For today, links to reports from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, and Tass, followed by commentary from ScheerPost; other articles are accessible by clicking on the sources’ names or initials below. (The GAZA entry for this date is HERE.) — MCM

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Ukraine says hit Russian air defense systems in Crimea. From AFP. Ukraine’s army said today it had overnight “successfully hit” part of Russia’s air defense system located in Crimea, the Black Sea peninsula annexed by Moscow in 2014. The Rybar Telegram channel, which is close to the Russian army, also reported a “combined attack” . . . READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine eyes global peace summit this year, says deputy foreign minister, by Max Hunder | Reuters  Ukraine aims to hold a global “peace summit” of world leaders this year, Deputy Minister Mykola Tochytskyi said on Sunday after international representatives met in Malta over the weekend to discuss Kyiv’s peace formula for its war with Russia. The talks do not include Russia. READ MORE . . .

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Kiev loses almost 750 troops in Zaporozhye battles over week — regional head. From Tass. MELITOPOL — The Ukrainian military lost almost 750 troops, 13 tanks and 25 armored vehicles in battles in the Zaporozhye area over the past week, Regional Governor Yevgeny Balitsky said today. The Ukrainian military continues . . . READ MORE . . .

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Full-dress irrationality, by Patrick Lawrence | ScheerPost / Popular Resistance  Joe Biden has sold a lot of snake oil off the back of his buckwagon over the past half-century. What he has on offer now is too consequential simply to dismiss. He is diabolically leveraging the obvious urgency of the Israel–Palestine crisis to . . . READ MORE . . .