Russian President Vladimir Putin marked a geopolitical watershed today by officially recognizing the breakaway “people's republics” of Donetsk and Luhansk in eastern Ukraine and deciding to deploy Russian “peacekeeper” troops to their territories. This could be the turning point when the long peace between the US-led European allies and Russia is lost for decades. But … [Read more...] about Putin’s breakup of Ukraine is a dangerous watershed. Guterres indicates offramp.
Putin vents Ukraine grievances as justification for recognising Donbass
Published by ReutersBy Andrey Ostroukh and Andrew Osborn MOSCOW (Reuters) - President Vladimir Putin signed decrees on Monday to recognise two breakaway regions of eastern Ukraine as independent statelets, defying Western warnings that such a step would be illegal and would kill off peace negotiations. He signed the documents after delivering an astonishing verbal attack on … [Read more...] about Putin vents Ukraine grievances as justification for recognising Donbass
Russia has lists of Ukrainians ‘to be killed or sent to camps’, US warns UN
Published by AFPWashington (AFP) - Washington has warned the UN rights chief that Russia has lists of Ukrainians "to be killed or sent to camps" in the event of an invasion, according to a letter obtained by AFP Sunday. The letter, which came as Washington warned of an imminent invasion by Russian troops massed near the Ukrainian border, says the United States is "deeply … [Read more...] about Russia has lists of Ukrainians ‘to be killed or sent to camps’, US warns UN
Putin says he may recognise breakaway regions of Ukraine (UPDATED)
Published by ReutersBy Dmitry Antonov and Michel Rose MOSCOW/PARIS (Reuters) -Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Monday he was considering a request by two regions of eastern Ukraine held by Russian-backed separatists to be recognised as independent - a move that could give Moscow a reason to openly send troops. Separately, Moscow said Ukrainian military saboteurs had … [Read more...] about Putin says he may recognise breakaway regions of Ukraine (UPDATED)
Biden agrees in principle to Ukraine summit with Putin
Published by Reuters UK(Reuters) -U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin have agreed in principle to a summit over Ukraine, the U.S. and French leaders said, offering a possible path out of one of the most dangerous European crises in decades. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said in a statement on Monday he had pitched both leaders on a … [Read more...] about Biden agrees in principle to Ukraine summit with Putin
Ukraine President laments frequent warnings that “war will happen tomorrow”.
Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky has said that almost daily predictions of an imminent Russian invasion of his country were imposing economic costs by terrorizing his people, crushing his currency and scaring off investors. His lament came among repeated calls at Saturday’s Munich Security Conference for a diplomatic solution to the crisis with Russia. It followed … [Read more...] about Ukraine President laments frequent warnings that “war will happen tomorrow”.
UK sees threat to Taiwan if West does not support Ukraine
Published by Reuters UKBy David Milliken LONDON (Reuters) -British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said on Saturday that if Western nations failed to fulfil their promises to support Ukraine's independence, it would have damaging consequences worldwide, including for Taiwan. Russian troops are massed near Ukraine's borders and President Vladimir Putin has launched exercises by … [Read more...] about UK sees threat to Taiwan if West does not support Ukraine
Putin launches nuclear drills as U.S. says Russian forces ‘uncoil’ for Ukraine attack
Published by ReutersBy Polina Nikolskaya and Tom Balmforth DONETSK, Ukraine/MOSCOW (Reuters) -President Vladimir Putin launched exercises by Russia's strategic nuclear missile forces on Saturday and Washington said Russian troops massed near Ukraine's border were moving forward and "poised to strike". With Western nations fearing what could be one of the worst conflicts since … [Read more...] about Putin launches nuclear drills as U.S. says Russian forces ‘uncoil’ for Ukraine attack
FOX AND CRACK (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva, who is only 15, failed a drug test but was allowed to compete anyway. Sure, the medication was a performance-enhancing drug, but it’s not like she’s a black athlete caught smoking pot. Valieva may not be the bad guy in this as it’s possible she wasn’t even aware she was doped, but she may have wondered where all the new and sudden-found … [Read more...] about FOX AND CRACK (CARTOON, COLUMN AND VIDEO)
The Cold War, modern Ukraine and the spread of democracy in the former Soviet bloc countries
Russian President Vladimir Putin attends the opening ceremony of the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing. Alexei Druzhinin / Sputnik/AFP via Getty Images Michael De Groot, Indiana University As Russia masses forces and equipment on Ukraine’s border, international tensions over a possible invasion intensify almost daily. Ukraine has emerged as ground zero … [Read more...] about The Cold War, modern Ukraine and the spread of democracy in the former Soviet bloc countries
What are false flag attacks – and could Russia make one work in the information age?
