December 30, 09:46 AM • 31729 views
07:50 PM • 1946 viewsThe administration of US President Donald Trump has told Ukrainian and European officials that there is little room for negotiation on a plan to end the war with Russia. The US is pressuring Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign an agreement, drafted with Moscow's help, by Thursday.
Ukrainian bonds and stocks on world exchanges showed growth after details of the US-proposed 'peace plan' to end the war in Ukraine became known.
European leaders are urgently coordinating a response to the US-Russia peace plan for Ukraine. The initiative has caused panic and concern among European officials, who believe it could force Ukraine to cede territory and limit NATO force deployment.
The United States of America insists that Kyiv intensify negotiations and prepare a draft peace agreement by November 27. After this, Washington plans to hand it over to Russia, aiming to complete the process by early December.
Russia and China held consultations on missile defense and strategic stability, agreeing to strengthen cooperation. This comes amid concerns about US plans to create a new missile defense system and resume nuclear testing.
Political scientist Oleh Lisnyi emphasizes that all discussions about the US peace plan revolve around rumors. He also points out that Ukraine's position remains unchanged.
The US is promoting a plan to end the war that involves halving the Armed Forces of Ukraine, abandoning certain weapons, and Donbas. FT journalist Christopher Miller reports on Zelenskyy's dissatisfaction with this proposal.
Scientists from Iran traveled to Russia twice in 2024, including November, seeking secret technologies for their nuclear program. The delegations included researchers from universities, some of which are under sanctions.
The deployment of NATO troops to the eastern flank in the event of a full-scale Russian invasion could take 45 days, while the EU aims to reduce this period to 3-5 days. The problem lies in different railway track gauge standards and bureaucracy, which complicates the movement of troops across Europe.
The price of Bitcoin fell to $89,500, reaching its lowest level since April 2025. The total market value of cryptocurrencies decreased by 25%, which amounts to about $1.2 trillion.
Russian "Gazprom" is developing detailed design documentation for the "Power of Siberia-2" gas pipeline to China, which will transport 50 billion cubic meters of gas per year. The cost of design work can reach 5-10% of the total budget, which is estimated at more than 30 billion dollars.
The Donald Trump administration has reached an agreement with Switzerland to reduce import tariffs to 15%, ending several months of trade confrontation. Switzerland will invest $200 billion in the US and relocate part of its production.
China's unofficial gold purchases could be 10 times higher than official figures, as the country seeks to diversify its assets away from the US dollar. China's total purchases in 2025 could reach 250 tons, more than a third of the total global demand from central banks.
Lukoil shares on the Moscow Exchange fell to 4,900 rubles, and the company's capitalization decreased by $9. 6 billion after new US sanctions. This led to the blocking of sales of foreign assets and problems with operations in international markets.
The International Energy Agency predicts that demand for oil and gas will grow for at least 25 years without global changes. This is due to the lack of new solutions in the fight against climate change and the changing position of countries regarding climate goals.
The European Commission has begun establishing a new intelligence body to improve the use of information from national intelligence services. The unit, being formed within the European Commission's Secretariat-General, will recruit staff from the EU intelligence community.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen avoided a meeting with UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer at the COP30 conference due to Brussels' demands for London to pay billions of euros. The British leader wanted to discuss dissatisfaction with EU demands for a payment of up to 6.5 billion euros to participate in the "credits for weapons" program and contributions to the EU budget.
The European Commission proposes to permanently freeze Russian assets in the EU and use the proceeds to finance Ukraine. Rejection of this plan could lead to annual EU expenditures of 5.6 billion euros, affecting the deficit and debt of individual states.
US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegset called on defense companies to accelerate the development and production of weapons, threatening their disappearance. He also announced the creation of a "deal-making team" to support Pentagon procurement.
The US Treasury Department said that Swiss oil trader Gunvor would not receive a license until Putin stops the war in Ukraine.
Leading Chinese air taxi developer EHang plans to transport passengers from airports to major cities for as little as $30. This will be possible through the operation of unmanned eVTOLs, which have received approval from the air traffic regulator for commercial operation.
Russians have started using jet gliders on Soviet-era aerial bombs to hit targets far behind the front lines, putting additional strain on Ukraine's air defense. Some of them are equipped with a jet engine, increasing their flight range to 200 km.
New EU member states may be subject to a "probationary period" of several years, with the possibility of suspending membership or expelling them from the bloc if they deviate from democratic principles.
Gopichand Hinduja, billionaire and co-owner of the Hinduja Group, has died at the age of 85 after a long illness. He was known as the richest man in the UK.
The UN warns of dangerous global warming of up to 2. 8°C, despite minor improvements in climate policy. A report by the organization, published ahead of climate talks in Brazil, points to rising emissions and the lack of significant impact of current policies on their reduction.
Serbia is considering early parliamentary elections as a way to stabilize the internal situation after mass protests. President Aleksandar Vučić proposed holding elections earlier to overcome political tensions.
Michael Jackson's estate secretly paid $2. 5 million to five plaintiffs who accused the singer of sexual abuse. This payment completed a settlement initiated in 2020 for $16.5 million.
Dmitry Peskov commented on reports of the cancellation of the meeting between Putin and Trump in Budapest on October 31. He urged to "focus on official wordings, not on media assessments."
The planned summit between Trump and Putin in Budapest has been canceled due to Russia's tough demands regarding Ukraine. The decision was made after a tense conversation between diplomats.
Germany plans to purchase up to 12,000 kamikaze drones from startups Helsing, Stark, and defense giant Rheinmetall for approximately 300 million euros. These drones are intended for the German brigade in Lithuania, which will defend NATO's eastern flank against Russia.
