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This is New York, a town in Ukraine’s Donetsk region.
The horror is still upon us, but we are having trouble ending the war to save people’s lives, even as our leaders exhort us to steel our nerves, register for military service and go about our everyday business, even as they ask us to emulate the sacrifices and selflessness and common effort of continued existence. Nearly any way you evaluate it, the determination to press ahead with peace formulae has to rank high in the "Hypocrisies of Ukrainian History" record book.
Kuleba said Ukraine supports China's position over the Taiwan question. Maybe Ukraine should also support Taiwan’s position over the China question?
Z has said he expects a full report about Kuleba’s trip.
The People’s Republic of China’s (PRC) stated ambitions and coercive policies continue to challenge our interests, security and values. The deepening strategic partnership between Russia and the PRC and their mutually reinforcing attempts to undercut and reshape the rules-based international order, are a cause for profound concern.
Z should first read NATO’s communique, so we don’t have to rely on the PRC’s denials and Kuleba’s full report.
Sociological survey results about arranging a ceasefire: Ukrainians are not opposed to talks, per se, but don’t want to make any territorial concessions. Some 44 percent of respondents in a ZN.UA Mirror survey said it’s time to start such negotiations, compared to 35 percent who say they are not ready. More than 80 percent disagreed with any suggestion that Ukraine should cede any temporarily occupied territories (TOT) or additional territories to Russia for the sake of peace.
Russia currently occupies about 20% of Ukraine, including Crimea.
On July 23, Z chatted up Secretary of State of the Holy See Cardinal Pietro Parolin. The Vatican earlier urged Ukraine and Russia repeatedly to stop shooting. Pope Francis has praised Russian imperialism and asked Ukraine to wave the white flag.
Last August, Pope Francis, addressing the 10th All-Russian Day of Catholic Youth in St. Petersburg, blurted out:
"Never forget about your heritage. You are descendants of great Russia: great Russia of saints, rulers, great Russia of Peter the Great, Catherine the Great, that empire - great, enlightened, with a rich culture and great humanity. Never renounce this heritage. You are descendants of Great Mother Russia, move forward with this. And I thank you - thank you for your way of being, for your way of being Russians."
The last time the Pope called on Russia to stop invading Ukraine and killing people was, er, never.
Foreign citizens are now required to request access to the government quarter in Kyiv three weeks in advance.
Looking on the positive side, nosebleeds.