First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, Tass, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, a link to an analysis by the Berkshire Eagle’s foreign affairs writer. Next, via Popular Resistance, a link to an interview for The Real News Network about a noted investigative reporter’s report that, on orders from President Biden, the U.S. Navy detonated explosions last September cutting off natural gas transmission between Russia and Germany. — MCM
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Russian President Putin visits occupied city of Mariupol. From AP. KYIV, Ukraine — Russian President Vladimir Putin has visited the occupied port city of Mariupol, Russian state news agencies reported today, his first trip to the Ukrainian territory that Moscow illegally annexed in September. On Saturday Putin traveled to Crimea, a short distance southwest of Mariupol, to mark the ninth anniversary of the Black Sea peninsula’s annexation from Ukraine. Mariupol became a . . . READ MORE . . .
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Kremlin says Putin visit to Mariupol was ‘spontaneous’. From AFP. The Kremlin said today President Vladimir Putin’s trip to Mariupol in Ukraine was “spontaneous” after the surprise visit to the embattled port city over the weekend. It was Putin’s first trip to Mariupol since the conflict began last year. “Movements around the city were not planned either,” nor was his meeting with local residents, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.
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Putin on Ukrainian troops’ actions in Mariupol: ‘That’s not the way normal people do it.’ From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian President Vladimir Putin commented on the actions of the Ukrainian troops who mined medical facilities in Mariupol, saying that it is “not the way normal people do it.” He visiteD the city together with Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin, inspecting new residential quarters among other things. Considerable efforts on the city’s reconstruction . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine still able to resupply troops in battered Bakhmut, says army. From Reuters. KYIV — Ukrainian forces outside the battered eastern city of Bakhmut are managing to keep Russian units at bay so ammunition, food, equipment and medicines can be delivered to defenders, the army said on Saturday. And in the latest claim to have inflicted heavy casualties, Kyiv said its troops had killed 193 Russians and injured 199 others during the course of fighting on Friday. Russia has made the capture of Bakhmut a priority in . . . READ MORE . . .
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After Russia’s failed offensives in Ukraine, China is stepping in, by James Brooke | The Berkshire Eagle Despite a proclaimed partnership “without limits,” China has held off sending military aid to Russia during the war. Today, it seems unlikely that China could rush much Soviet-standard ammunition and equipment to Russia before Ukraine’s counteroffensive starts. Presumably, Xi will threaten military aid to push Ukraine to settle for a ceasefire. China’s desired outcome . . . READ MORE . . .
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Hedges and Hersh: Did the U.S. Navy destroy the Nord Stream pipelines? Chris Hedges of The Real News Network talks with investigative reporter Seymour Hersh about his report that President Biden ordered the destruction of the pipelines built to carry natural gas from Russia to Germany. Click HERE to listen to and watch the interview and read a transcript.
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MAY BE CONTINUED