First and second, the beginnings of Associated Press and Reuters stories related to the Russian invasion of Ukraine, linked to others, both made available before 10 a.m. EDT. Then, two reports from National Public Radio’s “Morning Edition.” Fifth, a U.S. representative says why he opposed a House resolution supporting aid for Ukraine. — MCM
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Russia shells areas in Ukraine where it vowed to scale back, by Nebi Qena and Yuras Karmanau | The Associated Press KYIV, Ukraine — Russian forces pounded areas around Ukraine’s capital and another city overnight, regional leaders said today, just hours after Moscow pledged to scale back military operations in those places. The shelling further tempered optimism about any progress in talks aimed at ending the punishing war. Russia did not spell out what exactly it planned to do differently, and while the promise initially raised hopes that a path toward peace was coming into view, Ukraine’s president and others cautioned that the remarks could merely be bluster and the Kremlin’s spokesman said he saw no breakthrough in the talks. . . . The barrages came as Britain’s Defense Ministry warned . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russians abroad find their money is ‘toxic’, by Kirstin Ridley, Brenna Hughes Neghaiwi and Danielle Kaye | Reuters LONDON/ZURICH/NEW YORK — Yevgeny Chichvarkin, a telecoms tycoon who fled Russia in 2008 and became a high-profile London restaurateur, has long been a vocal supporter of Ukraine. Together with wife Tatiana Fokina, the multimillionaire says he has sent four truckloads of medical and protective equipment to Poland to help Ukrainians since . . . READ MORE . . .
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Residents of Mariupol are trying to escape the besieged Ukrainian city, by Jason Beaubien | NPR Thousands of people continue to risk their lives to flee the besieged Ukrainian city of Mariupol. Listen HERE.
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Despite global sanctions against Russia, the war in Ukraine continues. NPR’s A Martinez speaks to Juan Zarate, former assistant secretary of the treasury, on the impact of the latest sanctions on the Kremlin’s war in Ukraine and the Russian economy. Zarate says in part, “But sanctions unfortunately aren’t a silver bullet and they can’t turn back tanks when you have a committed actor like Putin.” Listen HERE.
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Why he opposed ‘stand with Ukraine’ House resolution. Max Blumenthal of The Grayzone interviews U.S. Rep. Thomas Massie, R-Kentucky about why he was one of only three House members voting on March 2 against House Resolution 956. Find the interview HERE. The resolution “demands an immediate cease-fire and the full withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukrainian territory and expresses unequivocal support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. It also backs the continued use of sanctions to fully isolate the Putin regime economically and urges the United States and its allies and partners to deliver additional and immediate defensive security assistance to Ukraine.” H.Res. passed on a 421-3 vote. (Reps. Paul A. Gosar, R-Arizona, and Matt Rosendale, R.Montana, also voted no. Not voting on the resolution were Mike Bost, R-Illinois; Van Taylor, R-Texas, and David Price and G.K. Butterfield, both D-North Carolina.)
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TO BE CONTINUED