Monthly Archives: February 2022

2022-02-18: News Headlines

WSWS (2022-02-18). Shelling in Donbass brings Europe to brink of war. wsws.org Heavy artillery shelling reported in East Ukraine's Donbass region is the most significant military escalation of the conflict between the US-funded Ukrainian army and pro-Russian separatists since at least last spring.

sputniknews (2022-02-18). Lavrov: Russia 'Alarmed' by Escalation of Shelling, Use of Arms Banned by Minsk Accords in Donbass. sputniknews.com The region was thrust into a civil war in the spring of 2014, in the aftermath of a US and EU-backed coup in Kiev.

Staff (2022-02-18). Breakaway Ukrainian region orders evacuation. rt.com

TASS (2022-02-18). Ukraine's security council chief sees no threat of Russian attack. tass.com Ukraine's National Security and Defense Council Secretary Alexey Danilov said Kiev is registering "provocations by Russia in Donbass"

Staff (2022-02-18). Lavrov labels Western 'Russia invasion' claims 'propaganda, fakes and fiction'. rt.com "If they enjoy it, let them," the foreign minister told RT regarding claims from officials and media | Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has lashed out at Western officials who have been peddling the purported threat of a Russian invasion of Ukraine. Apparently, they do it for the sheer pleasure of accusing Moscow, he told RT in an exclusive interview on Friday. | "I am certain that even casual observers of foreign policy have long confirmed to themselves that all of it is propaganda, fake news, fiction," Lavrov said of the accusations. | He suggested that Western officials making such claims simply like…

TASS (2022-02-18). UN received Russian documents about crimes in Donbass. tass.com The Russian Investigative Committee earlier said it had launched a criminal case into the discovery of mass graves of Donbass civilians killed in shelling…

Staff (2022-02-18). Putin to take part in nuclear war drills. rt.com The strategic weapons exercises are scheduled to take place on Saturday | Russian President Vladimir Putin will take direct command of scheduled ballistic missile training on Saturday, which will see the country's military test its nuclear capabilities, Moscow has confirmed. | Officials released a statement on Friday, writing, "on February 19, under the supervision of the supreme commander-in-chief of the Russian Armed Forces Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin, a planned exercise of the forces of strategic deterrence will take place, during which ballistic and cruise missiles will be launched." | The statement goes…

sputniknews (2022-02-18). Ukraine's Prospects of Joining NATO Were Never Strong, Ex-MI6 Chief Reveals. sputniknews.com Ukraine switched from a policy of bloc neutrality toward aspiring to join the North Atlantic Treaty Organization in 2014, after a US and EU-backed coup overthrew the country's democratically elected government.

TASS (2022-02-18). US condones forceful assimilation of Russians in Ukraine – Russian ambassador to US. tass.com We see here not just double standards of the United States, but quite a primitive and crude cynicism, Anatoly Antonov said…

Vijay Prashad (2022-02-18). West bullies world while citing threats from China, Russia. asiatimes.com On January 21, Vice-Admiral Kay-Achim Schà∂nbach attended a talk in New Delhi organized by the Manohar Parrikar Institute for Defense Studies and Analyses. Schà∂nbach was speaking as the chief of Germany's navy during his visit to the institute. "What he really wants is respect," Schà∂nbach said, referring to Russian President Vladimir Putin. "And my god, giving someone respect is low-cost, even …

Alan Macleod (2022-02-18). Documents Reveal US Gov't Spent $22M Promoting Anti-Russia Narrative in Ukraine and Abroad. mintpressnews.com The National Endowment for Democracy can claim it is in the business of democracy promotion. In reality, it does anything but that, unless "democracy" is entirely synonymous with elite U.S. interests.

Staff (2022-02-18). Venezuela Expresses Total Support for Russia on Ukraine Tensions. orinocotribune.com "Russia has the full support of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, in the fight it is putting up to dispel the threats from NATO and the Western world," said the President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, this Wednesday, February 16, during his meeting with the Deputy Prime Minister of the Russian Federation, Yuri Borisov. | During the meeting of the High-Level Intergovernmental Commission (CIAN), where strategic agreements were signed between both nations at Miraflores Palace in Caracas, the Venezuelan head of state stated his position, expressing his belief that Russia will continue to be a peaceful nation. | "

PAI (2022-02-18). U.S. Labor Against War opposes U.S. moves towards Ukraine combat. peoplesworld.org

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-18). Canadian junta accuses Russia of shelling kindergarten in Ukraine. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Several sites have run the Canadian Press account with identical language. Foreign Minister Joly seems alone in blaming Russia for the shelling in question. This is the leader of Canada's martial law regime in characteristic form yesterday. His government has trained the most Ukrainian government troops (over 30,000 as of last autumn) for the intensifying …

Dave DeCamp (2022-02-18). Russia Expels US Deputy Ambassador From Moscow, Says It's a Retaliatory Move. news.antiwar.com The State Department said Thursday that Russia had expelled Bart Gorman, who served as the deputy US ambassador in Moscow, amid heightened tensions between the US and Russia over Ukraine. Moscow said the move was a response to the US's "unreasonable expulsion" of a senior Russian diplomat by Washington. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-18). Headlines that cause wars. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com And are designed to do just that. Recent stories picked up and circulated by Yahoo News. The first is only missing the adjectives Young and Innocent before the word Kids. Daily BeastPro-Russian Forces Shell Ukrainian Kindergarten Full of Kids The HillRussia likely to launch 'limited' attack against Ukraine, Estonia foreign intelligence agents say AxiosU.S. warns …

Staff (2022-02-18). Headlines for February 18, 2022. democracynow.org Biden Claims Russia Is Plotting a "False Flag" Operation as Pretext for Ukraine Invasion, COVID-19 Cases Hit Record Highs in Asian Countries as Omicron Variant Surges, Donald Trump, Trump Jr. and Ivanka Ordered to Testify in New York Civil Fraud Probe, Florida Lawmakers Advance Bill to Ban Abortions After 15 Weeks, More Than a Quarter of World's Women Worldwide Have Experienced Domestic Violence, Haitian Sweatshop Workers Strike to Demand $15 a Day, Death Toll in Brazil Landslides Rises to 117, with 100+ Still Missing, Canadian Police Investigating Sabotage of Coastal GasLink Pipeline Worksite,…

United Against War, Militarism (2022-02-18). Wednesday 2/23: Roundtable Discussion: Ukraine Crisis. indybay.org On Zoom! Link: rb.gy/bxhzue…

Dave DeCamp (2022-02-18). US Still Claims Russian Invasion of Ukraine Could Happen in the 'Coming Days'. news.antiwar.com US officials continue to warn that Russia is preparing to invade Ukraine despite Moscow's repeated denials and Ukraine's downplaying of the threat. At a UN Security Council meeting on Thursday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken Blinken claimed that the US has evidence that Russian forces "are preparing to launch an attack against Ukraine in the coming days." He accused Russia of creating a pretext fo…

Staff (2022-02-18). A Call for Peace: Russian & U.S. Women Push for Diplomacy, Not Military Action, to Resolve Crisis. democracynow.org U.S. Secretary of State Tony Blinken and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov have agreed to meet next week as tension remains high over Ukraine. Meanwhile, Russia has announced plans to stage massive drills on Saturday of its nuclear forces, including multiple practice missile launches. We speak with Russian journalist Nadezhda Azhgikhina, one of a group of two dozen independent Russian and American women who released an open letter this week calling for peace. The letter reads, "We are united in the belief that diplomacy, dialogue, engagement and exchange are urgently needed to end the current crisis an…

Middle East Monitor (2022-02-18). How the Russia-Ukraine Conflict is Lose-Lose for Israel. juancole.com By Adnan Abu Amer | — ( Middle East Monitor ) — It is almost 3,000 kilometres from Tel Aviv to Kyiv, and yet the crisis between Ukraine and Russia is having a huge impact on Israel. Why does it seem to be a party to the crisis when it shares no border with either …

Dave DeCamp (2022-02-18). Zelensky Downplays Ukraine's Chances for Potential NATO Membership. news.antiwar.com On Thursday, Ukrainian Volodymyr Zelensky downplayed the chance of Ukraine joining NATO Zelensky said that despite Ukraine's desire to join the Western military alliance, the process was not advancing. Some NATO member states would not approve Ukraine's membership, which Zelensky recognized. | "Not only Russia is against [our] membership. Some individual NATO members support Moscow's position. That is an open secret," he told Bild. Z…

Nikola Mikovic (2022-02-18). Ukraine: Waiting for an 'imminent' war to start. asiatimes.com The situation in Ukraine continues to be very tense, fluid and evolving. The Donbas conflict that erupted in 2014 threatens to escalate, while Western media, politicians and analysts speculate about the exact date Russia may invade its neighbor. The very same pundits who claimed Russian President Vladimir Putin would attack Ukraine on February 16 now …

Staff (2022-02-18). Second Ukrainian tests positive for banned drug at Olympics. rt.com The bobsledder's Winter Olympics sample contained a steroid, doping chiefs announced in the wake of a Ukrainian skier testing positive for three banned substances | Strongwoman-turned-bobsledder Lidiia Hunko has become the second Ukrainian to fail a drugs test at the Beijing Winter Olympic Games this week, the International Testing Agency (ITA) has announced. | The 28-year-old, who is a former world champion deadlifter, was tested by the ITA during an in-competition anti-doping control check on Monday, when she finished 20th in the women's monobob. | A World Anti-Doping Agency-accredited (WADA) laboratory in B…

TASS (2022-02-18). Blinken ready to meet with Lavrov late next week. tass.com US–ê ready to accept the proposed dates for late next week, "provided there is no further Russian invasion of Ukraine," US Secretary of State said…

Staff (2022-02-18). Iran ready to help resolve crisis in Ukraine peacefully. en.mehrnews.com Referring to the crisis in the relations between Ukraine and Russia, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Iran is ready to provide any necessary assistance and take any necessary action to resolve the crisis peacefully.

