First, links to reports from the Associated Press, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, Tass, National Public Radio, and Common Dreams; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. Then, commentary from antiwar.com. — MCM
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Zelensky says NATO’s ‘absurd’ plans for Ukraine fall short, by Chris Megerian, Seung Min Kim and Karl Ritter | AP VILNIUS — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy today blasted as “absurd” the absence of a timetable for his country’s membership in NATO, injecting harsh criticism into a gathering of the alliance’s leaders that was intended to showcase solidarity in the face of Russian aggression. The broadside . . . READ MORE . . .
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As Russia’s war on Ukraine drags on, what is NATO and what is it doing to help? by Lorne Cook | AP VILNIUS — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg — the top civilian official at the world’s biggest security alliance — routinely praises allies for helping Ukraine’s troops to fight back. But when he does, Stoltenberg is talking about individual member countries, not NATO as . . . READ MORE . . .
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NATO head sees ‘strong message’ on Ukraine’s membership bid at summit, by Sabine Siebold, John Irish and Steve Holland | Reuters VILNIUS — NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said Ukraine would get a “positive message” on its path to membership today, as leaders of the Western military alliance meet to discuss the fallout from Russia’s invasion that brought war to their doorstep. Divisions among NATO’s 31 members mean . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russia attacks Kyiv and Odesa with drones before NATO summit, by Valentyn Ogirenko and Gleb Garanich | Reuters KYIV — Russia attacked Kyiv and the southern port of Odesa with drones early today, Ukrainian officials said, hours before the start of a NATO summit in Lithuania discussing security threats from Moscow. Russian forces also shelled parts of the southern region of Kherson, killing a woman in the village of . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian military official on Ukraine blacklist shot dead on morning run, by Mark Trevelyan | Reuters A Russian military official who had commanded a submarine in the Black Sea and appeared on a Ukrainian blacklist of alleged war criminals was shot dead by an unknown assassin while on his morning run in the southern city of Krasnodar, Russia’s top investigative body said. READ MORE . . .
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First French long-range missiles already in Ukraine. From AFP. France has already made a delivery of a number of SCALP long-range cruise missiles to Ukraine, a military source said today, after President Emmanuel Macron announced the supplies. The official . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian air defenses intercept five Ukrainian S-200 missiles — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian air defense forces intercepted five Ukrainian S-200 missiles over the past day during the special military operation in Ukraine, Defense Ministry spokesman Lt. Gen. Igor Konashenkov said Monday in a briefing. In addition . . . READ MORE . . .
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A preview of this week’s NATO annual summit. Reported by Eleanor Beardsley | NPR On Tuesday, the 31 members of the NATO alliance will meet for their annual summit — the second summit held since Russia’s full scale invasion of Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Ukraine joining NATO came up in 2008. 15 years later it’s still under discussion. Reported by A Martínez and Greg Myre | NPR Ahead of NATO’s summit, Ukraine’s president makes the case for security guarantees. He also arranged for commanders released by the Russians to return to Ukraine against the wishes of Russia. Click HERE to listen and read.
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Putin met with Wagner founder and his mercenaries just days after they led a mutiny. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR Russian President Vladimir Putin met Wagner chief Yevgeny Prigozhin and nearly three dozen of his mercenary commanders for talks in Moscow late in June. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Key Dems oppose Biden’s move to send cluster munitions to Ukraine, by Kenny Stancil | Common Dreams Several high-ranking House Democrats have joined human rights groups in expressing dismay over President Joe Biden’s decision to supply Ukraine with cluster munitions — weapons that more than 120 countries have banned due to their devastating and long-lasting impacts on civilians. Biden said Friday his move to send cluster bombs to Ukraine as . . . READ MORE . . .
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Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist has seen the lasting harm of cluster bombs. Reported by Kira Wakeam, Ashley Brown and Mary Louise Kelly | NPR Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Lewis Simons, who reported from Asia and the Middle East for decades, talks about the legacy of cluster bombs in Laos. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.
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Can Washington be saved from itself at the NATO summit? by Ted Galen Carpenter | antiwar.com The Kremlin has made it clear since President George W. Bush first proposed NATO membership for Ukraine that such a step would cross a bright red line concerning Russia’s vital security interests. Yet policymakers in the Bush, Obama, Trump, and Biden administrations . . . READ MORE . . .
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MAY BE CONTINUED