General Alexus Grinkevich, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO, stated that fewer American troops in Europe would not burden the continent's defense. This comes amid the expected withdrawal of American troops from Europe and their redeployment to the Indo-Pacific region.
Rheinmetall AG CEO Armin Papperger said that a peace agreement in Ukraine will not change future demand for weapons, as Europe enters a prolonged period of rearmament. The company expects European and German defense spending to grow, aiming for 50 billion euros in sales by 2030.
European leaders are warning Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy not to succumb to Russia's demands without ironclad security commitments from the United States. They advise clearly defining America's role in security guarantees for Kyiv before agreeing to Russia's demands.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Kremlin head Vladimir Putin met in New Delhi, discussing peace efforts regarding Russia's war against Ukraine and expanding economic cooperation. Agreements on mobility, supplies of Indian products, and the leasing of a submarine are expected.
US President Donald Trump has hired a new architectural firm, Shalom Baranes Associates, to oversee the design of his new ballroom. This came after disagreements with the initial designer, McCrery Architects, regarding the project's size and timeline.
The United States of America has invited Poland to participate in next year's Group of 20 (G20) summit in Miami. This invitation is due to Poland's economy entering the world's top 20, while South Africa, despite being a G20 member, will not be invited.
Donald Trump stated that the war in Ukraine will eventually end. The US is working hard on this, "establishing peace around the world, settling wars at levels no one has seen before."
The Institute for the Study of War assesses that Putin is trying to conceal his initial war goals, limiting them to the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Kremlin also rejected a US peace proposal without disclosing details.
US President Donald Trump plans to announce a transition to the second phase of the Palestinian-Israeli settlement by Christmas. He will also present a new governance structure for the Gaza Strip.
The Trump administration has instructed US embassies to prioritize visa applications from foreigners planning to visit the country for investment or participation in major sporting events.
Ukrainian representatives will continue talks in the US with President Trump's team. The task is to get full information about what was said in Russia and what other pretexts Putin found to prolong the war.
Trump helped the leaders of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of Congo sign a peace agreement and economic pacts. This will give the US access to the region's valuable minerals, although the implications for the 30-year conflict remain unclear.
Envoys of US President Donald Trump met with Ukrainian negotiators for the third time in two weeks to discuss a peace plan, while the Trump administration eased economic pressure on Russia. The US Treasury Department partially suspended sanctions against Lukoil gas stations outside Russia until April 29.
EU Defense Commissioner Andrius Kubilius stated that the European Union must develop its own peace plan for Ukraine, without relying on US initiatives. This is due to the fact that Europe was "caught off guard" by a 28-point peace plan developed by American Trump negotiators together with the Russians without the participation of the EU.
President Zelenskyy held a phone conversation with President of the European Council António Costa, discussing the negotiation track and the planned meetings of the Ukrainian team with the American side. Ukraine expects meaningful work to achieve a lasting peace.
Oil prices rose: Brent to $63. 02, WTI to $59.36. Attacks on Russian oil pipelines and lack of progress in peace talks contribute to rising prices.
Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Rustem Umerov and Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine Andriy Hnatov flew to the United States. They will hold talks with the American delegation on the peace plan, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced.
India will pay about $2 billion to lease a nuclear submarine from Russia, concluding a decade of negotiations. The deal provides for the delivery of the vessel within two years, although the contract was signed in March 2019.
Spiegel reported that the Élysée Palace, in a statement to the German publication, denied that Macron had spoken of any betrayal.
A poll has shown that almost half of Europeans consider Donald Trump an “enemy of Europe,” and more than two-thirds believe their country would not be able to defend itself in the event of a war with Russia. Most respondents support EU membership and believe that Brexit has harmed the United Kingdom.
Kremlin head Vladimir Putin held a nearly 5-hour meeting with American negotiators, calling it "very useful" and "necessary," and issued new threats regarding Donbas.
Negotiations to end the Russian-Ukrainian war involving US representatives have hit a snag due to Vladimir Putin's stance. The Russian dictator has effectively rejected the agreement and is also unwilling to see US special envoy Steve Witkoff in Moscow.
Donald Trump is revoking federal fuel economy standards set by the Biden administration, easing fuel efficiency requirements for gasoline-powered cars. This decision lowers the required fuel efficiency to 34 miles per gallon by 2031 instead of 50 miles per gallon.
French President Emmanuel Macron met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing, where he sought to achieve a ceasefire in Ukraine and discussed trade relations. Macron called for a rebalancing of trade ties and cooperation with the G7.
Donald Trump stated that Ukraine and Russia had the opportunity to reach agreements on ending the war earlier, but "in their wisdom chose not to. " He believes that the best time to conclude a peace agreement was when he spoke about the absence of maps.
Donald Trump's special envoy, Steve Witkoff, and US President's son-in-law, Jared Kushner, will meet with Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine, Rustem Umerov, in Miami on December 4 to continue discussions on the American "peace plan" for Ukraine.
US President Donald Trump called the December 2 meeting between Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner with Vladimir Putin "very good. " The next steps after the meeting are currently unknown.
Trump granted a full and unconditional pardon to Democratic Representative from Texas Henry Cuellar and his wife Imelda. They were accused of receiving nearly $600,000 in bribes in schemes benefiting an Azerbaijani state energy company and a Mexican bank.
President Zelenskyy announced preparations for meetings with the US after the American team's negotiations in Moscow and Washington. Rustem Umerov, Andriy Hnatov, and others will continue negotiations to advance Ukraine's peace plan.
Canadian oil prices have fallen to their lowest level relative to the American benchmark since March 2025. The decline is caused by increased production in Alberta amid a global raw material surplus and slowing global demand.
