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2022-02-23: News Headlines

David Swanson (2022-02-23). Don't Overlook NATO's Successes. warisacrime.org By David Swanson, World BEYOND War, February 22, 2022 I'm hearing a lot of talk about U.S. and NATO failures, so I want to call attention to the successes. Feel free to cheer wildly for each one. Germany has canceled a Russian pipeline and will be destroying the Earth with more U.S. fossil fuels, and …

WSWS (2022-02-23). Who in the Lord's name gave the US the right? A question for Mr. Biden. wsws.org This is a question, however, that much of the world would like Biden himself to answer. The "flagrant violation of international law" that Biden accused Russia of perpetrating is precisely what the United States is doing, with Biden directly and personally involved.

ecns.cn (2022-02-23). China rejects unilateral sanctions on Russia over Ukraine. ecns.cn Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying on Wednesday rejected imposing unilateral sanctions on Russia and reiterated that the country's tensions with Ukraine should be resolved through dialogue and consultation.

WSWS (2022-02-23). Nervous market response to sanctions on Russia. wsws.org Further market falls are expected with the Wall Street Journal reporting that investors are "scooping up at a record pace options contracts that would pay out if the recent declines in stock and bond markets worsen."

_____ (2022-02-23). Is The Crisis In Ukraine The Beginning Of A New World Order? popularresistance.org Just before the start of the Winter Olympics in Beijing, Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping issued a joint statement on international relations and on co-operation between China and Russia. | It is a document of about 10 pages that comes at a time of great tensions with Nato over Ukraine and of a diplomatic boycott of the Winter Games. | The text can be read as a plea for a new world order in which the US and its allies are no longer in charge, but in which the aim is to create a multipolar world, with respect for the sovereignty of countries. | "The sides oppose further enlargement of Nato and call on the…

Abdul Rahman (2022-02-23). US and allies impose sanctions on Russia after it announces troop deployment in Donbass region. peoplesdispatch.org Russia claimed that its troop deployment in the breakaway Ukrainian republics of Donetsk and Luhansk is intended to maintain peace amid a situation of escalating tensions, pushed by the US and NATO…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-23). Britain, Germany, Norway to boost NATO forces in Baltic region. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Deutsche WelleFebruary 22, 2022 Ukraine-Russia crisis: Germany, UK to reinforce NATO's eastern flank The German and British defense ministers announced that they were prepared to send even more troops than planned to NATO units in the Baltic states. Separately, the UK announced military exercises in northern Europe. German Defense Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Tuesday …

Jack Foust Matlock, Jr. (2022-02-23). Today's Crisis Over Ukraine. indybay.org What President Putin is demanding, an end to NATO expansion and creation of a security structure in Europe that insures Russia's security along with that of others is eminently reasonable… By any pragmatic, common sense standard it is in the interest of the United States to promote peace, not conflict.

_____ (2022-02-23). Putin Recognizes Donbass Independence As Violence Soars. popularresistance.org Russian President Vladimir Putin has recognized the independence from Ukraine of two breakaway provinces in Donbass as violence in the region continues to escalate. | In Monday evening televised remarks after signing decrees recognizing the independence of Lugansk and Donetsk, Putin denounced the government of Ukraine as "puppets" of the United States. He said: | "As for those who captured and are holding on to power in Kiev, we demand that they immediately cease military action. If not, the complete responsibility for the possibility of a continuation of bloodshed will be fully and wholly on the conscience of th…

_____ (2022-02-23). What Are The Minsk Agreements? popularresistance.org On Monday, February 21, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced in a press conference that the country will recognize the independence of the Donetsk and the Luhansk people's republics. Refuting arguments that the move will harm possibilities for peace and violate provisions of the Minsk agreement, the Russian leader claimed that the decision was aimed at maintaining peace in the region. | According to Valentina Matviyenko, chairperson of the Federation Council, the upper house of Russian parliament, the situation in Donbass is of a "humanitarian disaster and genocide" and Russia's move will help in easing the…

_____ (2022-02-23). Ukraine, Putin Turns The Tables. popularresistance.org In a decision that unsettled the Western chancelleries, Vladimir Putin signed the diplomatic protocol recognizing the independent republics of Lugansk and Donetsk. The recognition was immediately followed by the signing of a cooperation and mutual assistance agreement, which will imply a Russian military presence in defense of the two republics and, at the same time, a clear warning to Kiev and its self-interested supporters. | Thus ends the dirty war, the only one that was really being waged despite the fact that the international media system was hiding it: that is, the Ukrainian shooting practices on the civil…

Satya Mohapatra (2022-02-23). Neo-Nazis attempt to disrupt 'Red Books Day' reading at library in Rhode Island, community fights back. peoplesdispatch.org A group of about two dozen neo-Nazis attempted to violently disrupt a reading circle at Red Ink Community Library on February 21 in the Mount Hope neighborhood of Providence, Rhode Island. The community space was holding a small public gathering to celebrate "Red Books Day," which is recognized around the world to celebrate the anniversary of the publication of the Communist Manifesto. | The Red Ink Library is in a working class area of Providence. Community members submitted French, German, Russian, Ukrainian, Turkish, Georgian, Spanish, Hindi, Punjabi, and Odia recordings of sections of the Manifesto to share w…

