wanted to send me a check. . . . I told him that I lived in Arlington, Virginia, and he responded that he did, too.  It would be better for us just to meet . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine: Why the War Started and Failed Attempts on Snake Island, by Moon of Alabama | Educate! It is Victory Day. As Ernest Hemingway said: “Anyone who loves freedom owes such a debt to the Red Army that it can never be repaid.” The most important part of Vladimir Putin’s speech to the Victory Parade on the Red Square is the narrative that explains how the current war in Ukraine began. Putin is correct in seeing this as a NATO proxy war against Russia: “[D]espite all controversies in international relations, Russia has always advocated the establishment of an equal and indivisible security system which is critically needed for the entire international community. Last December . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

To begin, links to Associated Press, Reuters and National Public Radio reports. Then, via Global Research, a link to a report that in early April U.S. and British pressure on Ukraine effectively halted negotiations with Russia being held in Turkey. And via both Consortium News and Popular Resistance, a link to a column by Chris Hedges. — MCM

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US, Western Europe fret over uncertain Ukraine war endgame, by Matthew Lee | The Associated Press WASHINGTON — An interminable and unwinnable war in Europe? That’s what NATO leaders fear and are bracing for as Russia’s war in Ukraine grinds into its third month with little sign of a decisive military victory for either side and no resolution in sight. The possibility of a stalemate is fueling concerns that Ukraine may remain a deadly European battlefield and a source of continental and global instability for months, or even years, to come. Energy and food security are the most immediate worries, but . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine claims battlefield successes, curbs Russian gas to Europe, by Pavel Polityuk and Jonathan Landay | Reuters * Ukraine redirecting Russia gas to Europe * Ukraine counter-offensive could shift war’s momentum * Ukrainian forces seeking to cut off Russian supply lines * U.S. concerned about future course of war | KYIV/VILHIVKA, Ukraine — Ukrainian forces reported battlefield gains today in a counterattack that could signal a shift in the momentum of the war, while Kyiv shut gas flows on a route through Russian-held territory, raising the spectre of an energy crisis in Europe.  . . . Following days of advances, Ukrainian forces were within several kilometres of the Russian border in the Kharkiv region this morning, one Ukrainian military source told Reuters. East of Vilhivka, Ukrainian forces seemed to be in control of the village of Rubizhne, on the banks of the Donets, after what appear to the be the fastest advances since April when . . . READ MORE . . .

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A big mystery of the war in Ukraine is Russia’s failure to gain control of the sky. Reported on NPR News. Russia has an air force more than 10 times larger than Ukraine’s. But Ukraine’s fighter pilots and air defense crews still control the air space over most of the country. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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How one city in southern Ukraine became a humanitarian hub. Reported by Tim Mak | NPR News It’s been too dangerous for many Ukrainians to leave their house — let alone make an escape. But some have found ways to cross the frontlines, navigating dangerous check points, to safer areas. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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UK and U.S. Governments Are Primary Obstacles to Peace Negotiations: Ukrainian News Outlet, by Abdul Rahman | Peoples Dispatch / Global Research A recent report in Ukrainian news outlet Ukrayinska Pravda, quoting officials from the Ukrainian president’s office, claimed that talks between Ukraine and Russia have stopped due to pressure exerted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson during his unannounced visit to Kiev on April 9. According to the report, Johnson came to Kiev on a surprise visit apparently to “express solidarity” and announce financial and military aid to Ukraine in its fight against Russian aggression. However, during his meeting with Zelensky, Johnson asked him not to continue with the talks which were going on in Turkey, asserting that Putin needs to be defeated. Zelensky’s public position on talks with Russia shifted dramatically following this visit. Only a few days prior . . . READ MORE . . .

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Jesus, Endless War & U.S. Fascism, by Chris Hedges | ScheerPost.com The Democratic Party — which had 50 years to write Roe v. Wade into law with Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama in full control of the White House and Congress at the inception of their presidencies — is banking its electoral strategy around the expected Supreme Court decision to lift the judicial prohibition on the ability of states to enact laws restricting or banning abortions. I doubt it will work. The . . . party’s hypocrisy and duplicity is the fertilizer for Christian fascism.  . . . The Christian fascists have coalesced in cult-like fashion around Donald Trump. They are bankrolled by the most retrograde forces of capitalism. . . . No military budget is too big. No war waged by America is . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

To begin, links to reports from Reuters, the Associated Press, TeleSUR, and National Public Radio. — MCM

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Ukraine pushes Russian troops back in counter-offensive in east, by Jonathan Landay | Reuters * Ukraine counter-offensive could shift war’s momentum * Ukrainian forces seeking to cut off Russian supply lines * Setback for Moscow at moment when Putin had aimed for victory | KHARKIV, Ukraine — Ukraine said today its forces had recaptured villages from Russian troops, pressing a major counter-offensive in the northeast of the country that could signal a shift in the war’s momentum and jeopardise Russia’s main advance. READ MORE . . .

