Ukraine, 3-22-23

First, links to reports from Reuters, Politico, Tass, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, via Popular Resistance, commentary by a foreign affairs blogger.— MCM

   

Russian drones swarm Kyiv in display of force as Xi leaves Moscow, by Dan Peleschuk | Reuters  * Xi departs after show of solidarity with Putin * At least four killed in dormitory south of Kyiv | KYIV — Russia launched a swarm of drones into Ukraine overnight, killing at least four people near Kyiv in a display of force as China’s President Xi Jinping left Moscow with promises of friendship but little public mention of the war. The military said it had shot down 16 of 21 Iranian-made Shahed suicide drones. Two accommodation blocks and an educational facility in the riverside town of Rzhyshchiv south of the capital were partially destroyed, the State Emergency Service said. Four people were killed there and others buried under . . .  READ MORE . . .

   

U.S. speeds up deliveries of Abrams tanks, Patriot systems to Ukraine, by Lara Seligman and Paul McLeary | Politico  FORT SILL, Okla. — The U.S. is accelerating the training and delivery of Abrams tanks and Patriot missile defense systems for Ukraine, as preparations ramp up for expected heavy fighting this year. Pentagon spokesperson Brig. Gen. Pat Ryder said Tuesday . . . READ MORE . . .

   

Russia calls on U.S. not to escalate situation, says senior diplomat. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia urges the United States not to continue down the path of escalation, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Ryabkov said reporters today, commenting on calls by members of the Congress to supply Kiev with cluster munitions. He said the U.S. again proved its direct involvement in the Ukrainian crisis by supplying Kiev with more . . . READ MORE . . .

   

For Russia and China, ties with the West are strained. Reported by Charles Maynes and John Ruwitch | NPR  China’s leader Xi Jinping was in Moscow this week on a highly watched state visit. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Geopolitical rumblings leave U.S. behind, by Moon of Alabama.| Educate!  Over the last month we have seen astonishing geopolitical developments. In February China publicly lambasted U.S. hegemony, launched a global security initiative and offered a peace plan for Ukraine. On March 10 China mediated an agreement which restored relations between Saudi Arabia and Iran. On March 15 Moscow rolled out the red carpet for the Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On March 19 al-Assad and his wife Asma arrived in the UAE for  . . . READ MORE . . .