_____ (2022-02-23). For the Forty Thousandth Time: What Putin, Really, Really, Really Wants! journal-neo.org After having read forty thousand headlines revolving around what Russian President Vladimir Putin "wants" for the past decade, I wonder if anybody but Putin knows? Based on what I have learned about the Russian leader, I can tell you this. He absolutely wants what almost all Russians want, for the west to just quit the …

Ajamu Baraka (2022-02-23). Why the Russian Federation Recognized the Independence Movements in the Donbas. dissidentvoice.org "Minsk, Minsk, Minsk," they cried after Russia recognized Donetsk and Luhansk. But those Western diplomats and pundits did not hear those of us in the Anti-war, pro-peace and anti-imperialist movements who insisted that Minsk II was the only conceivable way out of the crisis! There will be reams of words attempting to provide a coherent …

Editor (2022-02-23). What accounts for Putin's assertiveness on Ukraine? mronline.org What about this China factor? Why do Western pundits/savants pay so little heed to this game-changer? It should not require my half-century of studying/reporting on Russia-China relations to notice that China and Russia have never been so strategically close as now.

Fabrizio Casari (2022-02-23). Ukraine: Putin turns the tables. dissidentvoice.org Pending French mediation, Putin-Biden talks, German distancing, Italian fears, Spanish uncertainties and opposition from the former Eastern bloc, as well as the regularly discredited deadlines of the improbable Russian invasions, the war always announced but never started has had its first outcome. In a decision that displaced the Western chancelleries, Vladimir Putin signed the diplomatic …

In Defense of Liberation! (2022-02-23). Morning Commute: 2-23-2022 #NoWarWithRussia Let's build a movement! anchor.fm In this episode I discuss a little bit more of the situation going on in Ukraine especially since the last few days. I also use this to discuss the need for people across the world to come together in the fight against the reactionary and repressive governments, ruling class, and their propaganda across the world. Militarization will not solve the issues that capitalism and imperialism have created, only Proletarian revolution and the dictatorship of the working and exploited classes over the former oppressing and exploiting class. This is it, this is our only way out. Let me know what you think of the show!

Jeremy Kuzmarov (2022-02-23). As U.S. threatens war with Russia, Biden administration unveils imperial strategy for Indo-Pacific that could lead to war with China. mronline.org Already threatening war with Russia, the White House this month has unveiled a new imperial grand strategy for the Indo-Pacific that raises the prospects of war with China.

M. K. Bhadrakumar (2022-02-23). India, China in Europe's crisis. mronline.org The key elements conform to a principled stance—and a balanced one. India's stance so far has been one of a 'standoffish' attitude that basically absolves Delhi of the need to take a position on which its key ally the United States and the time-tested Russian friend have locked horns.

Matthew J.L. Ehret (2022-02-23). Today's Emergencies Act, and Anti-Russian False Flags Echo the Gouzenko Hoax That Unleashed the Cold War. dissidentvoice.org Today, a new coordinated psychological operation has been sprung to convince every living patriot across the Five Eyes sphere of influence that the enemy of the free world who lurks behind every conspiracy to overthrow governments, and western values are Russia and China. Over the past months, slanderous, and often conjectural stories of Chinese and …

WSWS (2022-02-23). Ukraine's President Zelensky calls for "war coalition in the parliament" wsws.org As the US and EU announced far-reaching sanctions on Russia on Tuesday, further escalating the conflict, Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky called for a "war coalition" in Ukraine's parliament and began reviewing proposals to sever diplomatic ties with Russia.

Staff (2022-02-23). Nuclear War Risk Rises as Tension Mounts Between Nuclear Superpowers over Ukraine. democracynow.org Russian President Vladimir Putin's decision to order troops into the separatist-controlled areas of Ukraine has triggered a new wave of sanctions against Russia, amid fears the situation could spiral into an all-out war. We speak with Dr. Ira Helfand, former president of International Physicians for the Prevention of Nuclear War, who warns a war could lead to the use of nuclear weapons that would annihilate millions and cause total collapse of world ecosystems. "We have found it almost impossible to imagine, 30 years after the end of the Cold War, that there could be a nuclear war between the United S…

_____ (2022-02-23). Russia-Ukraine Is An Information War. popularresistance.org The threat of war is difficult to beat when it comes to mending or enhancing a damaged reputation. President Joe Biden and Boris Johnson, both derided as ineffective in domestic policy only a few weeks ago, are now reborn as statesmen capable of guiding their countries through the minefield of Eastern European politics. | The American and British intelligence services seldom got things right during the Iraq, Libyan and Syrian conflicts, but they are now being cited as reliable guarantors of the credibility of stories about an impending Russian invasion of Ukraine. | This narrative is sold to the public as the fru…

WSWS (2022-02-23). Southern US teachers discuss the fight to eliminate COVID-19 and stop the threat of war. wsws.org Teachers across the southern US met Sunday to discuss the coverup of the pandemic and the threat of war with Russia.