Staff (2022-02-18). Who is the coach at the center of Kamila Valieva's Olympic storm? rt.com Kamila Valieva's ordeal at the Beijing Olympics has brought added attention to a prominent Russian figure skating coach | Teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva has faced intense scrutiny at the Beijing Olympics, but the media has also been drawn to coach Eteri Tutberidze — someone who would otherwise have been a much less prominent presence. | Tutberidze is a renowned trainer of Olympic champions, a coach whose conveyor belt of talent has functioned relentlessly in recent years. | But as Tutberidze now faces questions over her methods in light of Valieva's unfortunate situation, we look at some of the key…

Staff (2022-02-18). Olympic chief is 'weaving fiction' — Russian official. rt.com Russia's deputy prime minister attacked the comments made by IOC president Thomas Bach | International Olympic Committee (IOC) president Thomas Bach should stop "weaving his own fictional narrative" after he criticized figure skater Kamila Valieva's coaching team, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Chernyshenko has said. | Speaking to journalists in Beijing on Friday, Bach claimed he had been "disturbed" by the reaction from Valieva's trainers — including coach Eteri Tutberidize — after the teenager struggled badly in her free skate routine, finishing outside the medals. | Bach claimed Tutberidize…

Staff (2022-02-18). NATO's campaign made European region 'a hotbed of crime' — Lavrov to RT. rt.com Russia's foreign minister says the bloc's bombing campaign has not brought prosperity to Kosovo | Russia finds it hard to believe that NATO is a purely defensive bloc, giving its bombing campaign in Yugoslavia in 1999, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov told RT on Friday. | The minister made his comments while speaking about the talks between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on Tuesday. | "Scholz and others NATO officials say that NATO is a defensive alliance. Putin reminded Scholz at a joint press conference about the bombing of Yugoslavia in 1999," Lavrov remar…

_____ (2022-02-18). The Russians Are Coming. Even in Africa, Moscow Beats a Path. strategic-culture.org For those countries who don't think they have a good deal from the EU, their regimes might well consider working more closely with the Russians. | And the cheers from the crowds seeing off the expelled French ambassador must be seen for what Europeans are. | The chicken or the egg? Did the Mali military junta's decision to bring in Russian military contractors create the inertia for Emmanuel Macron to reduce his own troops' presence there and initiate EU sanctions — or did his earlier decision to reduce troop numbers push the regime to take the measure to bring in around 400 Wagner mercenaries to keep it in…

WSWS (2022-02-18). The vicious US media campaign against Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva. wsws.org Valieva's positive drug test, a tragedy in any case for the young prodigy in the midst of what began as a triumphant Olympic debut, was a stroke of luck for the war propagandists that people the American media.

_____ (2022-02-18). War in Europe and the Rise of Raw Propaganda. strategic-culture.org Since the first Cold War, NATO has effectively marched right up to Russia's most sensitive border having demonstrated its bloody aggression in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan, Iraq, Libya and broken solemn promises to pull back. Having dragged European "allies" into American wars that do not concern them, the great unspoken is that NATO itself is the real threat to European security.

WSWS (2022-02-18). Video: SGP chairman condemns NATO's war preparations against Russia. wsws.org In this video Christoph Vandreier, the chairman of the Sozialistische Gleichheitspartei (SGP—Socialist Equality Party), condemns NATO's preparations for war against Russia and explains the need for an international anti-war movement.

WSWS (2022-02-18). Blinken at the UN: A Colin Powell moment. wsws.org Developments over the past 24 hours make clear that the Biden administration, speaking for dominant sections of the American ruling class, is determined to escalate the confrontation with Russia, even to the point of triggering a world war.

sputniknews (2022-02-18). Trump Slams 'Crooked' Hillary Clinton As 'One of the Most Corrupt Politicians to Run for President'. sputniknews.com Addressing the New York State Democratic Party Convention on Thursday, Hillary Clinton called Special Counsel John Durham's court filing alleging she paid cybersecurity experts to hack into Donald Trump's election campaign to back her false claim that he "colluded" with Russia to defeat her in the 2016 presidential election a "conspiracy theory".

TASS (2022-02-18). RUSADA responsible for delayed result in Valieva's doping sample — WADA. tass.com On February 14, the CAS turned down an appeal filed by the IOC, the WADA and the ISU against the decision of the RUSADA to lift a temporary suspension of Russian figure skater Kamila Valieva…

WSWS (2022-02-18). Workers Struggles: Europe, Middle East & Africa. wsws.org Baggage handlers hold three-day wildcat strike in Copenhagen Airport, Denmark over pay and conditions, ruled illegal and condemned by union; thousands of teachers in Belgium walk out over pay, conditions and class sizes; South African Clover food workers' strike over pay and job cuts continues into week twelve, tens of thousands of Sibanye-Stillwater gold miners vote to strike over pay…

sputniknews (2022-02-18). European Troops to Be Relocated From Mali to Niger's Border Region, President Says. sputniknews.com MOSCOW (Sputnik) — European forces, whose withdrawal from Mali was announced earlier yesterday, will be redeployed to regions of Niger along the border with Mali, Nigerien President Mohamed Bazoum said.

