First, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, teleSUR, Reuters, Tass, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to commentary from the Philadelphia Inquirer. — MCM
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The International Criminal Court issues an arrest warrant for Putin, by Alex Leff, Michele Kelemen and Charles Maynes | NPR The International Criminal Court has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, for alleged war crimes involving accusations that Russia has forcibly taken Ukrainian children. The court said Friday the two are “allegedly responsible for the war crime of unlawful deportation of population (children) and that of unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation.” The move . . . Click HERE to listen and read.
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How a warrant for Putin puts new spin on Xi visit to Russia, by Matthew Lee | AP WASHINGTON — Chinese President Xi Jinping’s plans to meet with Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow next week highlighted China’s aspirations for a greater role on the world stage. But they also revealed the perils of global diplomacy: Hours after Friday’s announcement of the trip, an international arrest warrant was issued for Putin on war crimes charges, taking . . . READ MORE . . .
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ICC arrest warrant for Putin is legally void: Zakharova. From teleSUR. Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on Friday stated her country’s position regarding the arrest warrant issued by the International Criminal Court (ICC) against President Vladimir Putin: “The decisions of the International Criminal Court have no importance for our country, not even from a legal point of view. . . . The country does not cooperate with that institution and possible arrest ‘requirements’ emanating from the ICC would be legally null and void for us.” READ MORE . . .
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Russia’s private Wagner army targets 30,000 new recruits by mid-May. From Reuters. Russia’s Wagner mercenary group plans to recruit approximately 30,000 new fighters by the middle of May, its founder Yevgeny Prigozhin said today. He said Wagner recruitment centres, which he said last week had opened in 42 Russian cities, were hiring on average 500-800 people a day, giving no evidence to support the numbers. Prigozhin’s men have sustained heavy losses . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian air defenses intercept 15 HIMARS, Smerch, Uragan rockets in past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian air defenses intercepted 15 HIMARS, Smerch and Uragan rockets in the past day, Defense Ministry Spokesman Lieutenant General Igor Konashenkov said today in a report listing other data. READ MORE . . .
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Putin visits Crimea on annexation anniversary: State TV. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin today visited Crimea on the ninth anniversary of the peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine, Russian state TV reported. On the surprise visit to the Black Sea port city of Sevastopol . . . READ MORE . . .
Will Biden have the courage to help Ukraine win this year? by Trudy Rubin | The Philadelphia Inquirer As Russia’s war on Ukraine enters its second year, more and more Americans are asking when it will end. The morally correct response is that the war will end when the invaders quit occupying Ukrainian land and recognize his country’s independence. But the bigger question is whether — and when — Ukraine can prevail militarily and diplomatically, and whether . . . READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED