For today, links to three reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, and Middle East Monitor; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, SYRIA, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE, and HERE, or scroll up or down. IRAN 3-6-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Trump says he sent a letter to Iran’s supreme leader over country’s advancing nuclear program, by Jon Gambrell and Will Weissert | AP  DUBAI — U.S. President Donald Trump sent a letter to Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, seeking a new deal with Tehran to restrain its rapidly advancing nuclear program and replace the agreement he withdrew America from in his first term in office. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Israel’s new army chief declares 2025 ‘Year of War.’ From Middle East Monitor. The newly appointed Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has claimed that 2025 will be a “year of war” against Gaza and Iran, Israeli media outlets reported Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to nine reports: from the Associated Press, Reuters, the Anadolu Agency, National Public Radio, and the Cradle; others are accessible by clicking on their initials below. (WEST BANK, IRAN, GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date, so far, are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down. SYRIA 3-4-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Clashes in Syria’s coastal region between government forces and Assad loyalists kill more than 70, by Omar Albam | AP  LATAKIA, Syria — Clashes between Syrian security forces under the country’s new, Islamist authorities and gunmen loyal to ousted President Bashar Assad in Syria’s western coastal region have killed more than 70 people and left an area outside government control, a war monitor said today. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for two reports from Reuters.

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Massive protests in Syria show support for security forces against Assad regime loyalists, by Abdul Jabbar Aburas and Ikram Kouachi | Anadolu Agency  ISTANBUL — Large-scale demonstrations took place across several Syrian provinces today, with citizens rallying in support of the Syrian security forces and military operations aimed at rooting out loyalists of the ousted Assad regime. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 6  Israel threatens intervention in Syrian capital Damascus due to unrest there. Reported by Jane Arraf and A Martínez | NPR  A suburb of Damascus is at the center of the new Syrian government’s struggle for control. Now, Israel is threatening to intervene due to unrest, turning this into a possible international incident. Click HERE to listen and read.

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FROM MARCH 6  Syria receives currency shipment from Russia as talks between Moscow, Damascus continue. From the Cradle. Syria has received a new currency shipment from Russia, sources told Reuters on Thursday — coming as talks are continuing between Moscow and the new administration in Damascus. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Israel’s new army chief declares 2025 ‘Year of War.’ From Middle East Monitor. The newly appointed Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has claimed that 2025 will be a “year of war” against Gaza and Iran, Israeli media outlets reported Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to four reports: from National Public Radio, Middle East Monitor, the Cradle, and the Anadolu Agency; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (WEST BANK, IRAN, SYRIA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE, HERE,  HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 3-6-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Uncertainty grows surrounding the ceasefire in Gaza between Israel and Hamas. Reported by Aya Batrawy and Steve Inskeep | NPR  The first phase of the ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas ended with no agreement on what comes next. President Trump is demanding that Hamas immediately free all of its remaining hostages. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Israel’s new army chief declares 2025 ‘Year of War.’ From Middle East Monitor. The newly appointed Israeli Chief of General Staff, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir has claimed that 2025 will be a “year of war” against Gaza and Iran, Israeli media outlets reported Thursday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 6  Trump’s latest threats ‘complicate’ Gaza ceasefire. From the Cradle. Hamas responded to U.S. President Donald Trump’s latest threat on Thursday, accusing him of “complicating” the Gaza ceasefire deal further. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Anadolu Agency.

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For today, links to 14 reports: from the Anadolu Agency, Kyiv Independent, the Associated Press, Reuters, Kyiv Post, Tass, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below.  (WEST BANK, IRAN, SYRIA and GAZA entries for this date are HERE, HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 3-6-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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NEWER  U.S., Ukrainian officials to meet in Saudi Arabia next week: Trump’s adviser, by Diyar Güldoğan | Anadolu Agency  WASHINGTON — An American delegation including Secretary of State Marco Rubio will head to Saudi Arabia next week to meet Ukrainians to discuss a potential peace deal, U.S. National Security Adviser Mike Waltz said today. READ MORE . . .

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Trump says he considers sanctioning Russia because it’s ‘pounding’ Ukraine, by Kateryna Denisova | The Kyiv Independent  U.S. President Donald Trump said today he is considering imposing sweeping banking sanctions and tariffs on Russia until there is a ceasefire and peace agreement. He said his statement is based . . . READ MORE . . .

