Today, links to reports from the Associated Press, National Public Radio, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, teleSUR, and the Moscow Times; others are accessible by clicking on the organizations’ names below. — MCM

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Russia says it wants to end Ukraine’s ‘unacceptable regime,‘ by Susie Blann | The Associated Press KYIV  — Russia’s top diplomat says Moscow’s overarching goal in Ukraine is to free its people from its “unacceptable regime,” expressing the Kremlin’s war aims in some of the bluntest terms yet as its forces pummel the country with artillery barrages and airstrikes. . . . “We are determined to help the people of eastern Ukraine to liberate themselves from the burden of this absolutely unacceptable regime,” Lavrov said at an Arab League summit in Cairo late Sunday, referring to Ukrainian President Volodymr Zelenskyy’s government. Apparently suggesting that . . . READ MORE . . .

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New Russian airstrikes target Odesa region of Ukraine, by Susie Blann | AP KYIV — Russia targeted Ukraine’s Black Sea regions of Odesa and Mykolaiv with airstrikes today, hitting private buildings and port infrastructure along the country’s southern coast, the Ukrainian military said. The Kremlin’s forces used air-launched missiles in the attack, Ukraine’s Operational Command South said in a Facebook post. In the Odesa region, a number of private buildings in coastal villages were hit and caught fire, the report said. In the Mykolaiv region, port infrastructure was targeted despite the agreements Moscow and Kyiv signed last week that was intended to allow grain grain shipments to resume from Ukraine’s Black Sea ports. Hours after the strikes, a Moscow-installed official in southern Ukraine said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Rep. Elissa Slotkin on her visit to Ukraine and meeting with President Zelenskyy. Reported by Mary Louise Kelly, Elena Burnett and Christopher Intagliato | National Public Radio Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Rep. Elissa Slotkin, D-Mich., about her trip to Ukraine with a bipartisan Congressional delegation and meeting with President Zelenskyy. Click HERE to listen and read.

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Europe agrees on compromise gas curbs as Russia squeezes supply, by Kate Abnett | Reuters * U ministers agree to emergency gas use cuts * Voluntary cuts would become binding in supply emergency * Final deal exempts numerous countries, industries * EU racing to save gas as Russia slashes supply | BRUSSELS —European Union countries approved a weakened emergency plan to curb their gas demand today, after striking compromise deals to limit the cuts for some countries, as they brace for further Russian reductions in supply. Europe faces an increased gas squeeze from Wednesday, when Russian’s Gazprom (GAZP.MM) has said it would cut flows through the Nord Stream 1 pipeline to Germany to . . . READ MORE . . .

TO BE CONTINUED