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Russia pounds vital port of Odesa, targeting supply lines, by Elena Becatoroes and Jon Gambrell | The Associated Press ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Russian troops pounded away at the vital port of Odesa, Ukrainian officials said today, an apparent effort to disrupt the supply lines and weapons shipments that have been critical to Kyiv’s defense. Ukraine’s ability to stymie a larger, better armed Russian military has surprised many observers. READ MORE . . .

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Biden signs Ukraine bill, seeks $40B aid, in Putin rejoinder, by Zeke Miller and Lisa Mascaro | The Associated Press WASHINGTON — Washington sought to portray a united front against Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan measure to reboot the World War II-era “lend-lease” program, which helped defeat Nazi Germany, to bolster Kyiv and Eastern European allies. The signing Monday came as the U.S. Congress is poised to unleash billions more to fight the war against Russia — with Democrats preparing $40 billion in military and humanitarian aid, larger than the $33 billion package Biden has requested. It all serves as . . . READ MORE . . .

Our Military Operation in Ukraine Replies to NATO Menace: Putin. From TeleSUR. During the annual “Great Patriotic War Victory Day” parade on Monday, President Vladimir Putin assured that the Russian military operation in Ukraine is a preemptive response to threats from the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) against its national security. . . . He recalled that his administration called on NATO to negotiate a security guarantee agreement in December 2021 that would prevent the expansion of this military alliance towards the Russian borders. “The call to dialogue, however, was all in vain” . . . READ MORE . . .

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Bono and The Edge performed in a subway station in Kyiv, Ukraine. Reported by Steve Inskeep | NPR. Two of the members of the Irish rock band U2 played in support of Ukraine on an invitation from President Zelenskyy. Click HERE to listen.

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The U.S. may soon export more gas to the EU, complicating climate goals. Reported by Halle Parker | WWNO / NPR To help wean Europe off Russian gas, the White House wants to increase natural gas exports. Critics say that’s at odds with climate goals. (Story first aired on All Things Considered on May 4, 2022.) Click HERE to listen and read. (Segment previously heard last Wednesday on “All Things Considered.)

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TO BE CONTINUED

For now, the sole link below should suffice for regular visitors to this blog. There’s a lot to chew on. I may add another segment or three but recommend spending some time on this one. — MCM

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No Such Thing as Dissent in the Age of Big Tech. Consortium News editor Joe Lauria chats with Robert Scheer of ScheerPost about how Internet companies including PayPal, YouTube and Facebook are quashing non-mainstream reporting and opinions on Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and to read the transcript and at least 41 comments.

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MAY BE CONTINUED

A seasoned observer’s look at Russia’s military condition in advance of an important event in Moscow is linked below, readable only for Berkshire Eagle subscribers. Second and third, Associated Press and Reuters summaries made available at about 4 this afternoon EDT. — MCM

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Russia’s Potemkin army to parade on Red Square, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle  During my eight years in Moscow, the annual May 9 Victory over Nazism Parade was a huge, nationally televised extravaganza. Journalists parsed President Vladimir Putin’s speech. Military attaches from Western embassies studied new armaments with binoculars. Hours before the big day, Russian Air Force planes “seeded” chemical substance in clouds to prevent rain. Now, all eyes and ears are on Putin’s speech. Will he declare “victory” in Ukraine’s Donbas, a . . . Berkshire Eagle subscribers may click HERE to read more.

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Ukraine evacuates civilians from steel plant under siege, by Elena Becatoros and Jon Gambrell | The Associated Press ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — Russian forces fired cruise missiles at the southern Ukrainian city of Odesa on Saturday and bombarded a besieged steel mill in Mariupol, hoping to complete their conquest of the port in time for Victory Day celebrations. Ukraine announced that all women, children and older adults had been evacuated from the mill, a key Russian war objective. In a sign of the unexpectedly effective defense that has sustained the fighting into its 11th week, Ukraine’s military flattened Russian positions on a Black Sea island that was captured in the war’s first days and has become a symbol of resistance. Western military analysts also said a . . . READ. MORE . . .

