For today, links to eleven reports: from Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, National Public Radio, and Reuters, and to commentary via the Moscow Times; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and LEBANON entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-12-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

–   –   –

Peskov says peace talk preparations have started following Trump-Putin call, by Leo Chiu | Kyiv Post  Dmitry Peskov, Russian president Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, said preparations for peace talks between Ukraine and Russia have already begun after Wednesday’s phone call between US President Donald Trump and Putin. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independant and Tass.

–   –   –

NATO allies insist Ukraine and Europe must be in peace talks as Trump touts Putin meeting, by Lorne Cook | AP  BRUSSELS — Several NATO allies stressed today that Ukraine and Europe must not be cut out of any peace negotiations as U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth denied that the United States is betraying the war-ravaged country. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for a second report from AP.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 12  Trump says he will meet Putin to start talks to end the war in Ukraine. Reported by Danielle Kurtzleben, Teri Schultz, Joanna Kakissis, Charles Maynes and Willem Marx | NPR President Trump says he will be meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin, after holding separate phone calls with the Russian leader and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy Wednesday to kick off talks to end almost three years of war. The governments of Russia and Ukraine each confirmed . . .  Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

Trump has called for talks to end the war in Ukraine. Is a durable peace coming? Leila Fadel of NPR speaks with Jeremy Shapiro, research director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, about the prospects of ending Russia’s war in Ukraine. President Trump says peace talks should start to end it.  Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for another NPR report.

–   –   –

Trump says he back Ukraine, but early concessions to Russia spark concerns, by Idrees Ali, Humeyra Pamuk and John Irish | Reuters  WASHINGTON / PARIS — U.S. President Donald Trump has promised a swift end to the Ukraine war but with talks about to begin the author of “The Art of the Deal” may have already complicated his task by sacrificing leverage. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Putin won’t settle for less than a U.S. betrayal of Ukraine, by Sergey Radchenko | The Moscow Times  The Russian readout of Wednesday’s phone call claimed that Putin “supported” Trump’s view that “the time has come for our two countries to work together.” READ MORE . . .

For today, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, Tass, the Kyiv Independent, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA, WEST BANK and LEBANON entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-11-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

–   –   –

U.S. defense chief Hegseth calls NATO membership for Ukraine unrealistic, by Lorne Cook and Tara Copp | AP  BRUSSELS — U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said today NATO membership for Ukraine was unrealistic and in sweeping remarks suggested that the way forward for Ukraine was for the country to abandon hopes of a return to its pre-2014 borders and prepare for a negotiated settlement with Russia — one that . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Critical week for NATO as Trump, Ukraine war test alliance, by Pyotr Kozlov | The Moscow Times  BRUSSELS — NATO faces a pivotal week as the alliance navigates uncertainty over the United States’ commitment to Ukraine and European security under President Donald Trump. As Russia advances in Ukraine, NATO . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine launches counterattacks in Kursk, Pokrovsk sectors, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post  The Armed Forces of Ukraine have launched counterattacks and recaptured lost positions in eastern Ukraine and inside Russia, according to news and combat reports today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russian forces pound Ukrainian UAV assembly workshops in massive missile strike. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian forces delivered a massive missile strike on workshops of Ukrainian military-industrial sites producing unmanned aerial vehicles and FPV drones, hitting all the targets, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia rules out territorial exchange — vows to expel Kyiv’s forces from Kursk. From Kyiv Post. The Kremlin has rejected outright any discussion of a territorial exchange with Ukraine, Russian President Vladimir Putin’s press secretary, Dmitry Peskov, told state media outlet RIA Novosti. His comments were a direct response . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE to report from the Kyiv Independent  and HERE for Feb. 11 report from AFP.