WSWS (2022-02-18). Germany's federal and state governments decide to scrap pandemic measures. wsws.org At the high point to date of the Omicron wave, the representatives of the German "traffic light" federal coalition government and the state minister presidents have agreed to eliminate all remaining restrictions apart from mask mandates in certain public places.

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Belarus' Decision on Recognition of DPR, LPR Will Be Joint With Russia, Lukashenko Says. sputniknews.com Earlier, the Russian Parliament, the Duma, voted in favour of requesting the president to recognise the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. Commenting on the request, Putin said that Russia will always act in Donbass' interests and stressed the importance of the Minsk agreements.

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Ukrainian Forces Shell Outskirts of Donetsk, DPR Says. sputniknews.com Earlier on Thursday, the militia of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine stated that the situation in the region has deteriorated significantly over the past day, as Kiev is trying to escalate the conflict.

TASS (2022-02-17). Kiev suggested meeting with Putin, but topic of discussion remains unknown — Kremlin. tass.com Earlier, the Russian president, commenting on the words of the Ukrainian leader about a personal meeting, noted that if they were to discuss the problems of Donbass, the Ukrainian leadership should first meet with the heads of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics…

Staff (2022-02-17). UK makes new Russia allegation. rt.com The two regions of Donetsk and Lugansk have been ravaged by fierce fighting since 2014 | Reports of heavy shelling and explosions in war-torn regions of eastern Ukraine are merely Russian attempts to create a pretext for ordering an offensive against its neighbor, Britain's top diplomat has claimed, as Kiev and separatists blame each other for the attack. | On Thursday, leaders from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) reported that government troops had fired at several towns and villages using mortars, hand grenades, and rifles. | The Ukrainian Armed Forces subsequently disclosed that an area…

sputniknews (2022-02-17). India Lifts Flight Restrictions With Ukraine After Call for Its Citizens to Leave European Country. sputniknews.com The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense, with the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic saying on Thursday that the Ukrainian military fired mortar shells and grenades at four localities in Donbass.

Anonymous103 (2022-02-17). Military Situation In Eastern Ukraine On February 17, 2022 (Map Update). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | The UAF shelled DPR positions near Kominternovo with 120 mm mortar launchers; | The UAF shelled DPR positions near Novolaspa with 120 mm mortar launchers; | The UAF shelled DPR positions near Nizhneye Lozovoye with 120 mm mortar launchers; | The UAF shelled DPR positions near Zaitsevo with 120 mm mortar launchers; | The Ukrainian army command is preparing to move Tochka-U missile systems deployed in Khmelnitsky in western Ukraine to Donbass for combat mission…

TASS (2022-02-17). Kiev makes no secret Minsk-2 is not on its agenda — Russian Foreign Ministry. tass.com Sergey Vershinin recalled a recent statement by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk Kiev was not considering any new bills regarding the status of Donbass…

TASS (2022-02-17). Russian diplomat blasts statements made at UN Security Council about State Duma appeal. tass.com "This is about proposing to consider the issue, although it does reflect the sentiment in the Russian society and in Donbass," Sergey Vershinin said…

TASS (2022-02-17). Kiev stubbornly refuses to hold dialogue with Donbass — Russian Foreign Ministry. tass.com Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin stressed that over the past seven years Ukraine had failed to implement at least one provision of the package of measures to enforce the Minsk Agreements…

Anonymous103 (2022-02-17). BREAKING: Decisive Night For Eastern Ukraine (Videos, Photos). southfront.org Click to see full-size image | The failure of the information campaign aimed at provoking an armed conflict in Eastern Ukraine on February 15-16 did not bring the Ukrainian regime and its patrons to their senses. | Since the night of February 16, the shelling of the DPR and LPR by the UAF has sharply intensified. By the afternoon of February 17, the frequency of the attacks reached the intensity of 2014-2015. |

