For today, links to reports from Reuters, Agence France-Presse, the Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, and National Public Radio, followed by commentary from Indian Punchline; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date, so far, is HERE.) — MCM
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Putin says Russia is ready to talk on Ukraine, by Guy Faulconbridge | Reuters MOSCOW — President Vladimir Putin said today that Russia would be prepared to talk to Ukraine, the United States and Europe about the future of Ukraine if they wanted to, but that Moscow would defend its national interests. READ MORE . . .
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NEWER Air defence systems in Moscow repelled drone attack: mayor. From AFP. Air defence systems in the Russian capital today destroyed a drone over the city, Moscow’s mayor announced, without specifying whether it was a Ukrainian drone or from where it was launched. “According to preliminary information . . . READ MORE . . .
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‘They Are Returning’ — Russian soldier says Wagner mercenaries back on front lines, by Kateryna Zakharchenko | Kyiv Post An intercepted call between two Russian soldiers heard them discussing the fact that Wagner mercenaries are “slowly returning” to Ukraine frontlines after the failed rebellion in June.“These guys from Wagner are here training us. Well, they are . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukrainian soldiers storming eastern bank of Dnipro fear their mission is hopeless, by Asami Terajima | The Kyiv Independent KHERSON OBLAST — Mortars are the first things that greet the Ukrainian soldiers who are lucky enough to make it across the Dnipro River alive. No matter how . . . READ MORE . . .
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NEWER Ukraine’s frontline judges deliver justice under fire, by Thomas Peter and Dan Peleschuk | Reuters Judges and other court officials in the Donbas region preside under the regular threat of air strikes. Their hearings, to which defendants and plaintiffs dial in remotely, are often cut short by power outages. Local courts face the extra burden of handling . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM DEC. 18 A look back at Putin’s year. Reported by Charles Maynes |NPR 2023 began on a tough note for Russian President Putin, with his war in Ukraine stagnating and criticism from the head of the Wagner group. Now, that man is dead and Ukraine may be running out of aid. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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NEWER Ukraine joins NATO’s Arctic projects against Russia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline After meeting Biden at the White House last Tuesday, Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky headed for Oslo on Oct.13 on a fateful visit to forge his country’s partnership in NATO projects to counter Russia in the Arctic. In Oslo, Zelensky participated in a summit of the five Nordic countries to discuss “issues of . . . READ MORE . . .