For today, links to 10 reports from the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, Tass, Reuters, Agence France-Presse, and National Public Radio; others or at least headlines of others are accessible by clicking on their names or initials below. (UKRAINE 4-25-25 is HERE, or scroll down. There was no UKRAINE entry on April 26. IRAN and GAZA entries for this date are HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM
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Shocked by U.S. peace proposal, Ukrainians say they will not accept any formal surrender of Crimea, by Samya Kullab | AP KYIV — A peace proposal by the Trump administration that includes recognizing Russian authority over Crimea shocked Ukrainian officials, who say they will not accept any formal surrender of the peninsula, even though they expect to concede the territory to the Kremlin, at least temporarily. READ MORE . . .
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Russia launches nearly 150 drones against Ukraine as Trump doubts Putin’s desire for peace. From AP. KYIV — Russia launched a sweeping drone assault across Ukraine overnight into today, targeting multiple regions, officials said, after U.S. President Donald Trump cast doubt over Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to end the war. READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 26 Russia says is has fully reclaimed the Kursk region. Ukraine says it is still fighting there, by Samya Kullab and Katie Marie Davies | AP KYIV — All Ukrainian troops have been forced from parts of Russia’s Kursk region, which Moscow lost control of last year to a surprise Ukrainian incursion, Russia’s top general said in a Kremlin meeting Saturday. Ukrainian officials denied it. READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from the Kyiv Independent.
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Ukrainian army’s rout in Kursk Region brings defeat of neo-Nazi regime closer — Putin. From Tass. MOSCOW — The liberation of the Kursk Region from Ukrainian troops creates conditions for Russian forces to develop success in other frontline areas and brings the defeat of the neo-Nazi regime closer, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Saturday. READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 26 Trump and Zelenskiy meet one-on-one in Vatican basilica to seek peace, by Steve Holland and Angelo Amante | Reuters VATICAN CITY — U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian leader Volodymyr Zelenskiy, in Rome for the funeral of Pope Francis, met one-on-one in a marble-lined Vatican basilica on Saturday to try to revive faltering efforts to end Russia’s war with Ukraine. They spoke for about 15 minutes . . . READ MORE . . . Click HERE for report from AFP.
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FROM APRIL 26 Trump says maybe Putin ‘doesn’t want to stop the war’ in Ukraine. From AFP. U.S. President Donald Trump on Saturday criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for attacks on civilian areas of Ukraine in recent days, and said “maybe he doesn’t want to stop the war.” In a post after his conversation with Ukrainian President Volodymy Zelensky in Rome, he also said maybe Putin “has to be dealt with differently,” possibly through . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIL 25 A look at the Kremlin’s negotiating strategy. Reported by Charles Maynes | NPR As the Trump administration continues to flood the news cycles with its efforts to end to the war in Ukraine, NPR looks at the Kremlin’s negotiating strategy. Click HERE to listen and read.
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FROM ARPIL 24 Trump has his old friend Steve Witkoff leading his toughest diplomatic talks. Reported by Franco Ordoñez | NPR President Trump’s envoy Steve Witkoff is in Oman on Saturday for nuclear talks with Iran‘s foreign minister, a day after talks in Moscow to try to broker a deal with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Click HERE to listen and read.
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