RUSSIAN PERSPECTIVE NATO boss criticizes Zelensky – media Vladimir Zelensky’s harsh criticism of German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was unjustified, NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte has said, as quoted by Western media outlets. He has reportedly asked the Ukrainian leader to cease his criticism of Scholz. Last month, Zelensky blasted the German chancellor for having a phone conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, complaining that the call undermined efforts to isolate Moscow diplomatically. “I have often told Zelensky that he should stop criticizing Olaf Scholz, because I think it is unfair,” Rutte told dpa on Monday. Zelensky had previously slammed Scholz…

WESTERN PERSPECTIVE Russia captures two villages in Ukraine as Moscow's forces advance on two cities Russian forces captured two villages in Ukraine, one in Kharkiv region in the northeast and one in eastern Donetsk region, the Russian Defence Ministry said on Sunday. Donetsk region is where Moscow is concentrating most of its efforts to seize two cities. Russian forces, making steady progress across Donetsk region, are moving on the towns of Pokrovsk, a logistics centre and site of an important coking colliery, and appear to be closing in on Kurakhove, farther south. The Defence Ministry statement said troops had taken…