On December 18, the main focus is on the upcoming US-Russia negotiations regarding the war in Ukraine, scheduled to take place this weekend in Miami. According to reports from Politico and Axios, a Ukrainian delegation will also take part in the discussions. The White House has yet to officially confirm the meeting.
British media report that the UK is preparing for a possible deployment of a peacekeeping contingent to Ukraine after active fighting ends. The Ministry of Defence is working out possible plans for such a mission.
Meanwhile, an EU leaders' summit begins in Brussels, where the main topic will be securing financial assistance for Ukraine. The new support is expected to be provided as a loan guaranteed by the EU budget, and the idea of using frozen Russian assets remains controversial among member states.
Donald Trump delivered a national address yesterday but made no mention of Ukraine or Venezuela. He focused on his administration's achievements in the US domestic sphere, tackling migration and the economy.
Fighting continues across Ukraine, with Russian drones striking several regions overnight and injuries reported in Cherkasy and Odesa. Ukrainian drones targeted sites in Russia's Rostov region in response.
Tensions also remain high in Venezuela: the US has increased its military presence in the region, and President Maduro accuses Washington of attempting to change the country's leadership.
More developments will be discussed throughout the news day.
