Rustem Umerov and Andriy Hnatov held constructive talks with President Trump's representatives in the US. The Ukrainian team's task was to obtain full information about the conversation in Moscow and draft proposals for discussion with the President of Ukraine.
Brent crude futures rose to $63. 84 a barrel, while US West Texas Intermediate crude traded at $60.16. Investors are anticipating a Fed interest rate cut and monitoring geopolitical risks related to supplies from Russia and Venezuela.
Thailand carried out airstrikes on Cambodian military targets after the death of a Thai soldier. Both sides accuse each other of violating the ceasefire agreement brokered by Trump.
US President Donald Trump expressed disappointment that Volodymyr Zelenskyy had not familiarized himself with the American "peace plan. " Trump discussed the situation with Putin and Ukrainian leaders, noting that Zelenskyy's team supports the document, but Zelenskyy himself "showed no interest."
Russia seized more than 500 square kilometers of territory in November, twice as much as last month. At the same time, with the onset of winter, analysts expect a slowdown in the Russian advance on the front.
British historian Timothy Garton Ash argues that only Europe can help Ukraine resist Russian aggression and US diplomatic betrayal. He emphasizes the need for military and economic support for Ukraine to change Putin's strategy.
Donald Trump Jr. stated that his father might withdraw from the negotiation process regarding the war in Ukraine if attempts to achieve peace are unsuccessful. He called Ukraine more corrupt than Russia, and Zelenskyy an outstanding marketer.
At the Doha Forum, Syria's interim president accused Israel of fighting 'ghosts' in the Gaza Strip and seeking a conflict that has already ended.
Donald Trump called not to discuss his FIFA Peace Prize, stating that he earned it by working 26 hours a day, 8 days a week. The US President received the newly established award during the draw for the 2026 World Cup.
US President's Special Representative Kellogg stated that Russia and Ukraine together have lost over two million soldiers in the war. He emphasized the need to end the conflict.
Donald Trump presented Kennedy Center medals to the band Kiss and Sylvester Stallone. This took place in the Oval Office, breaking a long-standing tradition of selection and venue for the ceremony.
In early December, China and Russia held the third round of joint anti-missile drills on Russian territory. The drills were not aimed at any third party.
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as well as the leaders of France and Germany, at Downing Street. The meeting will take place amid negotiations on ending the war in Ukraine and discussing post-war security guarantees.
President Zelenskyy discussed with NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte the negotiations between Ukrainian representatives in the US and Trump's team. US President's Special Representative Stephen Witkoff released a report on the meeting with the Ukrainian delegation.
A meeting of Ukrainian and American delegations on a peaceful settlement of the war has concluded in the USA. The results of the American side's meeting with Russia, the framework of security agreements, and the program for Ukraine's future development were discussed.
US First Lady Melania Trump spoke with children at the hospital. This is a symbolic visit for the First Lady, who visits hospitals every year before Christmas.
Lebanese President Joseph Aoun declared the "irreversibility" of expanding negotiations with Israel to end the violence, while Hezbollah publicly criticized the move as a political mistake.
Ukrainian representatives will continue negotiations with the American delegation on Saturday. According to Axios, the talks will take place throughout the weekend.
US President Donald Trump received the newly established FIFA Peace Prize during the 2026 World Cup draw. The award was personally presented by FIFA President Gianni Infantino, who highly praised Trump's efforts to establish peace worldwide.
Putin's aide Ushakov stated that Jared Kushner will play a key role in developing the final plan for settling the war in Ukraine. Moscow expects the US to share the results of negotiations with the Ukrainian side.
Hours after Congo and Rwanda signed a "peace treaty" in Washington with Trump's mediation, fighting on the ground resumed with significant force, with both sides blaming each other.
Donald Trump's son-in-law Jared Kushner, his associate Steve Witkoff, and Tony Blair will play a key role in the reconstruction and governance of the war-torn Gaza Strip. Their involvement in resolving the Gaza conflict is part of new US plans, expected to be announced this month.
For the Trump administration, the main global problem is not Russia and its war in Ukraine, but China.
The White House stated that Europe risks "civilizational destruction" due to decades of economic decline, political censorship, and immigration. This is outlined in the updated US National Security Strategy, signed by Donald Trump.
The Trump administration has published a new national security strategy that focuses on an updated "Monroe Doctrine," criticizes immigration and Europe, and intensifies confrontation with China. The document blames mass migration for global problems and claims that Europe undermines peace in Ukraine.
Vladimir Putin told Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi that Russia is ready to continue uninterrupted oil supplies. This happened during the annual summit in New Delhi, where the leaders reaffirmed the resilience of their ties to external pressure.
The Norwegian Ministry of Defense will acquire two more submarines and long-range artillery from Germany, increasing the total cost of the order to almost 100 billion kroner. This is due to rising prices for raw materials and defense equipment, as well as the need to counter the activity of Russian submarines.
The United States is demanding that Europe take on a greater share of NATO's conventional defense capabilities by 2027, including intelligence and missiles. Some European officials consider this deadline unrealistic, as Europe needs time to build up its potential.
South Korea will gain access to nuclear submarines after US approval, which could change Asia's security landscape. This decision could lead to an escalation of the submarine arms race in the region.
Netflix announced a deal with Warner Bros. Discovery to acquire the television and film studio, including HBO Max, for $72 billion. The transaction, which creates a streaming giant, is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 and will require close regulatory scrutiny.