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Ukraine says all women, children now evacuated from Mariupol steel mill, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters * Women, children and elderly evacuated, deputy PM says * Not clear if other civilians remain * Russian forces try to storm Azovstal, Ukraine military says * CIA director says Putin ‘doubling down’ on conflict * WHO documents 200 attacks on healthcare facilities in Ukraine | KYIV — All women, children and elderly civilians have been evacuated from the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol, Ukraine’s deputy prime minister said today, despite what military officers said was an ongoing Russian assault at the plant. “This part of the . . . READ. MORE . . .

TO BE CONTINUED

First, links to versions of Associated Press reports used in two western Massachusetts daily newspapers today, and to a Reuters mid-morning summary. Then, via Yahoo! News, a link to a New York Times look at some “restraint” on Russia’s part in the war. Next, links to two National Public Radio reports. — MCM

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New effort races to rescue civilians from Mariupol plant, by Elena Becatoros and Jon Gambrell | The Associated Press ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine — A new international effort raced today to rescue more civilians from the tunnels under a besieged steel plant in Mariupol and the city at large, even as fighters holed up at the sprawling complex made their last stand to prevent Moscow’s complete takeover of the strategic port. The fight . . . appeared increasingly desperate amid growing speculation that President Vladimir Putin wants to finish the battle for Mariupol so he can present a triumph to the Russian people in time for Monday’s Victory Day, the biggest patriotic . . . READ MORE . . . 

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Official: US gave intel before Ukraine sank Russian warship, by Aamer Madhani, Norman Merchant and Lolita C. Baldor | AP WASHINGTON — The U.S. says it shared intelligence with Ukraine about the location of the Russian missile cruiser Moskva prior to the strike that sank the warship, an incident that was a high-profile failure for Russia’s military. An American official said Thursday that Ukraine alone decided to target and sink the flagship of Russia’s Black Sea Fleet using its own anti-ship missiles. But given Russia’s . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine says new Mariupol evacuation has begun, despite reports of fighting, by Pavel Polityuk | Reuters * Civilians trapped in steel works under Russian siege * Russian-back fighter says defenders have ‘little left’ * Kremlin: Time for feting Victory Day in Mariupol will come * 400 medical centres destroyed, damaged, Zelenskiy says * EU to tweak sanctions plan to win over eastern states | KYIV — Ukraine said a new attempt had begun on Friday to evacuate scores of civilians trapped in a ruined steel works in the city of Mariupol, after bloody fighting with Russian forces thwarted efforts to bring them to safety the previous day. Mariupol, a strategic southern port on the Azov Sea, has endured the most destructive siege of the 10-week-old war, and the sprawling Soviet-era Azovstal steel plant is the last part of the city still in the hands of holdout Ukrainian . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia’s War Has Been Brutal, but Putin Has Shown Some Restraint. Why?, by Anton Troianovski and Julian E. Barnes | The New York Times Russia’s war against Ukraine has leveled cities, killed tens of thousands of people and forced millions of others from their homes. But quietly, some military analysts and Western officials are asking why the onslaught has not been even worse. Russia could be going after Ukrainian railways, roads and bridges more aggressively to try to stanch . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russians wreak havoc on Ukrainian farms, mining fields and stealing equipment. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | National Public Radio BILKA, Ukraine — For Ukrainian farmer Anatolii Kulibaba, this year’s planting season comes with anguish. Kulibaba is among many who were forced to flee their land as Russian forces moved in with their tanks. In the first few days of the war, Russian soldiers delivered an even crueler blow: They killed Kulibaba’s son, Oleksandr, as he was traveling to their village of Bilka, 25 miles from the Russian border. “He was just 45. He had . . . Click HERE to listen and read the rest.

