Day 53: Mariupol Refuses to Surrender, Pope Calls for Peace
The Facts
Ukrainian forces in the besieged southeastern port city of Mariupol have rejected a Russian ultimatum to surrender, with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy asserting: "There are still our military forces, our soldiers so they will fight until the end."
This comes after Moscow on Sat. claimed to have all but taken control of the city. Ukrainian forces were given until Sun. morning - later extended until the afternoon - to surrender. Approx. 1-2k soldiers are reportedly holed up in a steel works to the east of 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 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.