Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues,

As the war in Ukraine continues unabated, and the West continues to take the position that Russia’s actions were ‘unprovoked’, it is important to consider the timeline to this war. In the communication below is a very useful summary put together by Joe Lauria, a distinguished journalist and historian. Joe outlines the history of this crisis going back to the end of the Second World War, and the events that have transpired since then. 

In addition to Joe’s timeline, we are also providing in this communication certain historical documents by US diplomats that clearly and unequivocally convey Russia’s deep concern about Ukraine’s accession into NATO and why that could lead to military conflict. 

Joe Lauria is editor-in-chief of Consortium News and a former U.N. correspondent for The Wall Street Journal, Boston Globe, and numerous other newspapers, including The Montreal Gazette and The Star of Johannesburg. He was an investigative reporter for the Sunday Times of London, a financial reporter for Bloomberg News and began his professional work for The New York Times. 

We would welcome any thoughts or suggestions you may have. 

Center for Citizen Initiatives

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ConsortiumNews.com

Ukraine Timeline Tells the Story

July 1, 2023
 Without historical context, buried by corporate media, it’s impossible to understand Ukraine. Historians will tell the story. But the Establishment hits back at journalists, like at CN, who try to tell it now.

By Joe Lauria
The way to prevent understanding of the Ukraine war is to suppress its history.

A cartoon version says the conflict began in February 2022 when Vladimir Putin woke up one morning and decided to invade Ukraine.

There was no other cause, according to this version, other than unprovoked, Russian aggression against an innocent country.

Please use this short, historical guide to share with people who still flip through the funny pages trying to figure out what’s going on in Ukraine.  

The mainstream account is like opening a novel in the middle of a book to read a random chapter as though it’s the beginning of the story.

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For more information click here:

Records of the Public Library of US Diplomacy

Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues, 

In the short video interview below, Ray McGovern joins Judge Napolitano to discuss his assessment of the “Pentagon Leaks”, possible motives and sources, as well as how this is reminiscent of a similar type of intelligence situation during the Vietnam War.

Please give it your consideration and let us know your thoughts on the subject. 

Center for Citizen Initiatives

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Dear CCI Friends and Colleagues, 

Several weeks ago CCI Board Member Krishen Mehta authored an article that explored why the Global South is not supporting the West in sanctioning Russia over the war in Ukraine.  We posted it on our website on February 23, and many of you wrote in response to express appreciation for his perspective.  Since then the article has been re-posted hundreds of times all over the globe.

In the video interview below, Krishen has expanded on his thesis and provided more detail on the view from the South.  Please give it your consideration and let us know your thoughts on the subject.  

The Center for Citizen Initiatives

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Why Much of the Global South
Is Not Supporting the War in Ukraine

Russia and China sign off $165bn of energy and transport deals in Xi’s second day in Moscow

Intellinews
March 21, 2023
By Ben Aris

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin held a second day of talks on China’s plan for the settlement of the Ukrainian conflict and expanding economic and trade ties during a meeting in Moscow on March 21.

“We are always on the side of peace, justice and historical fairness. We respect the UN charter. We have reached a consensus with President Putin and we have decided to expand and build our stable co-operation,” Xi said.

Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, confirmed the two leaders had discussed the conflict and a possible peace plan but neither confirmed whether any progress had been made nor gave any details.

Putin suggested that Russia should endorse the Chinese peace plan and will work with Western partners, but gave no further details. China published a 12-point peace plan on the anniversary of the start of the war, which called for a ceasefire, the resolution of the humanitarian crisis in Ukraine and the resumption of talks between Moscow and Kyiv.

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There is one prevailing, acceptable narrative in the collective West on how we must view the war in Ukraine. We try to expand that view by bringing you alternative voices. The video contained in this article is one of those voices.  As always, please give us your thoughts.

Center for Citizen Initiatives

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Responsible Statecraft

Mainer going viral for passionate speech against Ukraine resolution

The measure passed the state legislature by huge margins but Eric Brakey believes his words have resonance outside the Beltway.

March 13, 2023
By Kelley Beaucar Vlahos

A Maine state senator’s statehouse remarks on Friday about the Ukraine war have made a big noise outside the Pine Tree State, particularly on Twitter. Eric Brakey, a self-described libertarian Republican, took advantage of a vote on a joint resolution, “Expressing Support for the People of Ukraine on the One-Year Anniversary of Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine,” to criticize the current Biden policy in Washington as eschewing diplomacy to prolong the war, which he said is ultimately the worst thing to happen for the people of Ukraine, and the world.

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