For today, links to eleven reports: from National Public Radio, the Associated Press, Middle East Eye, the Cradle, Middle East Monitor, Reuters, and Agence France-Presse; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (WEST  BANK entry for this date is HERE. GAZA 2-11-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Former U.S. ambassador to Israel Dennis Ross discusses risks to ceasefire in Gaza. Reported by A Martínez | NPR  Dennis Ross, former U.S. ambassador to Israel, talks about hostage release deadlines set by President Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu, as well as other risks to the Gaza ceasefire. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Hamas’ threat to delay the next release of Israeli hostages raises fears for Gaza ceasefire. From AP. JERUSALEM — Hamas’ threat to delay the next planned release of Israeli hostages from the Gaza Strip has jolted a fragile ceasefire that’s seen as having the potential to wind down the war. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Netanyahu threatens to resume fighting in Gaza if hostages aren’t released Saturday, by Josef Federman and Sam Metz | AP  JERUSALEM — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday threatened to withdraw from the ceasefire in Gaza and directed troops to prepare to resume fighting Hamas if the militant group does not release more hostages on Saturday. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Hamas welcomes Jordan and Egypt’s rejection of Trump’s plans. From Middle East Eye. Hamas says it welcomes Jordan and Egypt’s rejection of U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to forcibly displace Palestinians from Gaza, Al Jazeera Arabic reported. Also, Wafa reported that . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Jordan to take in thousands of sick children from Gaza as Trump pushes expulsion plan. From the Cradle. Jordan’s King Abdullah II promised to take in thousands of sick Palestinian children from Gaza during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in Washington on Tuesday. Click HERE for report, which includes Sky News video.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Trump pushes plan to claim Gaza and move Palestinians in meeting with Jordan’s king. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | NPR  Jordan’s King Abdullah met with President Trump at the White House, where they discussed the contentious issue of Palestinians leaving Gaza. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for report from Reuters.

–   –   –

Israel expert: Trump, Netanyahu risk peace deals with Jordan, Egypt. From Middle East Monitor. Prominent Israeli analyst Zvi Harel has warned in a Haaretz article that U.S. President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s plan to ethnically cleanse Palestinians from Gaza and transform the enclave to the “Riveria of the East” . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  At least $53 billion needed to rebuild Gaza, UN estimates. From AFP. More than $53 billion will be required to rebuild Gaza and end the “humanitarian catastrophe” that has gripped the war-ravaged territory, including $20 billion in the first three years alone, the United Nations said Tuesday. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Egypt says to present ‘vision’ for Gaza reconstruction without displacement. From AFP. CAIRO — Egypt plans to “present a comprehensive vision for the reconstruction” of the Gaza Strip that ensures Palestinians remain on their land, the Egyptian foreign ministry said on Tuesday — a day after U.S. President Donald Trump said . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Chopping wood to cook a meal is part of life now in Gaza City. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Anas Baba | NPR  The UN says more than half a million Palestinians have returned to Gaza City and the north, but the joy of returning home has crashed into the reality of a city devastated by Israeli airstrikes. Click HERE to listen and read.

For tody, links to reports from the Associated Press and to commentary from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE. WEST BANK 2-10-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Israel’s fatal shooting of a pregnant Palestinian woman puts the focus on West Bank violence, by Isabel Debre | AP  KAFR AL-LABAD, West Bank  Palestinians see the shooting of Sondos Shalabi, 23, early Sunday as part of a worrying trend toward more lethal, warlike Israeli tactics in the West Bank. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 11  Israel lost the war on the West Bank before it even began, by Awni Almashni | Middle East Eye  What is happening in the occupied West Bank is a war on the very idea of a Palestinian state. It is a war of Judaisation and settlement expansion; a war on resistance, on the Palestinian Authority, on the land, and on the people. But another goal . . . READ MORE . . .

First, a link to a report from Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and WEST BANK entries are HERE and HERE. LEBANON 2-11-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

– – –

Report: U.S. denies Israel’s request to further delay Lebanon withdrawal. From Middle East Eye. Israel asked the Trump administration on Monday to further extend its withdrawal deadline from southern Lebanon, but a U.S. official told The Times of Israel that the request was denied. READ MORE . . .

– – –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 10 reports: from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, the Kyiv Independent, Agence France-Presse, and Tass; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and LEBANON entries for this date, so far, are HERE and HERE. UKRAINE 2-10-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM   

–   –   –

NEWER  Ukraine and Russia trade long-range attacks as officials probe possibilities for peace, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s energy and gas infrastructure in a “massive” nighttime missile attack and Ukrainian drones struck an important oil refinery inside Russia, officials said today, as the near three-year war rumbled on against a backdrop of renewed diplomatic efforts to end it. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Russia in talks with Ukraine on humanitarian corridor for stranded Kursk residents. From the Moscow Times. Authorities in Moscow and Kyiv are in discussions about opening a humanitarian corridor for civilians stranded behind Ukrainian lines in the partially occupied Kursk region, Russia’s Human Rights Commissioner Tatiana Moskalkova said today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine approves controversial purchase of Russian nuclear reactor. From Kyiv Post. Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada has approved the purchase of Russian equipment for the country’s Khmelnytskyi Nuclear Power Plant, lawmaker Oleksii Honcharenko said this afternoon. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.

