Ukraine, 5-19-23

Leading off in late morning, via Consortium News, a link to a piece of news and commentary from Common Dreams. Next, links to reports from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Tass, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Finally for today, also via Consortium News, a link to commentary by a professor of international affairs at the University of Pittsburgh. — MCM

    –

U.S. national security experts call for peace in Ukraine, by Medea Benjamin and Nicolas J.S. Davies | Common Dreams  On Tuesday, The New York Times published a full-page advertisement signed by 15 U.S. national security experts about the war in Ukraine. It was headed “The U.S. Should Be a Force for Peace in the World,” and was drafted by the Eisenhower Media Network. While condemning Russia’s invasion, the statement provides a more objective . .  . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The G-7 is tightening up economic sanctions on Russia for its war on Ukraine. Reported by Scott Detrow and Lexie Schapitl | NPR  The United States plans to blacklist about 70 companies and organizations for selling restricted U.S. products to Russia, part of a push by G-7 nations to try to exact more economic pain on Russia for its war on Ukraine. Each of the G-7 countries has actions planned, said a U.S. official. “This is going . . . Click HERE to listen and read. 

–   –   – 

Ukraine arrests its top judge amid growing concerns about corruption. Reported by  | NPR  Ukraine’s top judge has been arrested after allegedly receiving nearly $3 million in bribes for favorable rulings, the latest crackdown on endemic graft as Ukraine seeks to join the European Union. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will attend the G7 meeting in person. Reported by  | NPR  Zelenskyy’s expected appearance on Sunday comes as Western allies harden their resolve in support of Ukraine. Russia’s military aggression toward its neighbor is on top of the G-7 summit’s agenda . Click HERE to listen and, later, read.  

–   –   –

$3 billion accounting error means the Pentagon can send more weapons to Ukraine, by Tara Copp and Lolita C. Baldor | AP  WASHINGTON — The Pentagon has overestimated the value of the weapons it has sent to Ukraine by at least $3 billion — an accounting error that could be a boon for the war effort because it will allow the Defense Department to send more weapons now without asking Congress for more money. The acknowledgment Thursday comes . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces wipe out Ukrainian arms, ammo depots with precision weapons. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces hit Kiev’s large foreign equipment and armament depots and army reserves with seaborne and air-launched precision weapons, destroying substantial weapon and ammunition stockpiles during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Thursday in a briefing. “Last night . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces in retreat near Bakhmut, Ukraine and Wagner say. From Reuters. The Ukrainian military and Russia’s Wagner private army both reported further Russian retreats on the outskirts of Bakhmut on Thursday, as Kyiv pressed on with its biggest advance in six months ahead of a planned counteroffensive. Ukrainian troops near the front line said . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Poland asks China to ‘condemn China’s aggression’ in Ukraine. From AFP. WARSAW — Poland today asked Beijing to condemn Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and criticised Moscow’s nuclear “blackmail” during a meeting in Warsaw with China’s special Ukraine envoy Li Hui. Deputy Foreign Minister Wojciech Gerwel “expressed the hope . . . READ MORE . . .

   

U.S. values, vertities & global failure, by Michael Brenner | Consortium News  Today’s Russia is viewed in Washington as the avatar of the Soviet Union, and China as posing an even more ominous danger than did Imperial Japan. Ignorance of far more subtle and complex realities is cultivated seemingly as an automatic preference for stereotypes that conveniently match . . . READ MORE . . .