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Russia bombards Ukraine’s energy grid after Zelenskyy says his team will hold talks with the U.S., by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Russia targeted Ukraine’s energy infrastructure in a large-scale missile and drone bombardment during the night, officials said today, hours after Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said . . . READ MORE . . .

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Bulk of Ukrainian forces fighting inside Russia almost cut off, open sources maps show, by Andrew Osborn and Anastasiia Malenko | Reuters  LONDON / KYIV — Tens of thousands of Ukrainian troops who smashed into Russia last summer and took control of a swathe of territory there are nearly encircled by Russian forces and cut off from their main supply lines, open source maps showed on Friday. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from Kyiv Post and the Kyiv Independent.

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Satellite imagery provider Maxar reportedly suspends services to Ukraine – alternatives may exist, by Leo Chiu and Katie Livingstone | Kyiv Post  Maxar Technologies, a major U.S. satellite imagery provider whose intel is often used on the battlefield, has reportedly suspended its services for users in Ukraine following . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin says Russia, U.S. see 2022 Istanbul draft as possible basis for Ukraine deal, by Dmitry Antonov, Mark Trevelyan and Yuliia Dysa | Reuters  MOSCOW — Russia and the U.S. both see draft accords discussed by Moscow and Kyiv in the early weeks of the war as a possible basis for a Ukraine peace deal, the Kremlin said on Friday, though Ukraine’s president has previously rejected . . . READ MORE . . .

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British will have to return to Russia everything being ‘generously given away’ — Volodin. From Tass. MOSCOW — Britain’s transfer of the first funds to Ukraine, secured from frozen Russian assets, constitutes a flagrant violation of international law, according to Vyacheslav Volodin, the Speaker of the Russian State Duma. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Kremlin condemns EU’s ‘confrontational rhetoric’ after pledge to boost defense spending. From AFP.  Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov today criticized what he called the European Union’s “confrontational rhetoric” after the bloc’s leaders agreed to a huge increase in defense spending amid . . . READ MORE . . .

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EU leaders agree on defense surge, support Zelenskiy after U.S. aid freeze, by Lili Bayer, Andrew Gray and Michel Rose | Reuters  BRUSSELS — European leaders today backed plans to spend more on defense and continue to stand by Ukraine in a world upended by Donald Trump’s reversal of U.S. policies. READ MORE . . .

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European leaders downplay skepticism from Trump about NATO solidarity, by Suman Naishadham | AP  MADRID — European Union leaders today downplayed skepticism from U.S. President Donald Trump about solidarity among NATO members a day after they backed plans to spend more on defense amid wavering U.S. support. Trump had said . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 6  EU leaders hold emergency meeting to scale up defense spending for Ukraine. Reported by Teri Schultz | NPR  European Union leaders from 27 countries met in an emergency session in Brussels on Thursday. They unanimously agreed to move forward on plans to dramatically scale up their defense investments. Click HERE to listen and read.

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For today, a link to a report from Reuters; headlines of others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down. IRAN 2-25-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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U.S. mulls plan to disrupt Iran’s oil by halting vessels at sea, by Jonathan Saul and Jarrett Renshaw | Reuters  WASHINGTON — President Donald Trump’s administration is considering a plan to stop and inspect Iranian oil tankers at sea under an international accord aimed at countering the spread of weapons of mass destruction, according to sources familiar with the matter. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to reports from Middle East Monitor, Reuters, and Middle East Eye, and to commentary from Middle East Eye and Middle East Monitor; other articles are accessible by clicking on their names below, or scroll down. (IRAN and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 3-5-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Trump issues ‘last warning’ to Hamas and Palestinians in Gaza. From Middle East Monitor. U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday issued a stern warning to the Palestinian group Hamas, threatening severe consequences if all captives held in Gaza are not immediately freed. READ MORE . . .

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Trump’s threats over Gaza will encourage Netanyahu to back out of ceasefire deal, Hamas says. From Reuters. Hamas said today that U.S. president Donald Trump’s repeated threats against Palestinians constituted support for Israel’s prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu to back out of the Gaza ceasefire and intensify the siege of Gazans. READ MORE . . .

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France says plan for post-war Gaza must ‘entirely’ exclude Hamas. From Middle East Eye. France today welcomed an Arab plan to rebuild the Gaza Strip under the future administration of the Palestinian Authority, adding that Hamas should be “entirely” excluded from running the territory. READ MORE . . .

