First and second, Reuters and Associated Press summaries with links, both made available around noon EDT. — MCM
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Ukraine says Russia wants to split nation, calls for more arms, by Oleksandr Kozhukhar and Pavel Polityuk | Reuters * Ukraine intelligence chief predicts guerrilla warfare * Zelenskiy appeals for more Western military hardware * Biden says Putin ‘cannot remain in power’ * Russia-backed region signals possible referendum * Ukraine, Russia agree on two humanitarian corridors | LVIV, Ukraine — Russia wants to split Ukraine into two, as happened with North and South Korea, Ukraine’s military intelligence chief said on Sunday, vowing “total” guerrilla warfare to prevent a carve-up of the country. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy urged the West to give Ukraine tanks, planes and missiles to help fend off the Russian forces, which the Kyiv government said were increasingly targeting fuel and food depots. U.S. officials continued efforts to soften comments on Saturday from U.S. President Joe Biden, who said in a fiery speech in Poland that Russian leader Vladimir Putin “cannot remain in power”. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said Washington had no strategy of regime change in Moscow and that Biden had simply meant Putin could not be “empowered to wage war” against Ukraine or anywhere else. READ MORE . . . .
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Zelenskyy: West needs more courage in helping Ukraine fight, by Yuras Karmanau | The Associated Press LVIV, Ukraine — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused the West of cowardice as his country fights to stave off Russia’s invading troops, making an exasperated plea for fighter jets and tanks to sustain a defense as the war ground into a battle of attrition. Speaking after U.S. President Joe Biden said in a lacerating speech that Russian President Vladimir Putin could not stay in power — words the White House immediately sought to downplay — Zelenskyy lashed out Sunday at the West’s “ping-pong about who and how should hand over jets” and other weapons while Russian missile attacks kill and trap civilians. “I’ve talked to the defenders of Mariupol today. I’m in constant contact with them. Their determination, heroism and firmness are astonishing,” Zelenskyy said in a video address, referring to the besieged southern city that has suffered some of the war’s greatest deprivations and horrors. “If only those who have been thinking for 31 days on how to hand over dozens of jets and tanks had 1% of their courage.” READ MORE . . .
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TO BE CONTINUED