WSWS (2022-02-23). EU countries impose sanctions on Russia over Ukraine crisis. wsws.org After Moscow's recognition of the independence of parts of eastern Ukraine, European governments are imposing sanctions and escalating the war drive against Russia.

Staff (2022-02-23). Headlines for February 23, 2022. democracynow.org U.S. Imposes Sanctions, Ukraine Calls for Stronger Action After Russian Recognition of Breakaway Areas, Jury Finds Ahmaud Arbery's 3 Murderers Guilty of Federal Hate Crimes, Trial for Ex-Cop Brett Hankison, Who Shot into Breonna Taylor's Home During Fatal Raid, Starts in KY, U.N. Report Warns of Climate Disaster-Fueled "Global Wildfire Crisis", Mining Companies, Foreign Investors Driving Destruction of Amazon, Violation of Indigenous Rights, Hong Kong to Conduct Mass COVID Testing on Entire Population; U.K. Removes All Pandemic Restrictions, Israeli Forces Kill 14-Year-Old Palestinian; Isr…

WSWS (2022-02-22). Russia sends troops into East Ukraine, Biden announces sanctions. wsws.org Monday's escalation comes after weeks in which the US and NATO recklessly ratcheted up tensions with Russia, including by sending 5,000 troops of the airborne division to Poland and 300 Javelin missiles to Ukraine, and unleashing a torrent of war propaganda.

Dave DeCamp (2022-02-22). Uncovered Document Reveals Soviet Union Was Promised No NATO Expansion at End of Cold War. news.antiwar.com A document from the British National Archives The document is

_____ (2022-02-22). Sino-Russia Energy Deals to Defeat US/NATO Expansionism. journal-neo.org While the recent meeting between Russia's Vladimir Putin and China's Xi in Beijing may not in itself be an extra-ordinary event, its significance against the backdrop of the on-going tussle between Russia and the US/NATO is quite unmistakable — not only for Russia itself, but for the US/NATO as well. Even though Russia does not …

JANET (2022-02-22). U.S. war on Russia: a stampede off a cliff. iacenter.org Bulletin: As of Feb. 22, Russia has recognized the two peoples' republics in the Donbass region of eastern Ukraine, the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic, established in 2014. Russia has said that it will send troops to protect the two republics if they come under further Ukraine/ NATO attack. Washington and some European allies have announced economic sanctions against the two republics and/or against Russia. Working people worldwide must oppose U.S./NATO aggression and expansion, which are creating the danger of a massive war. Grand Central Terminal, New York City, Feb. 19. Photo: Sara…

_____ (2022-02-22). The Birth of the Baby Twins: Russia's Strategic Swing Drives NATOstan Nuts. strategic-culture.org "You don't believe in the principle of indivisible security? Fine. Now we dictate the security rhythm." | History will register that the birth of the baby twins — Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics — only a few hours before 2/22/22, was simultaneous to the birth of the real, 21st century multipolar world. | As my columns have stressed for a few years now, Vladimir Putin has been carefully nurturing his inner Sun Tzu. And now it's all in the open: "Let your plans be dark and impenetrable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt." | The thunderbolt was months in the process of being meti…

Kevin Mwanza (2022-02-22). Fact Check: Russia Can Escape SWIFT Banking System Sanctions With Bitcoin And Crypto. moguldom.com As NATO considers sanctions against Russia if it fails to withdraw troops at the border with Ukraine and continues to threaten war, the Kremlin is considering switching to using cryptocurrency for its money transfer system instead of using the Brussels-based SWIFT global payments system. SWIFT, which stands for Society for Worldwide Interbank Financial Telecommunication, carries …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). U.S. nuclear-capable B-52s engage in drills in Czech Republic. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com NATO Allied Air CommandFebruary 22, 2022 Czech fighters accomplish Bomber Task Force mission with U.S. B-52s Czech fighter aircraft escorted and drilled with the U.S. B-52 Stratofortress aircraft while flying over Europe on an integration mission to conduct bilateral and theatre familiarisation, February 21, 2022. The bomber aircraft landed in the Czech Republic….Performing these pre-flight …

_____ (2022-02-22). Spinning Victory From Fiasco as the U.S. Tries to Avoid Peace With Russia. strategic-culture.org The real danger is that the Ukrainian regime has been emboldened by Washington and NATO's reckless indulgence. Its offensive against the Russian people of southeast Ukraine is becoming more frenzied in recent days. | So, now that great expectations and dire-laden predictions of Russia invading Ukraine failed to materialize, the next move is to present that fiasco as a diplomatic victory for the United States and its NATO allies. | Complicating the situation further is Russia's dramatic recognition on Monday of the independent republics of Donetsk and Lugansk. If Russian troops now go to the aid of the newly recog…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). Lithuania: German DM says ready to deploy more troops. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ReutersFebruary 22, 2022 Germany could send more troops to NATO's eastern flank — defence minister Germany could send more troops to Lithuania and other countries on NATO's eastern flank after Russia formally recognised two regions of Ukraine as independent, German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said on Tuesday. "It is clear that we need to apply …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). Eastern Flank: NATO deploys warplanes against Russian aircraft from Baltic to Black Sea. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com NATO Allied Air CommandFebruary 22, 2022 NATO jets secure allied air space across Europe Allied aircraft assigned to NATO air policing have executed multiple Quick Reaction Alert (QRA) launches from airfields across Europe to identify unknown aircraft…. On February 17, two Spanish Eurofighters took off from Graf Ignatievo Air Base in Bulgaria following orders from …