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U.S.-Israeli rejection of the Arab Gaza plan is a moment of truth, by Soumaya Ghannoushi | Middle East Eye  On Tuesday, Arab kings and presidents gathered in Cairo, summoned by the weight of history, drawn into a theatre where destinies could be decided — not just for Palestine, but for the very legitimacy of their own rule. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 5  Let’s look at what was absent from the Arab Summit closing statement, by Ali Muhammad Fakhro | Middle East Monitor  Millions listened to the closing statement of this week’s Arab Summit, which undoubtedly showed great progress in its tone and the seriousness of its objections to the criminal Zionist actions across all of Palestine, all of Lebanon and, more lately, all of Syria. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to seven reports: from Agence France-Presse, Reuters, Kyiv Post, the Moscow Times, Tass, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from the Kyiv Independent; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (IRAN and GAZA entry for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.  UKRAINE 3-5-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Russian missile strike on Zelensky’s hometown kills 3, injures 31. From AFP. An overnight Russian missile strike on a hotel in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s hometown, Kryvyi Rih, killed three people and injured 31, with nearly half in serious condition, authorities said today. READ MORE . . .

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EU leaders to back defence surge, support Zelenskiy after U.S. aid freeze, by Lili Bayer and Andrew Gray | Reuters  BRUSSELS — European leaders were expected to agree to ramp up defence spending and reaffirm support for Ukraine at a summit today, after Donald Trump’s suspension of military aid to Kyiv . . . READ MORE . . .   Click HERE for report from Kyiv Post.

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Rubio calls Ukraine war ‘proxy’ conflict between U.S. and Russia. From the Moscow Times. U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Wednesday that the United States is engaged in a “proxy” war with Russia in Ukraine. “President Trump views this . . . READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky backs Macron’s vision for Ukraine. From Kyiv Post. President Volodymyr Zelensky thanked French President Emmanuel Macron for his peace efforts and “clear vision” after the latter’s Wednesday national address on bolstering European defense and potentially deploying troops to Ukraine. READ MORE . . .

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Russia won’t tolerate NATO contingents in Ukraine, Lavrov says. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russia will not stand idly by and watch the appearance of NATO troops in Ukraine under the guise of peacekeepers and will not tolerate such actions from the West, Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said at a press conference. READ MORE . . .

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What peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. might look like. Steve Inskeep of NPR speaks with Bob Hamilton, head of Eurasia research at the Foreign Policy Research Institute, about what peace talks between Russia, Ukraine and the U.S. could look like. Click HERE later to listen and read.

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Trump’s alignment with Russia derails Europe’s push for a peacekeeping force in Ukraine, by Oleg Sukhov | The Kyiv Independent  European countries have intensified talks on sending peacekeepers to Ukraine to monitor and enforce a possible ceasefire. But the potential deployment . . . READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to three reports: from the Cradle and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on its name below. (GAZA and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll down. LEBANON 3-3-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Israeli drone strikes target south Lebanon’s Ras al-Naqoura. From the Cradle. The Israeli army carried out at least two drone strikes on a vehicle in southern Lebanon today, injuring two civilians in the second attack on the south since Tueday. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 4  Lebanon and Saudi Arabia work to improve relations, call for Israeli withdrawal, by Bassem Mroue | AP  BEIRUT — Lebanese President Joseph Aoun ended a visit to Saudi Arabia Tuesday where he discussed regional affairs with the kingdom’s crown prince after which both countries said Israeli troops should withdraw from south Lebanon and only the Lebanese state should have weapons. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from the Cradle.

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For today, links to six reports: from the Cradle, the Associated Press, Reuters, and Middle East Eye; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON and UKRAINE entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up or down.  GAZA 3-4-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM

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Trump officials ‘hold secret talks with Hamas’: report. From the Cradle. Senior U.S. officials have engaged in “direct talks” with Hamas about releasing U.S. captives in Gaza and exploring an agreement to “end the war,” according to sources who spoke with Axios reporter Barak Ravid. READ MORE . . .

