First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, National Public Radio and teleSUR; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. Next, from Global Research, a link to a perspective on maritime considerations. Then, an opinion column that appeared this week in the New York Times. — MCM
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Ukraine fears a long war might cause West to lose interest, by Colleen Barry and Yuras Karmanau | The Associated Press KYIV — As Russia’s invasion of Ukraine grinds into its fourth month, officials in Kyiv have expressed fears that the specter of “war fatigue” could erode the West’s resolve to help the country push back Moscow’s aggression. The U.S. and its allies have given billions of dollars in weaponry to Ukraine. Europe has taken in millions of people displaced by the war. And there has been unprecedented unity in post-World War II Europe in imposing sanctions on President Vladimir Putin and his country. But as . . . READ MORE . . .
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Goodbye Golden Arches: rebranded McDonald’s to reopen in Russia. From Reuters. * McDonald’s has been hugely popular in Russia since early 1990s * It is among Western firms exiting Russia over Ukraine * Company had operated nearly 850 restaurants across Russia * McDonald’s restaurants to reopen on Sunday under new ownership | Sunday marks a new dawn for Russia’s fast-food lovers as former McDonald’s Corp (MCD.N) restaurants reopen under new branding and ownership, more than three decades after the arrival of the hugely popular Western fast . . . READ MORE . . .
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Hailing Peter the Great, Putin draws parallel with mission to ‘return’ Russian lands. From Reuters. Russian President Vladimir Putin paid tribute on Thursday to Tsar Peter the Great on the 350th anniversary of his birth, drawing a parallel between what he portrayed as their twin historic quests to win back Russian lands. “Peter the Great waged the Great Northern War for 21 years. It would seem that he was at war with Sweden, he took something from them. He did not take anything from them, he returned [what was Russia’s],” Putin said after a visiting an exhibition dedicated to the tsar. READ MORE . . .
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Russian blockade in Odessa disrupts Ukrainian farmers’ grain exports. Peter Granitz of National Public Radio talks about the impact Russia’s blockade of the port of Odessa will have on grains sales in Odessa and possible food shortages in places in the Middle East and Africa. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.
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Despite help from the U.S., Ukraine says it’s outgunned by Russia. Reported by Greg Myre | NPR. The U.S. is supplying billions of dollars of weapons to Ukraine. Yet getting armament to the battlefield is challenging and Ukraine says it needs even more firepower to fight Russian forces. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.
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Russia Destroys Mercenary Training Center in Ukraine – Defense Ministry. From teleSUR. Russian Defense Ministry Spokesperson Gen. Igor Konashenkov announced on Thursday that his country’s armed forces destroyed a training center for foreign mercenaries in Zhitomir. “Air-to-surface precision missiles . . . READ MORE . . .
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Ukraine Crisis Should Raise Africa’s Food Independence Awareness. From teleSUR. African communities are going hungry as food prices continue to escalate, exacerbating an already worse situation compounded by the COVID-19 pandemic. Africa relies on grain imports from Russia and Ukraine, but with the ongoing crisis, which closed ports in Ukraine and Western sanctions against Russia, the supply chain is disrupted. Humanitarian agencies are arguing . . . READ MORE . . .
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Black Sea Geopolitics and Russia’s Control of Strategic Waterways: The Kerch Strait and the Sea of Azov, by Michel Chossudovsky | Global Research Historically, the Kerch strait in Eastern Crimea has played a strategic role. It constitutes a narrow maritime gateway which links the Black Sea via the Sea of Azov to Russia’s major waterways including the Don and the Volga. It also ensures maritime . . . READ MORE . . .
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We can’t be Ukraine hawks forever, by Ross Douthat | The New York Times “Sure, it works in practice, but does it work in theory?” Over the years, I’ve heard this parody of academic pomposity put in the lips of various targets, from French intellectuals to University of Chicago economists. Lately, though, I’ve begun thinking . . . READ MORE . . .
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TO BE CONTINUED