Sunday, March 27, 2022

Pope Evokes Specter of Ukraine War Sparking Global Conflict

"The threat of a global conflict spawned by Russia's invasion of Ukraine should convince
everyone that the time has come for humanity to abolish war before it abolishes humanity, Pope Francis said on Sunday.
"More than a month has passed since the invasion of Ukraine, since the start of this cruel and senseless war, which, like every war, is a defeat for everyone, for all of us," he said to thousands of people in St. Peter's Square for his Sunday blessing.
"We must repudiate war, a place of death where fathers and mothers bury their children, where men kill their brothers without even seeing them, where the powerful decide and the poor die," he said.
The war in Ukraine was destroying the country's future, he said, citing a statistic that half of the country's children had to flee the country.
 
"That is the bestiality of war, something that is barbarous and sacrilegious," he said, urging his listeners not to consider war as inevitable or something to get used to.
"If we emerge from this (war) the same as we were before, we will all be in some way guilty. Faced with the danger of self-destruction, humanity must understand that the time has come to abolish war, to cancel it from the history of man before it cancels man from history," he said.
Since Russia invaded its neighbor on Feb. 24, Francis has several times spoken of a possible nuclear conflict.
"I beg every politician involved to reflect on this, to make a commitment, and, looking at martyred Ukraine, to understand that every day of war worsens the situation for everyone," he said.
"Enough! Stop! Let the weapons fall silent. Negotiate seriously for peace," he said." Newsmax

Another Russian General Reportedly Killed in Ukraine

 "A Russian general who bragged before the war began that it would be over in hours was
killed on the 29th day of combat in Ukraine, highlighting the increasing danger to Russian officers in the conflict.
 Lt. Gen. Yakov Rezantsev is reportedly the seventh Russian general to die amid the country’s invasion of Ukraine and the second general officer of his rank. It’s not clear why so many Russian generals are dying in combat. Some military analysts speculate that Russia’s conscript army is reluctant to move forward and engage the enemy, prompting some generals to take the initiative and lead their men into combat." PJM

Russian Defence Minister Reappears After 2-week Absence

"Russia's defence minister Sergei Shoigu reappeared on television images broadcast after his two-week absence from view prompted questions from journalists.
The defence ministry published a video showing Shoigu, an ally of President Vladimir Putin, chairing a meeting on Russia's weapons budget....Kremlin referred to a conversation between the minister and Putin on the occasion of a report on developments of the "special military operation" at a meeting of the Russian security council, brushing aside speculation about Shoigu's prolonged absence." MT

German States Outlaw Display of Russia's 'Z' War Symbol

"Two German states on Saturday said they have outlawed public displays of the "Z" symbol
used by the Russian army in their invasion of Ukraine.
Anyone who brandishes the symbol at demonstrations or paints it on cars or buildings in a show of support for Vladimir Putin's war could risk up to three years in jail or a fine in Lower Saxony or Bavaria." MT

Chinese drone maker says can't stop Russia from using its tech in Ukraine

"Ukraine is calling on a big-name Chinese maker of drones to block what Ukrainian officials
say is the Russian military's use of its technology to coordinate missile attacks. However, the company, which has been sanctioned by the U.S. and placed on a blacklist, says it can't disable its drones and has limited options to heed Kyiv's appeals for help." JN

Biden’s Putin speech in Poland is a catastrophe

 "He came, he saw, he confused. This was at least the fourth time on the three-day trip that
something Biden said had to be walked back, cleaned up, clarified or refuted. 

Joe Biden’s call-to-arms speech in Poland was long on soaring rhetoric about the virtues of democracy but woefully short on what more the West will do to help Ukraine defeat the Russian invasion. But by the time he got to the finish, most of that was forgotten. 
What mattered most and what will be remembered for a long time was a single line the president of the United States said about the president of Russia: “For God’s sake, this man cannot remain in power.” 
In the context of the speech and the slaughter of Ukrainian civilians, it’s impossible to understand that line as anything other than a call for regime change, a move that would dramatically raise the stakes with Russia at a time when Biden has been at pains to lower them. 
It also raises the question of whether toppling Putin, a subject never before mentioned by the White House, is suddenly the new policy of the United States and NATO
Ah, no. 
Shortly after the speech, a Biden aide told pool reporters that “the president’s point was that Putin cannot be allowed to exercise power over his neighbors or the region. He was not discussing Putin’s power in Russia, or regime change.” 
No, American troops in Poland are not headed to Ukraine, despite what Biden told them." NYP

Macron Warns Against 'Escalation' After Biden Brands Putin 'Butcher'

"France's President Emmanuel Macron warned Sunday against a verbal "escalation" of Russia's invasion in Ukraine, after US President Joe Biden branded Vladimir Putin a "butcher" who "cannot remain in power".
The Kremlin had reacted in fury over Biden's comments which it said narrows the window for bilateral relations, with Russia's invasion of Ukraine now into a second month.
Macron said he would speak to Putin in the next two days to organise the evacuation of civilians from the heavily bombarded port city of Mariupol." Newsmax

Japan’s PM Kishida See Increasing Chance of Russia Using Nuclear Weapons

"Japan’s PM Kishida See Increasing Chance of Russia Using Nuclear Weapons....." PP

Lugansk People's Republic May Hold Referendum on Joining Russia Soon

"The LPR militia previously reclaimed most of the territory of the republic, forcing out
Ukrainian troops and liberating settlements after an eight-year war waged by Kiev there.
The head of the Lugansk People's Republic, Leonid Pasechnik, stated on Sunday that a referendum on joining Russia may be held in the republic." Sputnik