The Information Offensive Continues
By Russia has shelled a kindergarten in Donbas.
A certain amount of shelling is not unusual in Donbas, but given current tensions, this is ominous. In 2008, Russian shelling provoked a response from the Georgian army, which Russia then claimed as a justification for war. The Ukrainian army has been strictly instructed not to respond to Russian shelling.
Ukrainian President Zelensky is visiting the front.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken spoke at the United Nations Security Council meeting on the crisis. He outlined what the US believes to be Russia’s plans for an attack on Ukraine, continuing the information offensive. He mentioned possible Russian pretexts: fabricated “terrorist bombing” inside Russia. invented discovery of a “mass grave,” a staged “drone strike” against civilians, and a staged or even real chemical weapons attack There’s been a strong game on Twitter this morning too.
I’m listening to the Security Council session, and it’s clear that the NATO allies are closely coordinated.
Blinken’s overall message was that the US is ready for diplomacy, and that diplomacy is still possible. Russia this morning delivered a written response to the US written response to Russia’s initial demands. It appears that today’s response reiterates the initial demands.
The Munich Security Conference convenes this weekend. It is often a venue for policy statements. Russia is not sending a delegation. Kamala Harris heads up the US delegation, and Blinken will be there too.
Cross-posted to Nuclear Diner