Ukraine, 6-27-22

To begin, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio; click on their names below for others. Then, via Consortium News and Popular Resistance, a link to Scott Ritter’s commentary on recent developments. — MCM

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G7 leaders confer with Zelenskyy, prep new aid for Ukraine, by Zeke Miller, Darlene Superville and Geir Moulso | The Associated Press ELMAU, Germany — Leading economic powers conferred by video link with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today as they underscored their commitment to Ukraine for “as long as it takes” with plans to pursue a price cap on Russian oil, raise tariffs on Russian goods and impose other new sanctions. In addition, the U.S. was preparing to announce the purchase of an advanced surface-to-air missile system for . . . READ MORE . . .                                                           

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Russia pushed into historic default by sanctions, by Karin Strohecker, Andrea Shalal and Emily Chan | Reuters * Grace period on $100 mln interest payment due May 27 ended Sunday * Russia default shows dramatic impact of sanctions-U.S. official * Some Taiwan bondholders did not get payment today, sources say * Russia says it has funds to pay, sanctions are to blame * Lapsed U.S. waiver, EU sanctions on NSD scupper Russia payments | LONDON — Russia defaulted on its international bonds for the first time in more than a century, the White House said, as sweeping sanctions have effectively cut the country off from the global financial system, rendering its assets untouchable. The Kremlin, which has the money to make payments thanks to oil and gas revenues, swiftly rejected the claims, and has accused the West of driving it into an artificial default. Earlier, some bondholders . . . READ MORE . . .

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The war in Ukraine is looming large at a meeting of the G7 Nations. Reported by A Martínez and Rob Schmitz | National Public Radio Leaders of the seven wealthiest democracies began three days of talks Sunday in Germany’s Bavarian Alps — as Russia fired a barrage of missiles at the Ukrainian capital of Kyiv. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Why Russia says it has not defaulted on its foreign debt. Reported by Alina Selyukh and A Martínez | NPR Russia appears to have defaulted on foreign-currency debt for the first time in over a century. But it does not consider itself in default because its payments have been blocked by Western sanctions. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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Russian missiles end weeks of relative quiet over western Ukraine. Reported by  | NPR More than four dozen Russian missiles hit cities across Ukraine over the weekend as G7 leaders met in Germany to discuss Russia’s war on Ukraine and other topics. Click HERE to listen and, tomorrow, read.

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The Fantasy of Fanaticism, by Scott Ritter | Consortium News / Educate! For a moment in time, it looked as if reality had managed to finally carve its way through the dense fog of propaganda-driven misinformation that had dominated Western media coverage of Russia’s “Special Military Operation” in Ukraine. In a stunning admission, Oleksandr Danylyuk, a former senior adviser to the Ukrainian Ministry of Defense and Intelligence Services, noted that the optimism that existed in Ukraine following Russia’s decision to terminate “Phase One” of the SMO (a major military feint toward Kiev), and begin “Phase Two” (the liberation of the Donbass), was no longer warranted. “The strategies and tactics of the Russians are . . . READ MORE . . .

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TO BE CONTINUED