John Wojcik, C.J. Atkins (2022-02-22). NATO may get the war it wanted. peoplesworld.org The big news regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict over the President's Day holiday was that Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to enter two separatist regions of Ukraine for "peacekeeping" purposes. There has been no confirmation yet that Russian troops, in addition to those that may or may not have already been in those regions, have …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). Canada pauses from Anti-Terrorist Operation to sanction Russia. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Interfax-UkraineFebruary 22, 2022 Canada prepares to impose economic sanctions for Russia's recognition of so-called 'L/DNR' — Foreign Minister ==== Taking page from sponsor Trudeau's playbook, Ukraine may declare martial law — Zelensky Munich: Canadian foreign minister dwells on foreign interference in "national security threat" Canadian DM at NATO HQ: more troops to Ukraine region affected …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). U.S. deploys nuclear-capable F-35s to Europe on NATO mission. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com NATO Allied Air CommandFebruary 22, 2022 U.S. F-35s deploy to Germany supporting NATO The U.S. has deployed F-35s, maintainers, and support personnel to Spangdahlem Air Base, Germany to bolster NATO's defence during the evolving security situation. The jets arrived at Spangdahlem on February 16, 2022 to bolster readiness, enhance NATO's collective defence posture and further …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). Caucasus: EU dwells on status of "Russian-occupied territories" antibellum679354512.wordpress.com As noted below in regard to "human rights, media freedom and pluralism," the Association Agreement between Georgia and the European Union under the rubric of the Eastern Partnership — the very mechanism that triggered the Ukrainian coup of eight years ago — along with initiatives set up by the NATO-Georgia Commission (established immediately after the …

_____ (2022-02-22). Russia Recognizes The Donbas Republics. popularresistance.org (February 21) – The Russian National Security Council met to discuss the recognition of the Donetzk People's Republic (DNR) and Luhansk People's Republic (LNR) as independent states. | The whole meeting was shown on public TV. RT-English provided a live translation. The purpose of the show was to present Russia's arguments to an international public. | Last week the Russian parliament submitted a resolution which asked the president of Russia to recognize the DNR and LNR. Earlier today the leaders of the DNR and LNR made a formal official request to recognize their republics. | The security council heard the opin…

_____ (2022-02-22). US Signals Putin's Donbas Deployment Might Not Trigger Massive Sanctions. popularresistance.org A US official on Monday signaled that Russian President Vladimir Putin's deployment of troops into the Donbas as "peacekeepers" might not trigger the "massive" sanctions the US has been threatening to hit Russia with if it "invades" Ukraine. | The US has long accused Russia of having troops deployed in the Donbas, which Moscow has denied. A senior administration official told reporters on Monday that Putin's peacekeeping deployment would "not be a new step" and would only make the Russian presence in the region "more overt." | In response to Putin's recognition of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics, the B…

Dana Sanchez (2022-02-22). Joe Biden Calls Russian Declaration An Invasion, Increasing Risks Of Escalation And Military Conflict. moguldom.com The Biden administration, which has tried to leave room for diplomacy while adopting an aggressive stance toward Russia, said Tuesday that it saw President Vladimir Putin's movement of troops into the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine as the start of an invasion. In response, Biden plans to announce sanctions against Russia from the White House …

Nikola Mikovic (2022-02-22). Looming EU Energy Crisis As U.S. Uses Ukraine As Proxy Battleground Against Russia. towardfreedom.org With Russia recognizing on February 21 two breakaway republics in Ukraine's Donbass region, war between Russia and U.S.-backed Ukraine appears closer than ever. However, such an escalation means Europe is bound to face an energy crisis, as sources of oil and gas remain too small or unreliable to meet its needs, writes Nikola Mikovic.

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-22). Turkey blasts Russia's recognition of Donbass republics as "unacceptable" antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Hàºrriyet Daily NewsFebruary 22, 2022 Turkey says Russian recognition of breakaway regions in Ukraine 'unacceptable' Turkey has slammed the Russian recognition of two breakaway territories in eastern Ukraine as "unacceptable," announcing that it is taking its own measures as a Black Sea country. "We consider the decision unacceptable. We invite the parties concerned to act …

TASS (2022-02-22). Russia's decision on recognizing DPR, LPR may lead to global consequences — UN official. tass.com "We very much regret this decision, which risks having regional and global repercussions," United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Political and Peacebuilding Affairs Rosemary DiCarlo said…

