For today, links to four reports: from the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Time magazine, and Reuters; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (GAZA and SYRIA entries for this date are HERE and HERE.) — MCM

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Russian forces edge closer to a key eastern Ukraine city in ‘intense’ fighting, officials say, by Illia Novikov | AP  KYIV — Fighting around the key eastern Ukraine city of Pokrovsk is “extremely intense” after a monthslong Russian push, Ukraine’s top military commander said, with analysts estimating Russian forces are within just a few miles of the city. READ MORE . . .

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Trump hints he won’t ‘abandon’ Kyiv but opposes Ukraine launching U.S. missiles inside Russia, by Martin Fornusek | The Kyiv Independent  U.S. President-elect Donald Trump said he “very vehemently” disagrees with Ukraine using U.S.-made missiles to strike targets “hundreds of miles” inside Russia, the Time magazine reported today. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for interview from Time.

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FROM DEC. 11  Russia could launch another hypersonic missile at Ukraine, U.S. official says. From Reuters. WASHINGTON — Russia could launch another hypersonic ballistic missile in Ukraine in the coming days, but Washington does not consider the Oreshnik weapon a game-changer in the war, a US official said on Wednesday. READ MORE . . .