For today, links to 10 reports: from Reuters, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, the Associated Press, Agence France-Presse, and the Anadolu Agency, and to commentary from Substack; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, LEBANON, WEST BANK and IRAN entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE.) — MCM
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Russia says it repelled massive Ukrainian drone attack on 13 regions including Moscow, by Andrew Osborn and Ronald Popeski | Reuters Russian air defences repelled a massive Ukrainian drone attack overnight, intercepting and destroying 121 drones targeting 13 regions, including Moscow, Russia’s Defence Ministry said today. READ MORE . . .
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Major Russian microchip factory halts production after Ukrainian drone strikes. From the Moscow Times. The Kremniy El microchip plant in Russia’s western Bryansk region halted production following one of the largest overnight Ukrainian drone strikes on the country since the start of the war, local authorities and media reported today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.
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Putin ready to talk to Trump, Kremlin ‘awaits signals’ from U.S., by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent Russian President Vladimir Putin is ready to hold talks with U.S. President Donald Trump, Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said today during a press briefing. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Tass.
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Kremlin scoffs at Trump’s claim that a drop in oil prices will help end Ukraine conflict. From AP. MOSCOW — The Kremlin insisted today that a settlement in Ukraine couldn’t be facilitated by a drop in global oil prices as U.S. President Donald Trump has suggested. READ MORE . . .
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Putin calls Trump ‘smart,’ warns on oil price threat. From AFP. Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday praised Donald Trump as “pragmatic” and “smart”, saying he did not believe the U.S. president would force global oil prices lower in a bid to damage Moscow. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JAN. 23 Trump says Russia’s war in Ukraine ‘will end immediately’ if OPEC lowers oil prices. From the Kyiv Independent. U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he will ask the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries to lower the price of oil, saying it would end Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine “immediately.” READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.
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FROM JAN. 23 Ukraine ‘fully’ backs Trump efforts to lower oil price. From AFP. Ukraine on Thursday said that it “fully” supports Donald Trump’s efforts to lower the cost of oil, after the U.S. president suggested Russia’s war would end “immediately” if prices fell. READ MORE . . .
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Russian troops liberate nine communities in Donbass region, Kharkov area over week. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated nine communities in the Donbass area and the Kharkov Region over the week of Jan. 18-24 in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said Friday in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .
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FROM JAN. 23 Will Trump side with the hardliners on Russia? by Seymour M. Hersh | Substack At this early point, there seem to be many competing interests among Trump’s close foreign policy advisers how and when to end the ongoing war between Russia and Ukraine. During his campaign, Trump repeatedly . . . READ MORE . . .