Opinion : For now, Biden’s best course on Ukraine is the one he’s on
Washington Post
Day 20 Close: Russia-Ukraine Talks To Resume Wed., Leaders Visit Kyiv, Refugees Top 3 Million
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Image copyright: AP Photos [via The Guardian]
The Facts
Talks between Russia and Ukraine will resume Wed. after they ended on Tues. without much progress. Earlier in the day, leaders from Poland, the Czech Republic and Slovenia met Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in Kyiv in a show of "unequivocal support".
Meanwhile, Russia continued its assault on Mariupol from both the east and west throughout the day. More that 2500 civilians have reportedly died in the city.
The Spin
Anti-Russia narrative
This invasion is an egregious violation of international law. Putin's ultimate aim is to restore the Soviet empire, even if it takes massive bloodshed and false pretexts such as calling the 2014 Ukrainian revolution after a fraudulent election a "coup". This unprovoked attack is the latest chapter in Putin's Orwellian attempt to re-write history.
Pro-Russia narrative
NATO and the US have ignored Russia's security concerns by breaking its promise not to expand eastward in return for German reunification. These concerns are legitimate and taking them seriously would have avoided the Ukraine tragedy.
