The Diplomat
Brazil plans to seek US assistance in combating organized crime and arms trafficking as part of trade negotiations. Investigations have uncovered money laundering through investment funds in Delaware and illegal arms exports from the US.
Pope Leo XIV arrived in Turkey, beginning his first foreign trip, where he will mark the anniversary of Christianity. He will then travel to Lebanon after Israeli airstrikes on Beirut, where he will hold meetings with religious leaders and youth.
European countries are considering joint offensive cyber operations and surprise military exercises in response to Russia's hybrid attacks. This comes amid an unprecedented number of sabotage acts and attempted attacks linked to Moscow.
Bosnia and Herzegovina refused to accept a military plane with Hungarian Foreign Minister Péter Szijjártó. The reason given was Hungary's long-standing support for Milorad Dodik, whose actions undermine the sovereignty of Bosnia and Herzegovina.
The Cabinet of Ministers appointed cultural observer Bohdana Laiuk as Deputy Minister of Culture. She will be responsible for book publishing, reading, the visibility of Ukrainian literature abroad, and language policy.
The concert of Soviet and Austrian pianist Elisabeth Leonskaja, who visited Russia and performed with pro-Putin musicians, has been canceled in the Netherlands. This is the result of joint efforts by the Embassy of Ukraine, the Ukrainian Institute, the community, and the honorary consul.
EU countries are working on a "plan B" in case they cannot reach an agreement on seizing frozen Russian assets to finance Ukraine.
The 28-point US peace plan, unveiled last week, is based on a Russian document submitted to the Trump administration in October. That document contained Moscow's terms for ending the war, including concessions that Ukraine had previously rejected.
Ukraine, Slovakia, and Slovenia have been elected to the OPCW Executive Council for 2026–2028. Russia suffered its third consecutive defeat, failing to join the governing body.
Donald Trump's spokeswoman, Karoline Leavitt, stated that the US cannot endlessly supply weapons to Ukraine, as Trump seeks to end the war. Washington continues to sell a significant amount of weapons through NATO mechanisms.
US Army Secretary Dan Driscoll is meeting with Russian officials in Abu Dhabi to discuss the peace process. These meetings come amid increased efforts by US President Donald Trump to secure a ceasefire in the Russia-Ukraine war.
The foreign ministers of Ukraine, Great Britain, France, Italy, Germany, Poland, and Finland are holding a video call. This is happening against the backdrop of ongoing peace plan negotiations in Geneva.
EU leaders will be briefed this morning on peace talks to end the war in Ukraine after a weekend of rapid negotiations in Geneva. Officials have become more optimistic about peace, although details were scarce.
Officials from the United States of America and Ukraine are discussing a potential visit of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to Washington. The trip depends on the results of peace talks in Geneva.
Israel has appointed Roi Rosenblit as the new ambassador to Ukraine, replacing Mykhailo Brodsky, who held the position since 2021. Rosenblit previously served as an advisor at the Israeli embassy in Moscow and headed the diplomatic mission in Senegal.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk announced his readiness to work on the 28-point US peace plan, but demanded that its authors and place of creation be disclosed. Tomorrow, European leaders will discuss this issue in Luanda before the Africa-EU summit.
US senators said Secretary of State Marco Rubio called Washington's peace plan Moscow's 'wish list'. Rubio later denied this, stating that the plan was developed based on proposals from Russia and Ukraine.
Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban called on the EU to immediately support the US's 28-point proposal for a settlement in Ukraine, which includes territorial concessions and a reduction in the Ukrainian Armed Forces. Most EU countries refuse, supporting Ukraine, while Hungary blocks financial aid.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a conversation with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer, discussing diplomatic work in planning the peace process. Ukrainian advisors will work in Switzerland together with representatives of the US and the E3 format.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and US President's Special Envoy Steve Witkoff will arrive in Geneva to discuss a peace plan for Ukraine. Italy will also send its representative to participate in the negotiations.
A film screening and the donation of books to the Ukrainian shelf in Strasbourg marked the 500th cultural and artistic event of the "Culture vs. War" initiative.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen held a phone conversation with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, discussing the current course of the war and further steps of the European Union. The next steps will be a meeting of European leaders on the sidelines of the G20, and then in Angola at the EU-AU meeting.
In Peru, the Supreme Court judge ordered the arrest of former Prime Minister Betssy Chávez for five months. She is under asylum at the Mexican embassy in Lima.
European diplomats and officials are expressing outrage over a new US peace plan that could derail efforts to provide financial assistance to Ukraine. Trump's proposed plan involves using frozen Russian assets to rebuild Ukraine after a truce, which contradicts EU plans to use these funds for a loan to Kyiv.
EU's top diplomat Kaja Kallas stated that Russia has no right to receive concessions from Ukraine, as this provokes aggression. She emphasized that lasting peace requires certain elements, and succumbing to aggression is dangerous for everyone.
President Zelenskyy announced that Kyiv is actively working on the document proposed by the United States regarding the end of the war. Negotiations with partners continue hourly to coordinate Ukraine's position.
The European Union has announced a new €17 million call for proposals under the Ukraine Facility to support civil society in Ukraine. The call includes five thematic areas, and civil society organizations from all over Ukraine are eligible to participate.
12 historical artifacts, including crowns, shields, and paintings, have returned to Ethiopia after 100 years of storage with a German family. These items, collected in the 1920s, have been transferred to the Institute of Ethiopian Studies at Addis Ababa University.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that any plan to end the war needs the participation of Ukraine and European countries. She emphasized that the EU supports a lasting, strong, and just peace, and welcomes any efforts to achieve it.
US President Donald Trump's peace plan envisages territorial concessions from Ukraine and Russia paying rent for Donbas. The plan also provides for Ukraine's legal control over the occupied territories, but without disclosing the amount of rent from Russia.