Leaders of Germany, France, Italy, Romania meet Zelensky in Ukraine to support fight against Russia

"The leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Romania made a high-profile visit to Ukraine on Thursday and met with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, aiming to show support for the country after more than three months of war." UPI

Zelensky vows to retake Donbass and Crimea

"Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has vowed to “liberate” the Russian territory of
Crimea and the independent republics of Donetsk (DPR) and Lugansk (LPR). He was speaking just hours after reports of the Ukrainian military shelling residential buildings, a marketplace and a maternity hospital in the center of Donetsk." NW

Global Food Crisis: Ukrainian Farmers Fearing ‘Hell’ Harvest Amid Ongoing Invasion

"Ukrainian farmers are reportedly preparing for a “hell” harvest season, with physical and
financial dangers predicted to prevent them from reaping, transporting and selling their crops." Breitbart

Greek Community Reveals Details of Atrocities of Azov Militants in Mariupol

"Members of the Greek community in Mariupol have shared their first-person accounts of the atrocities committed by the neo-Nazi Azov battalion in the city, including the killings of civilians, threats and robbery, the Estia newspaper reported on Sunday.

The newspaper cites the testimony of Natalia Papakitsa, the chairman of the Greek society of the village of Sartana near Mariupol, who was held hostage for 33 days along with dozens of other civilians in the basement of one of the houses.

"When we were starving, they would break into apartments at our home and rob us, taking everything that was valuable, from food to clothes," Papakitsa told the newspaper, adding that the Greeks of Mariupol "want the world to learn the truth."

In April, two militants of the Azov battalion of Greek origin spoke to the Greek parliament alongside Volodymyr Zelensky via videoconference, causing a political scandal, with many lawmakers boycotting the meeting." Sputnik

Nepal's Plan to Sign U.S. Pact Triggers Protests as Opposition Warns Deuba of Strategic Consequences

"The Sher Bahadur Deuba government had secured parliamentary approval for the US
government's $500 million Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) pact last February despite massive street protests. Fresh controversy started on Tuesday following a leak claiming the Deuba government is set to sign a military deal with the US.

Nepal's opposition parties have launched a scathing attack on Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba, accusing him of pushing the country into a "geopolitical conflict" by signing the US State Partnership Program (SPP).

Former foreign minister Pradeep Gyawali, a senior politician of the Marxist-Leninist main opposition party CPN-UML warned the government of the strategic consequences of joining the SPP, a key US security cooperation tool, "facilitating cooperation across all aspects of international civil-military affairs"." Sputnik

Xi Pledges China Will Keep Backing Russian "Sovereignty, Security" In Putin Call

"A Wednesday phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin included Xi saying China backs Russia on "sovereignty and security"." ZeroHedge

Russia to Revive Abandoned Arctic Military Airport

"Russia is reconstructing a long-dormant military airport on its far northern Kola Peninsula as part of a major upgrade of Northern Fleet airstrips in the European Arctic."

MoscowTimes 

China Slams Washington Post as ‘Pathetic’ and ‘False’ for Publishing Zelensky Taiwan Comments

"Washington Post reporter Josh Rogin asked Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky  to
advise Taiwan on how it could “stand strong as China seeks to impose its control over a free people, by force if necessary.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s initial response was arrogant and restrained, but on Monday, the state-run Global Times erupted in a hysterical rant against Rogin for asking the question and daring to write about Zelensky’s answer.

The Ukrainian president advised the world to learn from its mistakes in Ukraine and take stronger pre-emptive diplomatic measures to stave off another attempted military conquest. The Global Times attacked Rogin for daring to presume Zelensky answered a direct question about China and Taiwan by referring to China and Taiwan." Breitbart

Libya's Fragile Peace Is A Major Oil Market Risk

"The relentless oil price is causing economic havoc around the world, and Libya represents a
major supply risk that could send prices even higher. 

The recent failed attempt by Bashagha to take power in Tripoli has heightened tensions in the country and could lead to significant supply outages.

Until there is genuine progress on the issue of fair distribution of oil revenues within the country, this risk of major supply outages will continue to plague markets. 

The economic pain for many countries being caused by still-high crude oil (and gas) prices may be exacerbated by another extensive series of blockades of key oil facilities in Libya." ZH

Pope Doubles Down On NATO-Ukraine Comments: Russian Invasion Was "Provoked"

"Pope Francis has doubled down on prior controversial statements suggesting the Russia-
Ukraine conflict is largely NATO's fault, asserting also that "war cannot be reduced to distinction between good guys and bad guys" - as the Vatican's own headline to the interview reads." ZeroHedge

Biden Says Has Plan to Build Temporary Silos on Ukraine Borders to Export Grain

"Biden says he's working closely with European Union partners to build temporary silos along
the Ukraine border and some in Poland to get much-needed grain out. Biden made the announcement during a speech at the AFL-CIO event in Philadelphia on Tuesday. Blockaded ports in Ukraine, caused by the ongoing war with Russia, have impeded exports of up to 25 million tons of grain from the key European breadbasket." IndiaNews

Macron visits Romania in show of support for NATO allies amid Ukraine war

"French President Emmanuel Macron arrived in Romania Tuesday night to visit some 500
French troops deployed there. A subsequent visit to Moldova is planned for Wednesday, followed by a potential visit to Kyiv." France24

China Launches Its Third Aircraft Carrier

"China reportedly plans to launch its third aircraft carrier as early as this month, allowing
Beijing to maintain a constant military presence in the East and South China seas and erode U.S. clout in the region.Expected to be named Jiangsu, following the convention of naming carriers after coastal provinces, the vessel is China's second domestically built aircraft carrier." Nikkei

Indian refiners lap up cheaper crude oil as Russia is now India's 2nd largest oil supplier

"Russia has replaced Saudi Arabia as India's 2nd largest oil supplier as Indian refiners lap up
cheaper crude oil. Russia now accounts for 18% of India's crude oil imports." WION

 

Mexico President Slams “Immoral” NATO Proxy War in Ukraine

"The president of Mexico has condemned NATO’s approach to the war in Ukraine – labelling
it “immoral.” 

“How easy it is to say, ‘Here, I’ll send you this much money for weapons.’ Couldn’t the war in Ukraine have been avoided? Of course it could,” said President Andrés Manuel López Obrador." ZH