For now, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, teleSUR, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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Putin: Call-up of Russian reservists to finish in 2 weeks, by Sabra Ayres | AP KYIV — Russian President Vladimir Putin said today he expects a mobilization of army reservists he ordered to bolster his country’s troops in Ukraine to reach the targeted number of recruits in two weeks, a milestone that would allow him to end the hugely unpopular call-up. He said 222,000 of the 300,000 reservists the Russian Defense Ministry set as a goal have been mobilized; a total of 33,000 of them are already in military units, and 16,000 are involved in combat. READ MORE . . .
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After the Crimean bridge attack, there are plenty of theories but few real answers. Reported by Julian Hayda | NPR KYIV — Nearly a week after an explosion damaged a vital bridge in Crimea, Russian and Ukrainian authorities are still trading accusations and offering competing theories as to what and who caused the blast. But definitive answers remain elusive. On Wednesday, Russia’s Federal Security Service arrested eight men alleged to have taken part . . . Click HERE to listen and read.
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U.N. General Assembly votes to condemn Russia’s annexations in Ukraine. Reported by Erika Ryan, Ashley Brown and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR Mary Louise Kelly talks with U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield following a vote Wednesday by the U.N. General Assembly to condemn Russia’s annexations in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.
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UN resolution against Russia is ‘diplomatic terror,’ Lavrov says. From teleSUR. Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov said Thursday that the approval by the United Nations General Assembly of a resolution against Russia on Wednesday condemning the referendums held in Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson was reached by intimidating developing countries. “The methods . . . READ MORE . . .
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The British military is giving Ukrainian civilians a crash course in soldiering. Reported by Frank Langfitt | NPR The United Kingdom has provided more military instruction than nearly any other country — putting nearly 6,000 Ukrainian civilians through basic training in recent months. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Musk says SpaceX cannot fund Ukraine’s vital Starlink internet indefinitely. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — Elon Musk said today his rocket company SpaceX cannot indefinitely fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, which has helped the country’s civilians and military stay online during the war with Russia. . . . The billionaire has been in online fights with Ukrainian officials over a peace plan he put forward which Ukraine says . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kremlin says its goals in Ukraine can be achieved through talks. From Reuters. LONDON — Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted as saying on Thursday that the goals of Moscow’s “special military operation” in Ukraine were unchanged, but that they could be achieved through negotiations. The comments to the Russian newspaper Izvestia were the latest in a series of statements this week stressing Moscow’s openness to talks — a change . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin says more ‘massive’ strikes against Ukraine not necessary ‘for now.’ From AFP. ASTANA, KAZAKHSTAN — Russian President Vladimir Putin said today that he does not plan more “massive” strikes against Ukraine “for now” and that the Kremlin’s aim was not to “destroy” the pro-Western country. “There is no need now for massive strikes,” he said. “There are other tasks. For now. And then it will be clear. . . . We do not set ourselves the task of destroying Ukraine.” READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED