For today, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, the Moscow Times, Reuters, and National Public Radio, followed by commentary, via Consortium News, from Common Dreams and MintPress News; others are accessible by clicking on the sources’ names or initials below. NOTE: Top link has been updated from earlier AP dispatch. — MCM
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Russian strike on village kills 51, Ukrainian officials say, as Zelenskyy seeks more Western support, by Susie Blann | AP KYIV — A Russian rocket struck a village cafe and store in eastern Ukraine today, killing at least 51 civilians in one of the deadliest attacks in the war in months, according to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and other top officials in Kyiv. Zelenskyy, attending a summit of about 50 European leaders in Spain, denounced the strike in the village of Hroza as a “demonstrably brutal Russian crime” and “a completely deliberate act of terrorism.” READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine’s Zelensky in Spain for European summit. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today he was in the Spanish city of Granada for a summit bringing together leaders from almost 50 European countries. “We will work in joint formats and have important bilateral meetings,” Zelensky said in a social media post. “The key for us, especially . . . READ MORE . . .
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EU’s Borrell warns Europe can’t replace U.S. support for Ukraine. From AFP. EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell warned today that if Washington political strife undermines U.S. support for Ukraine. Europe will not be able to fill the gap. “Ukraine needs the support of the European Union … but also the support of the U.S.,” he said, arriving at the European Political Community summit in Granada. READ MORE . . .
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Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian missile/artillery depots in Kupyansk area in past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces destroyed Ukrainian missile/artillery depots in the Kupyansk area over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Wednesday. “Near the settlements of Kupyansk and Liptsy in the Kharkov Region . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia claims Ukraine hit border town with cluster munitions. From AFP. Russia today accused Ukraine of using cluster munitions to attack the border town of Rilsk, injuring one person and damaging several buildings. The town of around 15,000 people is fewer than 30 kilometers from the Ukrainian border. READ MORE . . .
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Russian warships leave annexed Crimea amid growing missile threats – reports. From the Moscow Times. Russia’s Black Sea Fleet has moved its warships from annexed Crimea to southern Russia after a string of attacks on its headquarters, the independent news outlet The Bell reported Wednesday, citing satellite images shared by pro-war military bloggers. It says the frigates Admiral Essen and Admiral Makarov, three submarines, five large landing ships and several small missile ships are now moored in the port of Novorossiysk in Russia’s Krasnodar . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. public support declines for arming Ukraine, Reuters/Ipsos poll shows, by Jason Lange and Patricia Zengerle | Reuters WASHINGTON — Support is falling among Americans of both major political parties for supplying Ukraine with weapons, a warning sign for Kyiv, which relies heavily on U.S. arms to fight against a Russian invasion, according to a new Reuters/Ipsos poll. The two-day poll, which closed on Wednesday, showed . . . READ MORE . . .
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The Pentagon’s concerns on Ukraine aid. Reported by Tom Bowman | NPR The Pentagon has been warning U.S. lawmakers that military aid in Ukraine is running out. There are now fears that ousting Speaker Kevin McCarthy could delay battlefield support. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Beyond the Neocon Debacle in Ukraine, by Jeffrey D. Sachs | Common Dreams / Consortium News We are entering the end stage of the 30-year U.S. neoconservative debacle in Ukraine. The neocon plan to surround Russia in the Black Sea region by NATO has failed. Decisions now by the U.S. and Russia will matter enormously for peace, security, and wellbeing for the entire world. Four events have . . . READ MORE . . .
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Jail Blair, Bush and Cheney first, by Jonathan Cook | MintPress News / Consortium News The clamor grows daily for Vladimir Putin to be dragged to the Hague war crimes court for invading neighboring Ukraine. There is, of course, no arrest warrant for either Tony Blair or Dick Cheney, even though in the hierarchy of war crimes, their roles are almost certainly worse. Putin at least has an argument that his invasion was provoked by NATO’s efforts to move weapons ever closer to . . . READ MORE . . .