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Trump rejects Egypt’s Gaza plan, stands by ethnic cleansing ‘vision.’ From the Cradle. Washington has rejected the Egyptian post-war Gaza proposal put forward by Arab states at a summit in Cairo this week, doubling down on U.S. President Donald Trump’s vision for the expulsion of Palestinians and the takeover of the strip. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 4  Arab leaders endorse Egypt’s plan to rebuild Gaza as an alternative to Trump’s proposal, by Samy Magdy and Mohammad Jahjouh | AP  CAIRO — Arab leaders on Tuesday endorsed Egypt’s postwar plan for the Gaza Strip that would allow its roughly 2 million Palestinians to remain. The counterproposal to U.S. President Donald Trump’s plan to depopulate the territory and redevelop it was welcomed by Hamas, rejected by Israel, and . . . READ MORE . . .  Click HERE for report from Reuters.

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Less than two weeks worth of food in Gaza due to Israeli blockade: WFP. From the Cradle. The World Food Programme announced today it has enough food supplies in the Gaza Strip to keep public kitchens and bakeries open for less than two weeks due to Israel blocking the entry of food, fuel, medicine, and other essential supplies. Furthermore . . . READ MORE . . .

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How a future Gaza would look under Egypt’s $53bn plan, by  Sondos Asem | Middle East Eye  Egypt‘s $53bn plan for the reconstruction of Gaza, backed by the Arab League on Tuesday, has an ambitious vision for the architectural future of the war-ravaged Palestinian enclave. READ MORE . . .

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For today, links to seven reports: from the Kyiv Independent, Associated Press, the Moscow Times, Tass, Agence France-Presse, Kyiv Post, and National Public Radio, and to commentary from Indian Punchline, the Washington Post, and the Philadelphia Inquirer; other articles or headlines are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (LEBANON and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up. UKRAINE 3-4-25 entry is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM 

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U.S. halts intelligence sharing with Ukraine, CIA director confirms, by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  The U.S. has halted intelligence sharing with Kyiv, threatening Ukraine’s ability to strike Russian targets amid the full-scale war, CIA Director John Ratcliffe said to Fox Business today. The Financial Times reported earlier today . . . READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin says a 2022 Ukrainian law bans Zelenskyy from talks with Putin. From AP. A Ukrainian decree from 2022 that ruled out negotiations with Russian President Vladimir Putin raises the question of who could sit at the table in potential peace talks aimed at ending their three-year war, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said today. READ MORE . . .

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Kremlin welcomes possible Ukraine peace talks, but says ‘nuances’ remain. From the Moscow Times. The Kremlin said today it welcomes the prospect of U.S.-mediated peace talks with Ukraine but claimed that legal obstacles introduced by Kyiv still prevent negotiations from taking place. READ MORE . . . 

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U.S. to resume arms supplies to Kiev if rare-earths deal is signed — Medvedev. From Tass. MOSCOW — Washington will resume arms shipments to Kiev if the rare-earths deal is signed with Ukraine, Russian Security Council Deputy Chairman Dmitry Medvedev said, referring to U..S. President Trump’s address To Congress Tuesday night. READ MORE . . .

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Zelensky says peace in Ukraine is ‘entirely achievable’ under U.S. leadership. From AFP. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said today a lasting settlement to the war with Russia was “entirely achievable” if Europe and the United States worked together. READ MORE . . .

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Trump signals possible restoration of Ukraine aid, sets conditions, by Julia Struck | Kyiv Post  U.S. President Donald Trump has temporarily suspended military aid to Ukraine, with the possibility of restoring support if peace talks are arranged and confidence-building measures are implemented, White House national security adviser Mike Waltz confirmed today. READ MORE . . .

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FROM MARCH 4  Ukrainians react to U.S. military aid pause. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Ukrainians are reeling over the U.S. suspending military aid, but Kyiv says it can manage for six months as the European Union and UK amp up support. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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FROM MARCH 3  U.S. puts firewall to protect Ukraine deal with Russia, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  The verbal shootout at the Oval Office last Friday brought out President Vladimir Zelensky’s fury that Donald Trump and Vladimir Putin are very close to a deal on Ukraine, while the conclave in Lancashire House in London on Sunday involving 18 European leaders . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 26  Trump just dealt Russia a devastating blow, by Marc Theissen | The Washington Post  The minerals deal negotiated between the United States and Ukraine is a devastating development for Russia. Indeed . . . READ MORE . . .

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FROM FEB. 24  After three years of war in Ukraine, a Trump-backed ‘Russian peace’ would spell disaster, by Trudy Rubin | The Philadelphia Inquirer  Three years after Russian President Vladimir Putin’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine, it is clear who should win the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize. READ MORE . . .

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