For today, links to nine reports: from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, and the Associated Press; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-10-25 and up or down for GAZA and MEDIA.) — MCM 

–   –   –

U.S. proposing no-troop ‘free economic zone’ in eastern Ukraine: Zelensky. From AFP. The United States is pushing for a demilitarised “free economic zone” between Russian and Ukrainian troops in the east of the country as part of a settlement to end the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for longer AFP version of AFP report in French, and HERE for headlines of others.

–   –   –

Ukraine hits Russian oil rig in Caspian Sea for first time, official says. From Reuters. Ukrainian aerial drones struck a Russian oil platform in the Caspian Sea for the first time today, halting production at the facility owned by Lukoil, according to an official from Ukraine’s Security Service. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

–   –   –

Overnight Ukrainian drone attacks target chemical plants, disrupt Moscow airports. From the Moscow Times. Russian forces shot down 287 Ukrainian drones overnight in one of the highest single-night totals since the war began, the Defense Ministry and officials said today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

–   –    –

Russian troops liberate Liman community in Kharkov Region — top brass. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated the community of Liman in the Kharkov Region over the past 24 hours in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

U.S. presses Ukraine, not Russia, to pull back troops for proposed Donbas buffer zone: FT, by Kateryna Hodunova | The Kyiv Independent  The Financial Times cited a Ukrainian official concerning the proposed pullback of troops in Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts near the eastern border of a potential demilitarized zone. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Zelenskyy will hold urgent talks with 30 countries as Trump pushes for swift peace deal with Russia, by Illia Novikov | AP   KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was due to hold urgent talks today with leaders and officials from about 30 countries that support Kyiv’s efforts to obtain fair terms for halting nearly four years of war following Russia’s full-scale invasion. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

–   –   –

Lavrov talks security guarantees and negotiations with US at a roundtable with ambassadors. From Tass. MOSCOW — The Russian side has submitted additional proposals regarding collective security guarantees to the United States, Russia’s top diplomat Sergey Lavrov said at a roundtable discussion on Ukraine with ambassadors. READ MORE . . .

.