For today, after a late start, links to six reports: from the Associated Press, the Moscow Times, Kyiv Post, Reuters, and Tass, and to three articles of commentary from the Moscow Times (with brief video), Indian Punchline, and the Kyiv Independent; others or at least headlines are accessible by clicking on their names below. (GAZA entry for this date is HERE, or scroll up. UKRAINE 4-2-25 is HERE, or scroll down.) — MCM
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Rubio tries to reassure wary allies of U.S. commitment to NATO as Trump sends mixed signals, by Mattew Lee and Lorne Cook | AP BRUSSELS — U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and the Trump administration’s new newly confirmed U.S. ambassador to NATO, Matt Whitaker, are seeking to reassure wary members of the U.S. commitment to the alliance. Rubio today decried . . . READ MORE . . .
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Putin envoy confirms visit to U.S. for talks with White House officials. From the Moscow Times. President Vladimir Putin’s special envoy for international economic and investment cooperation, Kirill Dmitriev, today confirmed that he has been meeting with White House officials in the United States this week. He is the highest-ranking Russian official to . . . READ MORE . . .
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U.S. Defense boss Hegseth to boycott Ukraine military support summit for first time ever, by Stefan Korshak | Kyiv Post The U.S.-based Defense News magazine reported today that Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth will not attend the next top-level Ukraine support planning conference next week, a move that will leave the main Western nation forum for . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russians fight to clear Kursk as Ukrainians hole up in monastery, war bloggers say, by Lucy Papachristou | Reuters Moscow’s troops were waging fierce battles today in Russia’s western Kursk region against Ukrainian forces, including hundreds holed up in a monastery, in an effort to rout them from Kyiv’s last major foothold in sovereign Russian territory, war bloggers said. READ MORE . . .
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FROM ARPIL 1 As war draws men to fight, Ukraine’s women take tough new jobs in machinery and mines, by Vasilisa Stepanenko and Samya Kullab | AP From driving tractors to working in coal mines, Ukrainian women are taking jobs once reserved for men, who are being drafted to the front lines in the war with Russia. Women have also . . . READ MORE . . .
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Russian troops liberate two communities In Donetsk area, Zaporozhye Region over past day. From Tass. MOSCOW — Russian troops liberated two communities in the Donetsk area and the Zaporozhye Region over the past day in the special military operation in Ukraine, Russia’s Defense Ministry said today in a broader statement. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 25 Trump and Putin’s hockey puck diplomacy puts Europe on thin ice, by Suzanne Antelme | The Moscow Times According to the Kremlin’s summary of last week’s phone call between the presidents of the United States and Russia, Donald Trump supports Vladimir Putin’s idea to organize ice hockey matches between U.S. and Russian players from their respective professional leagues. READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 29 A third way to end the war in Ukraine, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline In an unguarded moment, perhaps, ex-UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson blurted out recently in an interview that the ultranationalist elements who rule the roost in Kiev are a formidable obstacle to ending the war . . . READ MORE . . .
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FROM MARCH 31 Trump-Putin parley is a bit under the weather, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline The Kremlin apparently came to the conclusion last week that it was about time to do some plain-speaking that U.S. president Donald Trump’s quest for a 30-day ceasefire in the Ukraine war was a non-starter. READ MORE . . .
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FROM APRIIL 2 Trump’s U.S.. minerals deal threatens Ukraine’s EU membership, by Dominic Culverwell and Alex Cadier | The Kyiv Independent The ongoing saga of the U.S.-Ukraine natural resources deal has already caused seismic ruptures between Kyiv and Washington, temporarily costing Ukraine American military support and crucial intelligence sharing. Yet . . . READ MORE . . .
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