–   –   –

U.S. envoy in Moscow holds talks with Russian deputy FM, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov met with U.S. Ambassador Lynne Tracy in Moscow today, Russian state media outlet TASS reported. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Ukraine strikes Russia’s Saratov oil refinery, military confirms, by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  Ukrainian forces struck Russia’s Saratov oil refinery in a strike overnight, the General Staff of Ukraine’s Armed Forces said after reports of drone attacks in the region. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Kremlin says ‘significant part of Ukraine wants to be Russia.’   From AFP. The Kremlin said today that a “significant part” of Ukraine “wants to be Russia,” hours after U.S. President Donald Trump floated the idea that Ukraine “may be Russian someday.” READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Tass.

–   –   –

Ukraine secures $58 million grant from Japan for reconstruction, by Tim Zadorozhnyy | The Kyiv Independent  The Ukrainian government approved a draft agreement with Japan to secure an 8.8 billion yen ($58 million) grant for reconstruction projects, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced today. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

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

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

First, a link to a report from the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA entry is HERE. LEBANON 2-10-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Tel Aviv seeks second extension of Israeli army’s occupation of south Lebanon: report. From the Cradle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has asked U.S. President Donald Trump to back a new extension of the Israeli army’s presence in southern Lebanon, according to Hebrew media reports.  READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

TO BE CONTINUED

For now, links to 13 reports: from Middle East Eye, the Associated Press, Reuters, and National Public Radio, to commentary from the Cradle, Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor, and to a virtual forum from Dialogue Works; other published material is accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON entry for this date, so far, is HERE. GAZA 2-10-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  Egypt to host emergency Arab summit on Palestinian displacement, by Mera Aladam | Middle East Eye  Egypt has announced an emergency Arab summit to be held on Feb. 27 in response to U.S. President Donald Trump’s recent call to expel Palestinians from Gaza. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Hamas brushes off Trump and insists all parties must be committed to ceasefire. From AP. Hamas has brushed off President Donald Trump’s threat that “all hell” will break out if it does not release the remaining Israeli hostages held in the Gaza Strip by Saturday. Hamas spokesman Sami Abu Zuhri said today . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Reuters and the Cradle.

–   –   –

‘Hell worse than what we have already?’ Gazans reject Trump plans, by Nadal al-Mughrabi and Hussam al-Masri | Reuters Any suggestion that Palestinians leave Gaza, which they want to be part of an independent state, has been anathema to the Palestinian leadership for generations, and . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  Expel Hamas leaders, dismantle resistance’: Netanyahu sets terms for phase two of Gaza deal. From the Cradle. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin is set to present his demands for the second phase of the Gaza ceasefire to Israel’s Security Cabinet, with Hamas expected to reject them, according to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth newspaper on Monday. His conditions . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Trump and Jordan’s king set for intense meeting on Gaza’s future, by Trevor Hunnicutt | Reuters  WASHINGTON — Donald Trump meets Jordan’s King Abdullah today for what is likely to be a tense encounter following the U.S. president’s Gaza redevelopment idea and threat to cut aid to the U.S.-allied Arab country if it refuses to resettle Palestinians. READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Middle East Eye.

–   –   –

UN chief calls on Israel and Hamas to resume negotiations. From Middle East Eye. UN chief Antonio Guterres called on Hamas today to proceed with the planned release of Israeli captives after Hamas accused Israel of violating the ceasefire deal and postponed further captive-prisoner exchanges. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  Erdogan rejects Trump’s call for ‘second Nakba.’ From the Cradle. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again rejected a U.S. proposal on Monday to relocate Palestinians from Gaza and said Israel should pay for the damage it caused there, and that reconstruction must begin. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  Hamas suspends release of Israeli hostages. Reported by Kat Lonsdorf | NPR  The Palestinian militant group says it will delay the next planned release of Israeli hostages, citing violations by Israel in the terms of the fragile ceasefire agreement. Israel, in turn, accused Hamas of violating the agreement. Click HERE to listen and read, and HERE for report from the Cradle.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10   Jordan begins flying medical aid into Gaza by helicopter. Reported by Jane Arraf and A Martínez | NPR  Gaza, devastated after more than a year of war, still has urgent shortages of food and medicine. Jordan has begun flying helicopters into Gaza with medical supplies. NPR joined one of the flights. Click HERE to listen and read.