Dave DeCamp (2022-02-22). US Signals Putin's Donbas Troop Deployment Might Not Trigger Massive 'Invasion' Sanctions. news.antiwar.com A US official on Monday The US has long accused Russia of having troops deployed in the Donbas, which Moscow has denied. A senior administration official told reporters on Monday that Putin's peacekeeping deployment would "not be a new step" and would only make the Russian pres…

Dee Knight (2022-02-22). Is It Too Late to Avert a War with Russia? covertactionmagazine.com The United States and allied nations sought to isolate Russia on Monday at an emergency United Nations Security Council meeting …

WSWS (2022-02-22). UK announces sanctions on Russian banks and oligarchs, as armed forces prepare anti-Russian provocations. wsws.org Britain is being dragged by the Tories and Labour into the vortex of a military conflict with Russia.

teleSUR (2022-02-22). Biden to Ban Companies from Doing Business in Donetsk & Lugansk. telesurenglish.net On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that U.S. President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognized as independent states. | RELATED: | "President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Lugansk People's Repub…

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2022-02-22: News Headlines

John Wojcik (2022-02-22). NATO may get the war it wanted. peoplesworld.org The big news regarding the Russia-Ukraine conflict over the President's Day holiday was that Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered troops to enter two separatist regions of Ukraine for "peacekeeping" purposes. There has been no confirmation yet that Russian troops, in addition to those that may or may not have already been in those regions, have …

teleSUR (2022-02-22). Biden to Ban Companies from Doing Business in Donetsk & Lugansk. telesurenglish.net On Monday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that U.S. President Joe Biden will soon sign an executive order banning Americans from doing business in the two Ukrainian regions that Russia has recognized as independent states. | RELATED: | "President Biden will soon issue an Executive Order that will prohibit new investment, trade, and financing by U.S. persons to, from, or in the so-called Donetsk People's Republic (DNR) and Lugansk People's Repub…

WSWS (2022-02-22). Russia sends troops into East Ukraine, Biden announces sanctions. wsws.org Monday's escalation comes after weeks in which the US and NATO recklessly ratcheted up tensions with Russia, including by sending 5,000 troops of the airborne division to Poland and 300 Javelin missiles to Ukraine, and unleashing a torrent of war propaganda.

WSWS (2022-02-22). The political and historical background to the US war drive against Russia. wsws.org In light of the major escalation Monday of the conflict between the United States and Russia, we are republishing excerpts from the 2016 statement of the International Committee of the Fourth International, "Socialism and the Fight Against War."

Internationalist 360 ∞ (2022-02-21). Russia Recognizes the Independence of Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. libya360.wordpress.com Signing of documents recognising Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics Address by the President of the Russian Federation Security Council Emergency Session on Ukraine Massive Russian Navy Armada Moves Into Place Off Ukraine H I Sutton The naval arm of Russia's military build-up around Ukraine is in place. Landing ships, major warships, submarines and aircraft effectively…

TASS (2022-02-21). US plans to impose restrictions on international transactions of Russian banks — Reuters. tass.com The final list of banks subject to sanctions is yet to be formed…

Nikola Mikovic (2022-02-21). The Ukraine Crisis and Lessons from the Balkans. juancole.com Belgrade (Special to Informed Comment) — A large scale conflict seems to be on the verge of breaking out between Western-backed Ukraine and two Russian-sponsored, breakaway republics, the Donetsk People's Republic and Lugansk People's Republic. Tensions in the coal-rich Donbass region of Eastern Ukraine remain high, and though diplomacy may have postponed a full-scale war, …

teleSUR (2022-02-21). Ukraine Answers to Russian Allegation on Soldiers Casualties. telesurenglish.net Ukraine has denied Russian claims stating that five of its service personnel were killed on Monday in a firefight near the two countries shared border. | RELATED: | Pavlo Kovalchuk, a military spokesman of Ukraine, affirmed that the country's armed forces have neither attacked Donetsk and Lugansk nor sent saboteurs across the border. He claimed that forces of the breakaway republics of Donetsk and Lugansk have shelled themselves to increase…

teleSUR (2022-02-21). Russia Set to Recognize Donetsk & Luhansk as Independent States. telesurenglish.net On Monday, Russia's President Vladimir Putin held telephone conversations with the French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, informing them that he intends to sign a decree to recognize the Lugansk and Donetsk republics. | RELATED: | A few hours earlier, the leaders of these republics asked Putin to recognize the independence of their territories and provide them with cooperation to de…

teleSUR (2022-02-21). Russia to Recognize Lugansk and Donetsk Republics' Sovereignty. telesurenglish.net The Russian president, Vladimir Putin, announced that Russia would recognize the independence of the Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. He also signed the corresponding documents and asked for the support of the Federal Assembly regarding the signing of cooperation treaties with the Donbass breakaway states. | Donetsk and Lugansk Republics will be recognized as independent states. Feb. 21, 2022.