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2022-02-17: News Headlines

Staff (2022-02-17). Ex-U.S. Ambassador to USSR: Ukraine Crisis Stems Directly from Post-Cold War Push to Expand NATO. democracynow.org U.S. officials are accusing Russia of sending more forces to the Ukrainian border just days after Moscow announced it was pulling some troops back. This comes as Ukrainian authorities and Russian-backed separatists are both accusing the other side of violating a ceasefire in the eastern Donbas region of Ukraine. For more on the history behind the present crisis in Ukraine, we speak with one of the last U.S. ambassadors to the Soviet Union prior to the collapse of the USSR, Ambassador Jack Matlock, who says the U.S.-led expansion of NATO following the end of the Cold War helped lay the groundwork for the current s…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-17). NATO Headquarters: Norway to sell Romania 32 F-16s. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com AgerpresFebruary 16, 2022 Romanian, Norwegian DefMins meet in Brussels, discuss Romania purchasing 32 F-16 fighter jets Minister of National Defense Vasile Dincu met on Wednesday with his Norwegian counterpart Odd Roger Enoksen on the sidelines of the NATO Defense Ministers meeting taking place until Thursday in Brussels, the National Defense Ministry informs. According to the …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-17). Zelensky, NATO nations' military observers inspect Ukrainian war games. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Azeri Press AgencyFebruary 16, 2022 Zelenskiy oversees drills in western Ukraine as NATO country observers look on Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and military observers from NATO member states including Britain and Poland looked on as the country's armed forces carried out drills in western Ukraine on Wednesday, APA reports citing Reuters. Tanks fired shells and …

TASS (2022-02-17). US gives no response to Russia's proposal to return nuclear weapons to its soil — MFA. tass.com As the Russian Foreign Ministry also pointed out, the issues of non-strategic nuclear weapons cannot be discussed without resolving the issue of not deploying them in NATO's non-nuclear member states…

TASS (2022-02-17). NATO builds up forces at Russian borders, accusing Moscow of doing this — Lavrov. tass.com The Russian Foreign Minister noted that the Russian forces are on their territory and are not invading anywhere…

Staff (2022-02-17). Russia tells NATO to 'calm down'. rt.com Western officials need to tone down 'hysteria' over an invasion, the Deputy Foreign Minister said | The reasons for Western panic about Russian aggression against Ukraine are entirely fictional, and the US-led NATO bloc needs to tone down its "hysteria," the Russian Deputy Foreign Minister said on Thursday. | Speaking in an interview with Russian publication Kommersant, Alexander Grushko was responding to a statement made by the defense ministers of NATO member states, who met on Wednesday in Brussels to discuss the current tensions on the Ukrainian border. In particular, members of the bloc had expressed conc…

sputniknews (2022-02-17). NATO Chief Stoltenberg Holds Presser on Day 2 of Ministerial Meeting. sputniknews.com The summit of NATO defence ministers in Belgium is being held after the US and the bloc delivered their answers to Russia's security guarantee proposals. The draft agreements offered by Moscow suggested a halt to NATO's eastward expansion as a way to de-escalate tensions.

Staff (2022-02-17). Headlines for February 17, 2022. democracynow.org NATO Defense Ministers Gather in Brussels, Dispute Russia's Claims of Troop Drawback, COVID-19 Pandemic Claimed 75,000 Lives Last Week, U.S. Centers for Disease Control Prepares to Roll Back Guidelines for COVID Restrictions, Hospitals in War-Ravaged Syria Forced to Close Amid Cuts in International Aid, U.N. Says 8 Million Yemenis Could Lose All Humanitarian Aid Next Month Due to Funding Shortages, Colombia Forced Displacement Crisis Worsened in 2021, Mexican Journalists Interrupt Congress to Demand Justice for Assassinated Colleagues, Amnesty International Condemns "Sham Trial" for Jailed Russi…

TASS (2022-02-17). Moscow makes clear arguments to US response on security guarantees — Russian lawmaker. tass.com Leonid Slutsky reiterated his call to the US and NATO "to return to the implementation of measures in the field of peacekeeping, abandon the policy of containment and whipping up anti-Russian hysteria"

WSWS (2022-02-17). US, NATO double down on war threats against Russia over Ukraine. wsws.org Even as Moscow released videos of its tanks leaving Crimea and Belarus after military exercises there, NATO said it would reinforce its troops and nuclear forces in Europe.

TASS (2022-02-17). NATO's pledge to give up actions damaging Russia's security remains an imperative — MFA. tass.com The ministry noted the US readiness to work on particular arms control and risk reduction measures…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-17). 101st Airborne adds to 6,000-troop U.S. deployments to NATO's eastern flank. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Military.comFebruary 16, 2022 101st Airborne Soldiers Head to Europe as US Amasses 6,000 Troops to Deter Russia Hundreds of 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) soldiers are gearing up to deploy to Europe…. The soldiers from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, are expected to deploy soon and will include a mix of support personnel and ground combat units, …