The Russian and Ukrainian governments both blamed forces aligned with the other for mortar fire in eastern Ukraine and for using the accusations as justification for increased aggression. AP Photo/Vadim Ghirda Scott Radnitz, University of Washington In the past few weeks, U.S. officials have warned several times that Russia plans to create the … [Read more...] about What are false flag attacks – and could Russia make one work in the information age?
Rebels announce evacuation from east Ukraine; West says Russia creates pretext for war
Published by Reuters UKBy Anton Zverev, Pavel Polityuk and Polina Nikolskaya MOSCOW/KYIV/DONETSK (Reuters) - Russian-backed separatists announced the sudden surprise evacuation of their breakaway regions in eastern Ukraine on Friday, a shock turn in a conflict the West believes Moscow plans to use to justify an all-out invasion of its neighbour. Warning sirens blared in … [Read more...] about Rebels announce evacuation from east Ukraine; West says Russia creates pretext for war
Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, the ‘Berlin Candy Bomber’ Dies at 101
The Associated Press reported today that Retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Gail S. Halvorsen, affectionately known as the “Berlin Candy Bomber,” died at age 101 on Wednesday. The Gail S. Halvorsen Aviation Education Foundation announced Col. Halvorsen's passing with this tribute: God bless you Gail, and your family too. Rest easy, skipper- we'll take the controls now … [Read more...] about Col. Gail S. Halvorsen, the ‘Berlin Candy Bomber’ Dies at 101
U.S. says war appears imminent after shelling on Ukraine front line
Published by ReutersBy Dmitry Antonov and Pavel Polityuk MOSCOW/KYIV (Reuters) - U.S. President Joe Biden said on Thursday there was now every indication Russia was planning to invade Ukraine, including signs Moscow was carrying out a false flag operation to justify it, after Ukrainian forces and pro-Moscow rebels traded fire. Moscow, for its part, ejected the number two … [Read more...] about U.S. says war appears imminent after shelling on Ukraine front line
The Hefbrug: A Bridge too Low. A Bridge too Far? (Updates)
UPDATE II: Several reports indicate that the city of Rotterdam may approve the dismantling of the historic Hef Bridge to allow passage to open sea of billionaire Jeff Bezos’ $500 million superyacht. This, in spite of heavy opposition and threats to pelt the yacht with rotten eggs (“or, if one is a vegan, with tomatoes”) when it eventually sails through the dismantled … [Read more...] about The Hefbrug: A Bridge too Low. A Bridge too Far? (Updates)
Biden’s showdown with Putin undercuts his face-off with China
President Joe Biden seems to have won the first round by pushing Russia’s Vladimir Putin to start withdrawing at least a handful of troops massed along Ukraine's border. He may have set the ball rolling for the de-escalation he demanded from the start after Putin made the fateful choice of presenting a military fait accompli to Biden to coerce the 30 US-led NATO … [Read more...] about Biden’s showdown with Putin undercuts his face-off with China
Movie Review: Those Who Walk Away
Those Who Walk Away is loosely inspired by a short story about a community whose happiness and joy can only be sustained by torturing a young boy. The movie is a hybrid with completely different moods at the beginning and midpoint. It's not a cookie-cutter slasher horror film and is masterfully shot as a one-take movie (like Hitchcock's Rope and 1917), which gives the … [Read more...] about Movie Review: Those Who Walk Away
Canada in crisis: Why Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to end trucker protests
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, surrounded by key members of his cabinet, announces his government will invoke the Emergencies Act. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld Jack L. Rozdilsky, York University, Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act in an effort to quell the protests by truckers and other groups … [Read more...] about Canada in crisis: Why Justin Trudeau has invoked the Emergencies Act to end trucker protests
NATO: Russia is continuing its military build-up near Ukraine
Published by DPANATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg says that the alliance has "not seen any de-escalation on the ground" despite announcements from Russia about the pullback of troops stationed near the Ukrainian border. "On the contrary, it appears that Russia continues the military build-up," Stoltenberg told reporters. "What we see is that they have increased the number … [Read more...] about NATO: Russia is continuing its military build-up near Ukraine
Biden gives Jan. 6 panel access to Trump’s White House visitor logs
Published by ReutersBy Steve Holland WASHINGTON (Reuters) -President Joe Biden has rejected former President Donald Trump's executive privilege claims and ordered White House visitor logs to be released to the panel investigating the deadly Jan. 6, 2021 attack, according to a letter released on Wednesday. In a letter to the National Archives, Biden's White House counsel granted … [Read more...] about Biden gives Jan. 6 panel access to Trump’s White House visitor logs