slorinoco (2022-02-21). Russia calls Ukrainian President 'Heartless Cynic'. orinocotribune.com Maria Zakharova, spokesperson for Russia's foreign ministry, referred to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky as a "heartless cynic" following his comments about shelling in Donbas. | In the statement posted on her Telegram account on Saturday, February 19, Maria Zakharova responded to Zelensky's claims that pro-independence forces in Donbas had fired on residents of the region, which is located in eastern Ukraine and contains the self-proclaimed independent Donetsk People's Republic and Luhansk People's Republic. | "Only a heartless cynic can make statements like 'they shot themselves' to the residents of Donb…

teleSUR (2022-02-21). DPR Claims Shelling Against Donetsk From Ukraine. telesurenglish.net Denis Pushilin, President of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, disclosed that a battle is taking place near the Russian border between the Ukrainian forces and the Republic's popular army. | RELATED: | The leader of the self-proclaimed Donetsk noted that the situation in the direction of Mariupol has sharply deteriorated, with Ukrainian military forces attacking the position of People's Police unit…

Anonymous349 (2022-02-21). Ukrainian Saboteur Blows Up On His Own Mine Near Donetsk As Putin Prepares To Address Security Council. southfront.org Monday, February 21, was marked by the further deterioration of the situation in the conflict zone in the east of…

sputniknews (2022-02-21). Russia to Participate in Contact Group If Kiev Agrees to Convene Meeting With DPR, LPR, Source Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – If Kiev manages to agree with the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics (DPR and LPR) to hold Contact Group talks on the Donbass crisis, Russia will also participate in the negotiations, a Moscow source familiar with the matter told Sputnik.

sputniknews (2022-02-21). Ukrainian Media Claims Zelenskyy Quietly Hoping Russia Will Recognise Donbass Breakaways. sputniknews.com Since the signing of the Minsk Agreements in February 2015, Moscow has consistently called for the peaceful reintegration of the Donbass breakaway regions with Ukraine in exchange for broad, constitutionally-guaranteed autonomy.

Staff (2022-02-21). Headlines for February 21, 2022. democracynow.org Possible Biden-Putin Summit Announced Amid High Tensions, Unrest in Eastern Ukraine, California to Start Treating COVID-19 as Endemic Disease, Queen Elizabeth Tests Positive for Coronavirus; Canadian Police Clear Ottawa of "Freedom Convoy", 6 African Countries to Receive mRNA Technology as Part of WHO Program to Expand Vaccine Production, Al-Shabab Claims Bomb Blast That Killed at Least 13 in Somalian City of Beledweyne, Clashes on Malian Border Kill Dozens as France Announces Gradual Withdrawal, Iran Nuclear Deal Could Be Revived as Talks Enter Final Stretch, Bobsledder Elana Meyers Taylor Is Most De…

_____ (2022-02-21). Ukraine Crisis Will Spurn Wave of Authoritarianism Around the World. strategic-culture.org Middle East countries, certainly in the GCC region, are benefitting from the Ukraine standoff as the heat is taken off them, Martin Jay writes. | Boris Johnson's words themselves may be prolific. He said at a conference on 19th of February in Munich that a Ukraine invasion would "echo" around the world while asking for Europe to take a united stand against Russia. In fact, the Ukraine crisis, without even one Russian soldier entering Eastern Ukraine, is having quite an impact already simply due to the media bandwidth it has taken, depriving other big stories the oxygen they deserve — particularly affecting…

Kyle Anzalone (2022-02-21). Ukrainian Civilians Train for War as Ceasefire Violations Increase. news.antiwar.com Fighting has reignited in eastern Ukraine. Hundreds of violations of the Minsk Protocol have been recorded in the last week, with two Ukrainian soldiers killed and four injured on Saturday. A school and pipeline were among the infrastructure that was damaged. Kiev alleges the fighting was started by the separatists in the Donbas region. Russia …

Antonio C.S. Rosa (2022-02-21). What Is Going to Happen in Ukraine? transcend.org * Three possible scenarios in the current crisis in Ukraine. | * How current US-UK-NATO policy is designed to erect a new EU/Russia Iron Curtain. | * What the actual outcome could be.

_____ (2022-02-21). The Growing Scandal Of The Missing Intelligence. popularresistance.org U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he was convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made up his mind to invade Ukraine, but European officials are not convinced. | "As of this moment I'm convinced he has made the decision" to invade, Biden told a reporter in response to a question at a White House press briefing. Asked how he knows this, Biden said, "We have a significant intelligence capability." | But The Washington Post reported on Saturday that: | "Some European allies questioned the United States' conviction that the Kremlin will launch hostilities, saying that they have not seen direct eviden…

John V. Walsh (2022-02-21). WWII Redux: The Endpoint of U.S. Policy from Ukraine to Taiwan. dissidentvoice.org "This is not going to be a war of Ukraine and Russia. This is going to be a European war, a full-fledged war." So spoke Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky just days after berating the U.S. for beating the drums of war. It is not hard to imagine how Zelensky's words must have fallen on those …

TASS (2022-02-21). Japanese PM views phone call with Putin as part of efforts to ease tensions over Ukraine. tass.com The Japanese prime minister emphasized that he had called on the Russian leader "to abandon plans to change the situation by force and search for a generally acceptable solution through diplomatic negotiations"

Jake Johnson (2022-02-21). Biden and Putin Agree "in Principle" to Ukraine Summit Amid Rising Tensions. truthout.org U.S. President Joe Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin on Sunday agreed "in principle" to hold a summit on Ukraine as global fears of a war involving the two nuclear-armed powers remain high. | In a

sputniknews (2022-02-21). Ukraine Seeks to Join NATO Despite Pressure From European Countries, Foreign Minister Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – Ukraine is seeking to become a NATO member despite signals from some European countries urging it to abandon this idea, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, adding that the United States is not one of them.

