Entries for today have been late and slow in coming, and are somewhat shorter than usual.

In this one, links to five reports: from National Public Radio, Agence France-Presse, the Moscow Times, and the Associated Press; others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (Scroll down for UKRAINE 12-22-25, and scroll up for MEDIA, LEBANON and GAZA.) — MCM

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Pope Leo XIV calls for a ceasefire in all conflicts in first Christmas Mass. Reported by Ruth Sherlock | NPR  Thousands of people gathered in Bethlehem’s Manger Square as Pope Leo XIV celebrated his first Christmas Mass and called for a ceasefire in all conflicts this Christmas. Click HERE to listen and, later, read. Click HERE and HERE for report from AFP / AFP in English and French.

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Ukrainian drone attacks spark blazes at seaport and oil refinery in southern Russia. From the Moscow Times. Ukrainian drone strikes sparked fires at a seaside fuel storage facility and an oil refinery in southern Russia, local authorities said today, as other regions across the country reported downing dozens of unmanned aircraft. READ MORE . . .

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FROM DEC. 24  Zelenskyy says he’s open to creating demilitarized zone in Ukraine’s industrial heartland, by Samya Kullab | AP  KYIV — Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday he would be willing to withdraw troops from the country’s eastern industrial heartland as part of a plan to end Russia’s war, if Moscow also pulls back and the area becomes a demilitarized zone monitored by international forces. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for same AP report in Spanish, and HERE for others.

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FROM DEC. 24  Zelenskyy says he’s open to pull back troops if Russia does too. Reported by Joanna Kakissis | NPR  Ukraine’s president says he open to pulling troops back from parts of the east if Russia also pulls back its forces. Click HERE to listen and read.

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