For today, links to five reports: from the Associated Press, the Kyiv Independent, National Public Radio, and Agence France-Presse, and to an article of commentary from Indian Punchline; others are accessible by clicking on their initials or names below. (UKRAINE 7-4-25 is HERE, or scroll down.  GAZA, IRAN and MEDIA entries for this date are HERE, HERE and HERE, or scroll up.) — MCM

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Ukraine says it struck a Russian air base as Russia sent hundreds of drones into Ukraine, by Elise Morton | AP  LONDON — Ukraine said it struck a Russian air base today, while Russia continued to pound Ukraine with hundreds of drones overnight as part of a stepped-up bombing campaign that has dashed hopes for a breakthrough in efforts to end the more than 3-year-old war. READ MORE . . .  Click HERE and HERE for reports from the Kyiv Independent and Kyiv Post.

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Zelenskyy asks Trump for air defense munitions amid escalating Russian airstrikes. Reported by Joanna Kakissis and Scott Simon | NPR  Ukraine is facing a summer of escalating Russian airstrikes on its cities. The Ukrainian President has called on the U.S. to provide more air defense systems. Click HERE to listen and, later, read.

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Trump says he’s ‘very unhappy’ with Putin call, hints at new sanctions. From AFP.  “It’s a very tough situation,” U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters aboard Air Force One on Friday. “I told you I was very unhappy with my call with President Putin. He wants to go all the way, just keep killing people, it’s no good.” READ MORE .. . .

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FROM JULY 3  France seeks a role in Iran situation, by M.K. Bhadrakumar | Indian Punchline  On July 1, did you hear the crunching sound of ice cracking on the frozen lake of Russia-France ties? President Vladimir Putin’s decision to take a phone call on that day from his French counterpart Emmanuel Macron, for the first time since September 2022, signifies that the western narrative to ‘erase’ Russia in the proxy war in Ukraine . . . READ MORE . . .

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