TASS (2022-02-21). Biden ready to meet with Putin, if "invasion" of Ukraine hasn't happened — White House. tass.com Russia appears to be continuing preparations for a full-scale assault on Ukraine very soon, White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki added…

_____ (2022-02-21). The Growing Scandal of the Missing Intelligence, Including on Alleged Russian 'Kill Lists'. strategic-culture.org There's been no intelligence revealed at State Dept. briefings, to the U.N., to European allies or Ukraine, but the U.S. wants everyone to believe they're telling the truth about an imminent Russian invasion and its "kill lists," writes Joe Lauria. | By Joe LAURIA | U.S. President Joe Biden on Friday said he was convinced that Russian President Vladimir Putin had made up his mind to invade Ukraine, but European officials are not convinced. | "As of this moment I'm convinced he has made the decision" to invade, Biden told a reporter in response to a question at a White House press briefing. Asked how he knows thi…

Antonio C.S. Rosa (2022-02-21). The Western Allied Nations Bully the World While Warning of Threats from China and Russia. transcend.org 17 Feb 2022 – Why the chief of Germany's navy, Vice Admiral Kay-Achim Schà∂nbach, was sacked? Because while in India he said two things that are unacceptable in the West: | ‚Ä¢ That "the Crimean Peninsula is gone and never [coming] back" to Ukraine.

_____ (2022-02-21). Dominating the Information Space: The Narrative Floats Into Fantasy. strategic-culture.org Mass-data cloud analysis has become the new type modus operandi, vice basing forecasts on a psychological profiling of others' innate natures. | What we have been witnessing began on 3 December 2021 when the Washington Post signalled a massing of Russian troops for an invasion of Ukraine.

teleSUR (2022-02-21). Russia Destroys 2 Ukrainian Combat Vehicles, Killing 5 Intruders. telesurenglish.net Russia's Defense Ministry announced on Monday that its forces destroyed two Ukrainian combat vehicles that violated the Russian state border earlier in the day. | RELATED: | At about 6 a.m. Moscow time in the border area of Russia's Rostov region, Federal Security Service (FSB) officers discovered the penetration of a sabotage and reconnaissance group from Ukraine. To detain the intruders, the FSB border detachment requ…

Antonio C.S. Rosa (2022-02-21). With Its Doomsday Clock at 100 Seconds to Midnight, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Calls for Escalating US Aggression against Russia. transcend.org 15 Feb 2022 – Citing the Atlantic Council, the US-based think tank for NATO, the Bulletin explains that the sanctions they advocate would cause the Russian economy to "experience significant chaos." Instead of supporting peaceful measures in the Ukraine, it has become a cheerleader for Washington. From an organization run by scientists, the current governing board of the Bulletin has hardly a scientist in sight.

Staff (2022-02-21). Katrina vanden Heuvel: Smart Diplomacy Can Still Resolve the Ukraine Crisis Without War. democracynow.org As President Biden warns of an imminent Russian invasion of Ukraine, France has secured a commitment from both Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin to meet at a summit in an effort to defuse the escalating tension. We speak to veteran journalist Katrina vanden Heuvel, whose latest article for The Washington Post, "A path out of the Ukraine crisis," argues both leaders must work to avoid a catastrophic war. "There's a bluffing that could be taken more lightly, except this is the most dangerous confrontation between the United States, NATO and Russia in decades," says vanden Heuv…

WSWS (2022-02-21). UK: Warmonger Johnson lies that Russia has already initiated plan to subjugate Ukraine. wsws.org Johnson told the BBC that "something that could be the biggest war in Europe since 1945… has already in some senses begun."

sputniknews (2022-02-21). US Preparing Sanctions That Would Target Russian Banks, Reports Say. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) – The administration of US President Joe Biden could block US financial institutions from processing transactions for Russian banks as part of a sanctions package that will be implemented if Moscow decides to "invade" Ukraine, Reuters reports, citing anonymous sources.

WSWS (2022-02-21). UK Prime Minister Johnson lies that Russia has already initiated plan to subjugate Ukraine. wsws.org Johnson told the BBC that "something that could be the biggest war in Europe since 1945… has already in some senses begun."

teleSUR (2022-02-21). Russia's Security Threats To Increase if Ukraine Joins NATO. telesurenglish.net Russian President, Vladimir Putin, exposed on Monday that if Ukraine joins NATO's bloc, as a consequence, the threats to Russian security might increase significantly. | RELATED: | "If Russia faces such a threat as Ukraine's admission to the North Atlantic Alliance, to NATO, then the threats to our country will increase many times," noted the Russian leader. | He made a recall on Article 5 of the North Atlantic T…

sputniknews (2022-02-21). Kremlin Slams US 'Lies' About Russia's Alleged 'List' of Ukrainians 'To Be Killed, Sent to Camps'. sputniknews.com Amid Western claims of Russia's alleged preparations for an "invasion" of Ukraine, repeatedly been denied by the Kremlin, a letter from the US Ambassador to the UN addressed to United Nations High Commissioner Michelle Bachelet accused Moscow of drawing up lists of Ukrainians "to be killed or sent to camps" in the event of an alleged incursion.

