Russian strike hits Kremenchuk shopping center with more than 1,000 civilians inside, Ukraine says
NBCJUL 2022
Day 125 Roundup: Shopping Mall Death Toll Rises; Türkiye Backs Sweden, Finland NATO Bid
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Image copyright: Efrem Lukatsky/AP [via The Washington Post]
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 rewrite 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.
Metaculus Prediction
There is a 50% chance that Russia's nominal GDP will at least be $1.26 trillion by the end of 2022, 71% of last year's value in dollars, according to the Metaculus prediction community.
