March 1, 2022

Opinion: Romney is right: MAGA Republicans are 'almost treasonous'

Washington Post
By Jennifer Rubin
Columnist

Donald Trump spent four years (plus a year campaigning) cozying up to and helping further the geopolitical aims of Russian President Vladimir Putin. If Putin had handpicked an agent to be president of the United States, he could hardly have expected better results; Trump certainly exceeded any expectations Putin might have had with his disparaging NATO, extorting Ukraine by withholding military aid, leaving Russia’s election-meddling unpunished, inviting Putin back into the Group of Seven and attacking our own intelligence community. To this day, the defeated former president continues to praise Putin (“smart”), and continues to denigrate the United States (“dumb”) and our allies.

Sen. Mitt Romney (R-Utah), ridiculed as a presidential candidate in 2012 for identifying Russia as our primary international foe (he was premature but prescient), on Sunday called out Putin’s admirers in his own party as “almost treasonous”:

he divisions within the GOP are stark and becoming unsustainable. In the first group are a tiny handful of Republicans who opposed Trump, supported his impeachment (at least the second one), condemned his assaults on the NATO alliance and denounced his Putin-worship. Other than Romney, Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) has remained a consistent defender of democracy and opponent of Trump and Putin — and Cheney has been merciless when it comes to their apologists. (“As Russian forces invade Ukraine, Russian TV features Donald Trump, Mike Pompeo and Tucker Carlson praising Putin,” she tweeted on Friday. “Putin is evil. Every American watching what’s happening in Ukraine should know that.”)

On Sunday, she declared on CBS’s “Face the Nation” that we have seen “impressive progress” with sanctions on Russia and praised the unity of the alliance, while making constructive suggestions for further steps (e.g., freezing out the Russian central bank and sanctioning oligarchs’ families).

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2022/02/28/treasonous-republicans-romney/
(paywall)

March 1, 2022

US officials fear the worst is yet to come for Kyiv

By Katie Bo Lillis, Natasha Bertrand and Barbara Starr, CNN

(CNN)Ukrainian forces have so far managed to stave off Russian ground forces massed less than 20 miles north of the embattled capital Kyiv -- but though they've defied US intelligence predictions that the city would likely fall within one to four days of a full-scale Russian assault, US officials warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin could imminently increase the intensity of the attack.

Stiffer than expected Ukrainian resistance and Russia's own logistical missteps have bogged down Russia's advance, US and western officials say, sparking a fragile optimism. The US has also continued sharing downgraded intelligence with the Ukrainians, including about Russian military moves, in an attempt to help Ukraine on the battlefield, two of the sources told CNN.

But intelligence and defense officials closely tracking the Russian campaign say that Putin still holds a number of moves in reserve that could devastate the Ukrainian resistance.

"From a purely military/tactical standpoint, Russia has the manpower and firepower to take Kyiv. No question," said an American source familiar with the intelligence. "And no matter how much resistance the Ukrainians put up."

https://www.cnn.com/2022/02/28/politics/us-kyiv-fears/index.html

March 1, 2022

Ukrainian pilots arrive in Poland to pick up donated fighter jets

POLITICO

By Paul McLeary

02/28/2022 06:16 PM EST

Ukrainian pilots have arrived in Poland to start the process of taking control of fighter planes they expect to be donated by European countries, a Ukrainian government official told POLITICO.

The potential transfer of older Russian-made planes to be used in combat against Russian forces could be the most significant moment yet in a wave of promised arms transfers over the past 24 hours that includes thousands of anti-armor rockets, machine guns, artillery and other equipment.

It’s not clear just yet what countries are donating the jets, but European Union security chief Josep Borrell pledged over the weekend that the EU would fund the transfer the fighter planes from multiple countries.

https://www.politico.com/news/2022/02/28/ukrainian-pilots-arrive-in-poland-to-pick-up-donated-fighter-jets-00012560

February 28, 2022

Buzzfeed: Zelenskyy voiced Ukraine's Paddington Bear

Cute article

I've Just Learned That Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky Is The Voice Of "Paddington" In Movie's Ukrainian Version

Buzzfeed.com
Stan Shunpike, Buzzfeed contributor

While President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelensky is currently standing between Vladimir Putin and his absolute control over Ukraine, an interesting fact has emerged of his involvement with a bear that is bound to give Zelensky's supporters a cute and affable rallying point.

In case you weren't previously aware, President Zelensky was an actor and comedian before he became a resident of Mariinskyi Palace.

Among President Zelensky's many non-political achievements is also his win in Ukraine’s version of Dancing With the Stars in 2006.

more at link

https://www.buzzfeed.com/feynman12/volodymyr-zelensky-voiced-paddington?ref=hpsplash&origin=spl

February 28, 2022

UK orders its ports to block all Russian-linked ships

Source: MSN

LONDON (Reuters) - Britain on Monday ordered its ports to block any vessels that are Russian-flagged or believed to be registered, owned or controlled by any person connected with Russia as it ratcheted up the pressure on Moscow.