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The European Union is taking aim at Russia’s main revenue source: oil. Reported by Jackie Northam | NPR With the European Union countries vowing to stop buying Russian oil, India and China might get some more crude for a discount, but it is not going to make up the lost profits for Russia. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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TO BE CONTINUED

To begin, the top reports from the Associated Press and Reuters websites at about 9 a.m. EDT. Then, an AP report featured this morning in many U.S. dailies. Next, four segments from National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition.” Then, via Global Research and the Center for Action and Contemplation, considerations from Pope Francis and a less-known Roman Catholic leader. — MCM

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The AP Interview: Belarus admits Russia’s war ‘drugs on,’ by Ian Phillips | The Associated Press MINSK, Belarus — Belarus’ authoritarian President Alexander Lukashenko defended Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in an interview today with The Associated Press, but he said he didn’t expect the 10-week-old conflict to “drag on this way.” He also spoke out against the use of nuclear weapons in Ukraine but wouldn’t say if Russian President Vladimir Putin had plans to launch such a strike. Lukashenko said Moscow . . . READ MORE . . .

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Love letter, ID card point to Russian units that terrorize Bucha, by Mari Saito | Reuters BUCHA, Ukraine — At the end of March, when Russian troops retreated from Bucha, a leafy suburb near Ukraine’s capital, they left reminders of their deadly occupation for all the world to see. Bodies were strewn in the streets. Quaint houses were reduced to rubble. A field near the town’s church had become a mass grave. Now, as Ukrainian and international prosecutors begin the work of identifying those responsible for the alleged atrocities, Reuters has examined the aftermath of Russia’s hasty retreat – and found vital clues to the identities of individual Russian soldiers and military units present . . . . Reuters journalists spent three weeks in Bucha interviewing more than 90 residents, reviewing photographic and video evidence . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine: Russia using ‘missile terrorism’ in wide attacks, by Jon Gambrell and Cara Anna | AP LVIV, UKRAINE Complaining that the West is “stuffing Ukraine with weapons,” Russia bombarded railroad stations and other supply-line targets across the country, as the European Union moved to further punish Moscow for the war Wednesday by proposing a ban on oil imports. Heavy fighting also raged at the Azovstal steel mill in Mariupol that represented the last stronghold of Ukrainian resistance in the ruined southern port city, according to the mayor. A Russian official denied that Moscow’s troops were storming the plant, but the commander of the main Ukrainian military unit inside said Russian troops had broken into the mill’s territory. The Russian military also said it used sea- and air-launched missiles to destroy electric . . . READ MORE . . .

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Attacks persist on Ukrainian steel plant, where some people managed to flee. NPR’s Leila Fadel speaks with Chris Hanger of the International Committee of the Red Cross about efforts to escort civilians out of the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Logistics plays an important role in Ukraine getting weapons from the U.S. Reported by Tom Bowman | NPR The United States continues to send weapons and machinery to Ukraine to help in its war against Russia. The increase in shipments includes much needed howitzers from a U.S. base in Delaware. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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A complex operation is involved as the U.S. sends weapons to Ukraine. NPR’s Leila Fadel talks to Gen. Jacqueline Van Ovost, head of the U.S. Transportation Command, about the massive task of shipping weapons to Ukraine to help in the fight against Russia. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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The Russia-Ukraine war is taking a dramatic toll on children. Reported by Brian Mann | NPR Children in Ukraine are among the most at risk as Russia’s army continues to attack with ground troops and artillery. We hear from young people living near the front lines. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Pope Francis Suggests that NATO’s ‘Barking’ Provoked Russia’s Military Op in Ukraine, by Paul Antonopoulos | Global Research Pope Francis has suggested to Italian daily Corriere Della Sera that the “barking of NATO at the door of Russia” provoked the military operation in Ukraine and alluded that countries should not supply Ukraine with more arms. Specifically, the Pope said that Russia has “an anger that I don’t know whether it was provoked but was perhaps facilitated” by NATO’s unrelenting expansion towards the Eurasian Giant. Although Pope Francis denounced . . . READ MORE . . .

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War Is a Spiritual Problem, by Father Richard Rohr | Center for Action and Contemplation The nuclear myth, with its false promises of deterrence and security, gets us off almost all the hooks that the Divine Fisherman uses to draw us to deeper levels of spirituality and consciousness: our powerlessness, our essential insecurity, the desire to give one’s life for something bigger than oneself, our fear of death, our capacity for faith, trust, and forgiveness, our restless hearts that long to be united. Once we squelch spiritual energy in the name of hard-headed intellect and will, three not-so-obvious demons will move in to take the place of Spirit: expedience, law, and propriety. I see many . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED

To start, two reports that led the Reuters and Associated Press websites for “breaking news” early this afternoon EDT: a Reuters summary and an Associated Press investigative report. Then, four recent reports from National Public Radio. Finally, via Global Research, a brief segment and two longer essays on some context in which the writers place the war in Ukraine and onlookers’ perceptions.  — MCM