Staff (2022-02-17). Russia likely to invade Ukraine after February 20 — media. rt.com Claims that February 16 was planned invasion date were unrealistic, analysts say | Failed predictions that Russia would invade Ukraine on February 16 were unrealistic, and the key date to focus on is actually February 20, American political analysts have claimed, blaming "hype" for having caused US officials to focus on the wrong date. | Earlier this month, numerous western media outlets claimed that Russia was planning to invade Ukraine in the early hours of Wednesday, citing claims by anonymous officials that US President Joe Biden had warned members of the NATO bloc that an invasion was imminent. This date…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-17). 2,000 U.S. troops, 600 pieces of equipment head to Slovakia for drills 190 miles from Ukraine border. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ReutersFebruary 16, 2022 U.S. troops heading from Germany to Slovakia for planned NATO drills The first part of a planned contingent of 2,000 U.S. troops and hundreds of vehicles entered the Czech Republic from Germany on Tuesday en route eastwards to Slovakia for NATO's Saber Strike military drills…. Slovakia borders Ukraine to the east but …

Dave DeCamp (2022-02-17). US and Russian Officials at Odds Over Status of Russian Troops Near Ukraine. news.antiwar.com On Wednesday, US and NATO officials said they saw no sign of a Russian pullback from areas near Ukraine after the Russian Defense Ministry announced troops were starting to leave the region. | "There's what Russia says and then there's what Russia does. And we haven't seen any pullback of its forces," NATO Secretary-General Jens Stoltenberg also said he…

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Zelensky: Ukraine Should Have Held Referendum on NATO Before Adding Membership Goal to Constitution. sputniknews.com Ukrainian plans to join the alliance have been a major bone of contention in the region, with Russia offering security guarantee proposals, suggesting that NATO refrain from expanding eastwards. The bloc, however, declared that it won't abandon its "open-door" policies.

TASS (2022-02-17). Putin tells Kishida about Russia's talks with US, NATO on security guarantees. tass.com The Russian president and the Japanese prime minister also discussed some current issues of bilateral relations and reaffirmed mutual interest in their constructive development based on existing agreements, including in trade and economic areas…

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-17). NATO Article 5: U.S. deploys B-52s, F-15s, F-35s to Europe. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com Air Force MagazineFebruary 16, 2022 USAF Sends F-35s, B-52s, F-15s to Europe as NATO Ministers Opt for More Deterrence The U.S. Air Force sent F-35 fighters to Germany days after a B-52 Bomber Task Force arrived in England to reassure Allies amid increasing tensions in Eastern Europe. The deployments come as defense ministers from across …

Rick Rozoff (2022-02-17). NATO Headquarters: Norway to add troops to German-led battle group in Lithuania. antibellum679354512.wordpress.com ReutersFebruary 16, 2022 Norway adds troops to NATO force in Lithuania, sees no spillover risk in Arctic Norway said on Tuesday it will increase its contribution to NATO forces in Lithuania by up to 60 troops due to the military situation in and around Ukraine. The extra troops will be sent to Lithuania, where Oslo …

TASS (2022-02-17). Kiev makes no secret Minsk-2 is not on its agenda — Russian Foreign Ministry. tass.com Sergey Vershinin recalled a recent statement by Ukrainian Deputy Prime Minister Irina Vereshchuk Kiev was not considering any new bills regarding the status of Donbass…

TASS (2022-02-17). Russian diplomat blasts statements made at UN Security Council about State Duma appeal. tass.com "This is about proposing to consider the issue, although it does reflect the sentiment in the Russian society and in Donbass," Sergey Vershinin said…

Staff (2022-02-17). UK makes new Russia allegation. rt.com The two regions of Donetsk and Lugansk have been ravaged by fierce fighting since 2014 | Reports of heavy shelling and explosions in war-torn regions of eastern Ukraine are merely Russian attempts to create a pretext for ordering an offensive against its neighbor, Britain's top diplomat has claimed, as Kiev and separatists blame each other for the attack. | On Thursday, leaders from the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic (DPR) reported that government troops had fired at several towns and villages using mortars, hand grenades, and rifles. | The Ukrainian Armed Forces subsequently disclosed that an area…

TASS (2022-02-17). Kiev stubbornly refuses to hold dialogue with Donbass — Russian Foreign Ministry. tass.com Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin stressed that over the past seven years Ukraine had failed to implement at least one provision of the package of measures to enforce the Minsk Agreements…

sputniknews (2022-02-17). India Lifts Flight Restrictions With Ukraine After Call for Its Citizens to Leave European Country. sputniknews.com The situation in eastern Ukraine remains tense, with the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic saying on Thursday that the Ukrainian military fired mortar shells and grenades at four localities in Donbass.

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Belarus' Decision on Recognition of DPR, LPR Will Be Joint With Russia, Lukashenko Says. sputniknews.com Earlier, the Russian Parliament, the Duma, voted in favour of requesting the president to recognise the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics. Commenting on the request, Putin said that Russia will always act in Donbass' interests and stressed the importance of the Minsk agreements.