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said in a letter to all UK ports that further detailed sanctions against Russian shipping were being drawn up following Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

"The maritime sector is fundamental to international trade and we must play our part in restricting Russia's economic interests and holding the Russian government to account," he said in the letter published on Twitter.

Shapps said Russian vessels were no longer allowed to enter UK ports and any vessel thought to be owned, controlled, chartered or operated by any person connected with Russia should be barred.

Read more: https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/uk-bans-russian-ships-from-docking-in-its-ports/ar-AAUqkzx

February 28, 2022

EU to urgently link electricity grid with Ukraine's

Reuters via Finnews

BRUSSELS (Reuters) -Energy ministers from European Union countries on Monday agreed to urgently link a European power system to Ukraine’s grid, a move that would increase its independence from Russia following Moscow’s invasion of the country.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia, Europe’s top gas supplier, has sharpened concerns of disruption to energy supplies and increased scrutiny of European Union countries’ reliance on imported fossil fuels.

It has also raised concerns about Ukraine’s own energy system, and EU ministers on Monday backed a long-planned link of Ukraine’s electricity grid with Europe’s.

“There was a broad agreement around the table. Based on this, we will move forward… to connect Ukraine’s electricity system as quickly as possible,” EU energy commissioner Kadri Simson said after the meeting.

https://finnews.org/2022/03/01/eu-to-urgently-link-electricity-grid-with-ukraines/

February 28, 2022

SpaceX shipment of Starlink satellite internet dishes arrives in Ukraine, government official says

CNBC

A shipment of SpaceX's Starlink satellite internet dishes arrived in Ukraine on Monday, less than 48 hours after CEO Elon Musk announced the company would send support, according to a top official in the nation's government.

Ukraine digital minister Mykhailo Fedorov, who tagged Musk in a request on Twitter on Saturday, posted that Starlink was "here" in Ukraine – with a photo showing more than dozen boxes of the company's user kits in the back of a truck. How many kits SpaceX is sending to support Ukraine is unknown.

Each Starlink kit includes a user terminal to connect to the satellites, a mounting tripod and a Wi-Fi router.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/spacex-shipment-of-starlink-satellite-internet-dishes-arrives-in-ukraine-government-official-says/ar-AAUqH53

Apparently this will help if internet service is cut off

February 28, 2022

Norway to send weapons to Ukraine, in change of policy

Reuters via Yahoo News
Mon, February 28, 2022, 1:15 PM

OSLO (Reuters) - The Norwegian government will send weapons to Ukraine, it said in a statement on Monday, the latest European nation to do so following Russia's invasion.

The decision overturns a Norwegian policy in place since the 1950s of not sending arms to non-NATO countries that are at war or at risk of armed conflict.

Norway will donate up to 2,000 M72 anti-tank weapons, the government said in a statement.

"Norway has strict policies regarding exports of military equipment, but Ukraine now faces extraordinary circumstances," Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Stoere said.

https://news.yahoo.com/norway-send-weapons-ukraine-change-181544423.html

February 28, 2022

Ukraine crisis: Russia Today TV channel faces 15 Ofcom investigations

Yahoo News

UK media regulator Ofcom has launched 15 investigations into Russian state-backed news channel RT's coverage of the conflict in Ukraine.

The watchdog will examine whether the channel, formerly known as Russia Today, has broken impartiality rules.

Last week, the government asked Ofcom to review RT's UK broadcasts, saying it "is demonstrably part of Russia's global disinformation campaign".

Ofcom has the power to revoke broadcast licences.

https://news.yahoo.com/russia-today-uk-tv-regulator-174739014.html

February 28, 2022

UPDATE: Netflix Declines to Carry Russian Propaganda Channels Russian propaganda

Variety:

Netflix won’t carry the 20 Russian free-to-air propaganda channels that they could be required to host under Russian law.

In December 2021, Netflix was added by the Russian regulator, Roskomnadzor, to its register for audiovisual services because the SVOD reached over 100,000 subscribers. Consequently, Netflix is theoretically required as part of a law — known locally as the Vitrina TV law — to distribute 20 “must-carry” free-to-air Russian news, sports and entertainment TV channels.

The channels include Channel One, NTV and Spa, a channel operated by the Russian Orthodox Church. Channel One is understood to be aligned with the Kremlin and likely to broadcast Putin propaganda, Variety understands.

“Given the current situation, we have no plans to add these channels to our service,” a Netflix spokesperson told Variety.

https://variety.com/2022/tv/global/netflix-russian-propaganda-channels-1235192082/