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EU targets Russian oil, banks as Ukraine says Russian offensive intensifies, by Natalia Zinets and Francesco Guarascio | Reuters * EU proposes toughest sanctions yet on Russia * Ukraine keeps wary eye on Belarusian army drills * Russia says NATO arms supplies to Ukraine are target * More evacuees leave on buses from Mariupol | KYIV/BRUSSELS — The European Union proposed its toughest sanctions yet against Russia on today, including a phased oil embargo, as Kyiv said Moscow was intensifying an offensive in eastern Ukraine and close Russian ally Belarus announced large-scale army drills. Nearly 10 weeks into a war that has killed thousands of people, uprooted millions and flattened Ukrainian cities, Russia was intensifying its . . . READ MORE . . .

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AP evidence points to 600 dead in Mariupol theater air strike, by Lori Hinnant, Mstyslav Chernov and Vasilisa Stepanenko | The Associated Press LVIV, Ukraine — She stood in just her bathrobe in the freezing basement of the Mariupol theater, coated in white plaster dust shaken loose by the explosion. Her husband tugged at her to leave and begged her to cover her eyes. But she couldn’t help it — Oksana Syomina looked. And to this day, she wishes she hadn’t. Bodies were strewn everywhere, including those of children. By the main exit, a little girl lay still on the floor. Syomina had to step on the dead to escape the building that had served as the Ukrainian city’s main bomb shelter for more than a week. The wounded . . . READ MORE . . .

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EU proposes a ban on Russian oil imports. National Public Radio’s Leila Fadel speaks with Ben Cahill at the Center for Strategic and International Studies about a European Union proposal to phase out imports of Russian oil and refined products. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Evacuees who were holed up in a street plant hope the others can get out, by Joanna Kakissis | NPR Evacuation efforts continue in Mariupol — even as Russian forces continue to shell the besieged Ukrainian city. Roughly 100 evacuees have now arrived in the city of Zaporizhzhia. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Israel slams Russia’s foreign minister for comparing Zelenskyy to Hitler. Reported by Rachel Treisman | NPR Israeli officials are castigating Russia and demanding an apology for comments its foreign minister made about Nazism over the weekend. It’s the strongest condemnation of Russia by Israel since the war in Ukraine began in February. It all started on Sunday . . . Click HERE to listen and to read more.

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Angelina Jolie met with refugees and volunteers during a surprise visit to Lviv. Reported by Rachel Treisman | NPR American actress and humanitarian Angelina Jolie made a surprise visit to the western Ukrainian city of Lviv over the weekend, where she met with people displaced by the war and visited some of the facilities and organizations that are busy helping them. Jolie has been . . . Click HERE to listen and to read more.

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As Biden Asks for $33 Billion, Nancy Pelosi and Adam Schiff Surface in Ukraine Meeting with Volodymyr Zelenskyy, By Sundance | The Last Refuge House Speaker Nancy Pelosi led a quietly organized trip with a small group of senior House Democrats, including Foreign Affairs Committee Chair Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), Intelligence Committee Chair Adam Schiff (D-Calif.), and Rules Committee Chair Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) to Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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These Countries Are Willing to Risk U.S. Ire over Russia-Ukraine, by Stephen Kinzer | Responsible Statecraft Americans are fervently cheering for Ukraine in a war that many believe is a decisive struggle for human freedom. The intensity of our infatuation makes it easy to assume that everyone in the world shares it. They don’t. The impassioned American reaction is matched only in Europe, Canada, and the handful of U.S. allies in East Asia. For many people in the rest of the world, the Russia-Ukraine conflict is just another pointless Western war in which they have no stake. The two biggest countries in Latin America, Mexico and Brazil . . . READ MORE . . .

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Reality vs. Illusion. People Have Been Robbed of Their Ability to ‘Decipher between Fact and Fiction,’ by Dustin Broadbery | Global Research CIA Director William Casey is reputed to have said to Ronald Reagan “We’ll know our disinformation is complete when everything the American public believes is false.” Fast forward thirty years, and there’s no piece of fiction the masses will not swallow. From Woke to COVID to the war in Ukraine, people no longer make their own ideological pilgrimages to the truth – the truth is served oven-ready by their political betters. Nowadays, there’s little distinction between the two hemispheres: reality and illusion. It’s not so much . . . READ MORE . . .