TASS (2022-02-17). Kiev suggested meeting with Putin, but topic of discussion remains unknown — Kremlin. tass.com Earlier, the Russian president, commenting on the words of the Ukrainian leader about a personal meeting, noted that if they were to discuss the problems of Donbass, the Ukrainian leadership should first meet with the heads of the Lugansk and Donetsk People's Republics…

Medea Benjamin, Nicolas J. S. Davies (2022-02-17). What Is Going to Happen in Ukraine? dissidentvoice.org People gather in Rome to call for peace, February 15, 2022 | Photo Credit: Reuters Every day brings new noise and fury in the crisis over Ukraine, mostly from Washington. But what is really likely to happen? There are three possible scenarios: The first is that Russia will suddenly launch an unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. …

Staff (2022-02-17). Moscow responds to US 'intelligence' on Russian invasion. rt.com The Foreign Ministry has previously claimed February 15 will be remembered as the day Western 'propaganda' failed | Attempts to work out when Russia might begin an invasion of Ukraine, despite the Kremlin's insistence that war isn't on the cards, only discredit Western intelligence agencies, Moscow has blasted as tensions continue to rise on the shared border between the two Eastern European nations. | In a series of comments issued on Wednesday, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova poured scorn on Washington's persistent announcements that an offensive is on the horizon. | According to her, Kiev, whic…

United Against War, Militarism (2022-02-17). Wednesday 2/23: Roundtable Discussion: Ukraine Crisis. indybay.org On Zoom! Link: rb.gy/bxhzue…

Staff (2022-02-17). US makes new Russian troop claim. rt.com American officials have expressed doubt about whether Moscow is actually withdrawing soldiers | Russia has increased its troop deployment near Ukraine by several thousand in recent days, an anonymous official in Washington has claimed, despite Moscow's announcement on Tuesday that it was pulling some soldiers back to their bases following the completion of military drills in Belarus. | On Wednesday, a US official, who refused to be quoted by name, told reporters that Moscow had sent 7,000 more troops to bolster its forces on the Ukrainian border, and directly accused Russia of lying about a withdrawal, claimin…

Staff (2022-02-17). US warns of 'global fallout'. rt.com The world economy will pay a heavy price if the West imposes new sanctions on Moscow, the US Treasury warns | If Russia launches an invasion of Ukraine, the global economy will suffer an inevitable fallout as a result of newly unleashed Western sanctions on Moscow, the US Treasury secretary warned on Wednesday. | Speaking to French news agency AFP, Janet Yellen explained that the US and its European allies are preparing a "very substantial package of sanctions that will have severe consequences for the Russian economy." | However, despite Washington wanting the highest cost to fall on Moscow, she admitted that…

Staff (2022-02-17). Ukraine reveals new gun plan. rt.com Legal gun ownership in Ukraine would make any aggressor think twice before attacking it, Kiev's defense chief believes | Allowing people in Ukraine to legally own handguns would greatly improve national security against outside "aggressors," Ukraine's Defense Minister Aleksey Reznikov told news agency RBK Ukraine on Thursday. The move would "increase citizens' personal security, help law enforcement and certainly reduce crime rates," the minister claims. | Reznikov said on Thursday he has been a "longtime gun-rights supporter", adding that "as a lawyer" he believes a gun law is long overdue in Ukraine. In late…

Juan Cole (2022-02-17). Conflict with Russia is Raising your Gasoline Bill; an Electric Car is the Answer. juancole.com Ann Arbor (Informed Comment) — Reporters pressed White House spokesperson Jen Psaki on Wednesday about the likelihood that any Russian military engagement in Ukraine will raise petroleum prices further. Ensuing US sanctions on Russia would keep some of its petroleum off the market, as has already happened to Iran, at a time when demand is …

TASS (2022-02-17). Formula for de-escalation and package approach: Russia releases its reply to US. tass.com Russia stressed the need to de-escalate the situation around Ukraine by forcing Kiev to comply with the Minsk agreements, urging the West to refuse from military cooperation with this country…

teleSUR (2022-02-17). Situation On Ukrainian Borders Remains Stable. telesurenglish.net Ukrainian Defense Minister Olexiy Reznikov said on Wednesday that the situation on Ukrainian borders remains stable. | RELATED: | "This morning, as every day, I received another summary with figures and facts, and they are fully consistent with our forecasts, and do not contain anything unexpected," Reznikov said. | Some Western media and politicians have claimed that Russia could "invade" Ukraine on Feb. 16. And yet Moscow has re…

Staff (2022-02-17). US denies making failed Ukraine invasion prediction. rt.com The Russian invasion of Ukraine can still happen at any time, the State Department said | Incorrect predictions that Russia was planning to invade Ukraine on February 16 did not come from Washington, and America stands by its assessment that the Kremlin may launch an all-out offensive at any moment, the US State Department has said. | The denial follows multiple reports in Western media outlets claiming that Moscow was planning to launch an attack on Wednesday. Citing anonymous sources, American and British outlets suggested that the US intelligence community thought Russia would invade in the early hours of F…

TASS (2022-02-17). Ukraine keeps arguing Minsk agreements are against its interests — Russian diplomat. tass.com "if the task of building peace on the domestic soil is among Ukraine's national interests, there should be no place for such claims," Russia's Deputy Foreign Minister Sergey Vershinin said…

Global Research News (2022-02-17). Selected Articles: Ukraine Invasion Scheduled for Wednesday Canceled. globalresearch.ca By Over recent weeks, AP's ace reporter Matthew Lee and colleagues had been repeatedly led down the White House garden path by the likes of broken-record "the-Russians-are-coming-and-it-could-be-Wednesday" national …

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Ukrainian Forces Shell Outskirts of Donetsk, DPR Says. sputniknews.com Earlier on Thursday, the militia of the Lugansk People's Republic (LPR) in eastern Ukraine stated that the situation in the region has deteriorated significantly over the past day, as Kiev is trying to escalate the conflict.

