First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Tass, National Public Radio, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. — MCM
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China’s Xi to meet Putin as Beijing seeks bolder global role, by Karl Ritter | AP KYIV, Ukraine (AP) — Chinese President Xi Jinping plans to visit Russia from Monday to Wednesday, an apparent show of support for Russian President Vladimir Putin amid sharpening East-West tensions over the war in Ukraine and the latest sign of Beijing’s emboldened diplomatic ambitions. Both China and Russia announced Xi’s trip to Moscow today. The visit offers . . . READ MORE . . .
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Not so fast: Russian forces block Ukrainian army from leaving Artyomovsk. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces are steadily advancing in Artyomovsk (known as Bakhmut in Ukraine) having thwarted the attempted withdrawal of several Ukrainian army units, acting head of ths Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) Denis Pushilin said today. Artyomovsk is located in the Kiev-controlled part of . . . READ MORE . . .
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Poland is the first NATO member to say it will send fighter jets to Ukraine. Sacha Pfeiffer of NPR talks with William Taylor, ex-U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, about Poland’s decision to provide MiG-29s to Ukraine. It may signal new urgency by allies to try to end Russia’s invasion. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Slovakia sends MIG-29 fighter jets to Ukraine – PM. From Reuters. Slovakia on Friday became the second of Ukraine’s allies to provide MIG-29 fighter jets which Kyiv believes are crucial to repel Russia’s year-long invasion. Slovakia joined Poland, which announced its delivery of the planes on Thursday. Both the NATO members neighbour Ukraine. Its fleet of 11 MiG-29 planes was retired last summer and most . . . READ MORE . . .
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Polish, Slovak jets delivered to Ukraine will be ‘destroyed’: Kremlin. From AFP. MOSCOW — The Kremlin said today that fighter jets given to Ukraine by Poland and Slovakia would be destroyed, and repeated that Western arms deliveries to Kyiv would not change Russia’s military aims. “Of course, all this equipment will be destroyed,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED