For today, links to eight reports: from the Associated Press, Kyiv Post, National Public Radio, the Kyiv Independent, and Tass, and to an article of commentary via the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 8-20-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  WEST BANK, GAZA and MEDIA entries for today are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.) — MCM

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Russia hammers Ukraine with drones and missiles as peace efforts drag on, by Samya Kullab and Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russia launched one of its biggest aerial attacks of the year on Ukraine, firing 574 drones and 40 ballistic and cruise missiles overnight, the Ukrainian Air Force said today, while a recent diplomatic push to stop the three-year war is trying to gain momentum. READ MORE . . .

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Ukraine clears settlements near Pokrovsk, over 200 Russian troops killed in 3 days, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  Ukrainian troops in the Dobropillya direction near Pokrovsk (Donetsk region) continue clearing Russian forces, with more than 200 Russian soldiers killed over the past three days, according to the General Staff. READ MORE . . .

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Ukrainian woman describes surviving a massive Russian attack on Kyiv. Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with Ukrainian Veronika Osintseva about her remarkable survival of the deadliest attack on Kyiv since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Russia opposes European troops in Ukraine under Trump-backed security guarantees, Lavrov says, by Kateryna Denisova and news desk | The Kyiv Independent  Sending European troops to Ukraine as part of security guarantees would amount to “foreign military intervention,” which Moscow won’t support, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said today, as European leaders accelerate . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Tass.

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Russian troops liberate Aleksandro-Shultino community in Donetsk region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Aleksandro-Shultino in the Donetsk region over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

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Pentagon officials meeting with European counterparts over ending war in Ukraine. Reported by Greg Myre and Michel Martin | NPR  Pentagon officials have been meeting European counterparts with a mission to create security guarantees for Ukraine, to help end the current war with Russia and to prevent a future one. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Richard Haass discusses what lies ahead for Russia and Ukraine. Reported by Leila Fadel | NPR  Richard Haass, president emeritus of the Council on Foreign Relations, talks about what’s ahead for Ukraine and Russia following President Trump’s meetings with the leaders of both countries. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM AUG. 18  What really happened in Alaska, by Pepe Escobar | The Cradle  Alaska was not only about Ukraine. Alaska was mostly about the world’s top two nuclear powers attempting to rebuild trust and apply the brakes on an out-of-control train in a mad high-speed rail dash towards nuclear confrontation. READ MORE . . .

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