Antonio C.S. Rosa (2022-02-21). Russia Announces Withdrawal of Troops near Ukraine as Drills End. transcend.org 15 Feb 2022 – Amid the hype around a potential Russian invasion, Moscow announced today that it is withdrawing troops from areas near Ukraine as military drills in the region conclude. The Russian Defense Ministry said the troops are returning to their permanent bases.

Staff (2022-02-21). Russia not to attack Ukraine, has no such plans: envoy to US. en.mehrnews.com Russia has no plans of any attack on Ukraine and is not implementing it now, Russian Ambassador to the United States Anatoly Antonov said, adding that there are no such plans.

Benjamin Norton (2022-02-21). Western media helps Ukrainian neo-Nazis spread staged propaganda. multipolarista.com Ukraine's neo-Nazi Azov Battalion organized a photo op training Ukrainian elderly women and children to shoot guns. Top US and British media outlets eagerly spread the fascist propaganda to demonize Russia.

Editor2 (2022-02-21). Ukraine Crisis is Part of New Cold War on Russia (and China). orinocotribune.com By Jenny Clegg — Feb 17, 2022 | The US-manufactured crisis in Ukraine is part of the NATO drive to subordinate Europe, to prevent its tilt toward the China-Russia partnership and the Eurasian powers' attempt to build a new multipolar world. | As Russia has maintained its Why is Washington choosing to stoke a conflict wit…

TASS (2022-02-21). US embassy in Russia will find it difficult to work if expulsions continue — ambassador. tass.com In particular, the ambassador's biggest concern is that the embassy's infrastructure is aging, and important systems need to be maintained or replaced…

sputniknews (2022-02-21). Berlin Claims No Promises on NATO Expansion Made to Russia Despite Release of Classified Doc. sputniknews.com Last week, Spiegel published a formerly classified document retrieved from the British national archive dated 1991 which showed that Western powers made an explicit commitment to Moscow not to expand the NATO alliance beyond the borders of a reunified Germany.

sputniknews (2022-02-21). Sputnik Light May Become Universal Booster Shot as China Approves Mix&Match COVID Vaccination. sputniknews.com The mix&match approach to coronavirus vaccination was pioneered by the makers of Russia's Sputnik V vaccine and has proven its effectiveness in creating a stronger and more durable immunity, including against the Omicron variant.

Antonio C.S. Rosa (2022-02-21). RAND Corporation Study Calls for Regime Change in Moscow. transcend.org 13 Feb 2022 — Imagine how Moscow felt when they first read this study. It is clear that there is a method behind US-NATO madness. If you were sitting in Russia's shoes how would you react to these proposals — many of which have been or are now being implemented?>

WSWS (2022-02-21). Munich Security Conference targets Russia. wsws.org This year's Munich Security Conference was dominated by the escalation of preparations for a conflict between the USA and NATO against Russia.

Juan Cole (2022-02-21). Cancun Cruz dares Say Biden is Weak on Putin, when he Supports "Vladimir's Lapdog" Donald Trump. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — The Hill reports that Sen. Ted Cruz (R-TX) is saying that Joe Biden is the best thing that ever happened to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Cruz is trotting out the tried and true Republican tactic of Chickenhawk Macho. He does not have any credibility in this regard, since he ran …

TASS (2022-02-21). Elysee Palace announces consent of Putin and Biden to hold security summit. tass.com Questions for the summit will be prepared by Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken during their February 24 meeting…

teleSUR (2022-02-21). US Ambassador: Moscow Embassy Is Not Safe. telesurenglish.net On Sunday, John Sullivan, the U.S. ambassador to Russia, stated that because of Russian authorities' restrictions imposed on diplomats, the Moscow Embassy is not a safe place anymore, he claims. | RELATED: | The diplomat disclosed that the lack of personnel had compromised the mission. "If the expulsions by the Russian government continue, it will be very difficult to continue to function safely as an embassy," Sul…

WSWS (2022-02-21). Stop the drive to World War 3! wsws.org Amid a pandemic that has killed nearly one million people in the US and continues to kill more than 2,000 every day, the Biden administration is focusing all attention on an increasingly hysterical campaign for war against Russia.

_____ (2022-02-21). Under United States Pressure On Germany Faces a Moment of Choice. journal-neo.org The Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov and his United States counterpart Antony Blinken are scheduled to hold a meeting next week at an as yet undisclosed European location. It is difficult to see what the two men have to talk about. Lavrov has recently held meetings in Moscow with his British counterpart Elizabeth Truss. To …

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