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  Trump acquits Israel, shifts Gaza problem to Arabs, by Khalil Harb | The Cradle  U.S. President Donald Trump has once again ignited global controversy by proposing the displacement of Gaza’s two million residents. The proposal, which would amount to ethnically cleansing Gaza, not only showcases . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  The masks are off. Trump and Israel have turned the planet into real estate, by Hamid Dabashi | Middle East Eye  If you cared to watch the second inauguration of President Donald Trump, you did not have to look hard to see . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 10  From Gaza to the West Bank: Israel’s unyielding war machine, by Ramzy Baroud | Middle East Monitor  “A year of combat” — this is how Israel’s new Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, described 2025 at a conference organised by the Israeli Ministry of Defence. The exact sentence, translated from Hebrew, was: . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

FROM FEB. 9  Trump’s greater Israel plan exposed: Why it will fail. Nima Alkhorhid of Dialogue Works lets economist Richard D. Wolff, retired U.S. diplomat Chas W. Freeman Jr. and former U.S. Marine Corps intelligence officer and former UN weapons inspector Scott Ritter give their perspectives on U.S. and Israeli doings in the Middle East, including as they concern Gaza. Click HERE for video.

–   –   –

MAY BE CONTINUED

For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, Middle East Eye and the Cradle, and to articles of commentary from Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names below. (IRAN, LEBANON, SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. GAZA 2-9-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

NEWER  Trump says no right of return for Palestinians under his plan for U.S. ‘ownership’ of Gaza, by Zeke Miller and Sam Magdy | AP  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump said in an interview that Palestinians in Gaza would not have a right to return under his plan for U.S. “ownership” of the war-torn territory, contradicting other officials in his administration who have sought to argue that he . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Trump says wants U.S. to own Gaza, could let Middle East states help rebuild, by Jeff Mason | Reuters  ABOARD AIR FORCE ONE — U.S. President Donald Trump on Sunday said that he is committed to buying and owning Gaza, but could allow sections of the land to be rebuilt by other states in the Middle East. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Hamas delays captive release ‘until further notice’ accusing Israel of violating terms, by Alex MacDonald | Middle East Eye  Hamas says it will delay the release of the next tranche of Israeli captives, accusing Israel of failing to comply with the terms of the ceasefire deal. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Netanyahu sabotaging second phase of Gaza ceasefire: report. From the Cradle. Israeli sources believe Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu intends to sabotage the second phase of the prisoner release deal and derail the Gaza ceasefire, Haaretz reported on Sunday. “It’s a show,” said one. READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

How Trump and Netanyahu forced Mohammed bin Salman to draw a line on Palestine, by David Hearst | Middle East Eye  A covert relationship claimed by the Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu with Saudi Arabia, years in the making, has been unravelling in a matter of days. He talked about it last week in Washington in an interview . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

The cost of ignoring history: Gaza, grievances and the threat of war, by Brian Palmer | Middle East Monitor  The Trump administration promised a bold new course in the Middle East, and now the United States stands at a perilous crossroads, echoing the policies and decrees that precipitated the deadliest terrorist attack on American soil and . . . READ MORE . . .

For now, links to reports from the Associated Press and Reuters, and to commentary from Indian Punchline with video links; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA, LEBANON, SYRIA, WEST BANK and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE. IRAN 2-7-25 entry is HERE.) — MCM

–   –   –

Iranians mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution, by Nasser Karimi | AP  TEHRAN — The annual commemoration of the end of the rule of the American-backed Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavi and the creation of Iran’s Shiite theocracy comes this year as U.S. President Donald Trump returned to the White House and restarted . . . READ MORE . . .

–   –   –

Iranian president says U.S. not sincere over readiness to engage, by Parisa Hafezi | Reuters  DUBAI — Iran’s President Masoud Pezeshkian today questioned the United States’ sincerity in seeking negotiations with Tehran as crowds of people, many chanting “Death to America”, rallied across the country to mark the anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. READ MORE . . .

FROM FEB. 9  Trump talks the talk with Iran, but needs to walk the walk, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  A whiff of wariness bordering on pessimism about the prospect of reaching an enduring nuclear deal with the U.S. permeated the remarks by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on Feb. 7 in Tehran in an address to the top military officials. Click HERE for article and two video links.