_____ (2022-02-17). Kalashnikov Helps Boost Russia's Prestige on the International Stage. journal-neo.org Internationally, Russia has traditionally been seen as one of the leading suppliers of technology, especially in such areas as the arms and military hardware markets. Many countries, all over the world, purchase Russian-made military equipment, including anti-aircraft missile systems, fighter jets battleships, etc. But, globally, the most widely sold and well-known Russian weapon is the …

Staff (2022-02-17). Russian ice queen issues message to Valieva. rt.com The former world champion admitted she was lost for words after watching the drama at the Winter Olympics | Figure skating great Elizaveta Tuktamysheva has spoken of her heartbreak for Kamila Valieva after watching the pre-Winter Olympics favorite finish fourth in the individual competition, ending a campaign hindered by a high-profile doping case finish with a performance the 15-year-old was clearly unhappy with at the Beijing Games. | 2015 world champion Tuktamysheva has a strong relationship with Valieva, posing for playful photos when the pair have faced each other competitively and telling the prodigy to…

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Hillary Clinton Accuses Trump of 'Spinning Up Fake Scandal' Amid the Durham Investigation. sputniknews.com Last week, Donald Trump argued that Special Counsel John Durham's new filing proves that his 2016 campaign and subsequent presidency "were spied on by operatives paid by" Hillary Clinton "in an effort to develop a completely fabricated connection to Russia", which has repeatedly rejected all "collusion" allegations.

TASS (2022-02-17). Russia expects US to seriously study Moscow's response to Washington's reply – diplomat. tass.com

sputniknews (2022-02-17). Some 20 Russian Warships of Caspian Flotilla Leave for Naval Exercises. sputniknews.com ROSTOV-ON-DON, Russia (Sputnik) – Some 20 warships of the Caspian Flotilla have left their home basis in Russia's Dagestan for naval drills in the Caspian Sea, the Russian Southern Military District said on Thursday.

TASS (2022-02-17). WWF proposes to limit shipping in Arctic for whales' safety. tass.com According to the fund, WWF Russia is also conducting research on underwater noise off the coast of Chukotka to understand how it affects whales…

TASS (2022-02-17). Putin says Russia needs to get tough on illegal migration. tass.com According to the head of state, Russia welcomes everyone who comes here to live, study and work complying with the country's laws, while respecting the nation's culture and traditions…

Roger D. Harris (2022-02-17). With Its Doomsday Clock at 100 Seconds to Midnight, The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists Calls for Escalating US Aggression Against Russia. orinocotribune.com By Roger D. Harris — Feb 14, 2022 | The Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists emerged after World War II as a voice for peace by some of the scientists who developed the then ultimate weapon of mass destruction. Now, its mission has drifted into being an echo chamber for the US imperial project urging President Biden to take even more destabilizing actions against Russia. | Dropping the A-bombs | By the time that the scientists at the top-secret Manhattan Project had developed the atomic bomb and the US military had worked out the logistics for deploying it, World War II was for all intents and purposes over. By…

Jason Ditz (2022-02-17). US Escorts Russian Bombers From East Syria Coalition Airspace. news.antiwar.com While the US and Russia are both largely focused on fighting ISIS in Syria, they still get tangled up in a lot of side arguments. This week, The US says Russia's bombers didn't give them advanced notice, so US fighters were dispatch to escort them away. The bombers reportedly ended up in Latakia. | The area is seldom used, with Russia not crossing the area since last May. US tensi…

Staff (2022-02-17). IOC & WADA 'destroyed' Valieva, says skating icon. rt.com Alexander Zhulin accused international sports officials of ruining the 'brightest star of figure skating' | Former ice dance world champion Alexander Zhulin has said that international sporting authorities will have to live with the consequences of "ruining" Russian star Kamila Valieva's Olympic dreams after her doping case ordeal in Beijing. | What was expected to be Valieva's crowning triumph in the Chinese capital turned into a nightmare for the 15-year-old after a positive test for a doping sample taken in December was reported during the Games. | Valieva was cleared for continued competition by the Court…

TASS (2022-02-17). Putin congratulates Russian figure skating star Shcherbakova on Olympic gold. tass.com The Russian leader wished Shcherbakova "new achievements and all the best"

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