Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Hong Kong Democratic Party Disbands After Member Vote Amid Security Crackdown 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Belarus Pledges to Halt Smuggling Balloons Into Lithuania 
Korea Zinc Plans $6.78 Billion U.S. Smelter Investment With Government Partnership 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
U.S. Special Forces Intercept Ship Carrying Military Components Bound for Iran 
Judge Orders Return of Seized Evidence in Comey-Related Case, DOJ May Seek New Warrant 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
New Epstein Photos Surface Showing Trump as Lawmakers Near Document Release Deadline 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
Air Force One Delivery Delayed to 2028 as Boeing Faces Rising Costs 
Syria Arrests Five Suspects After Deadly Attack on U.S. and Syrian Troops in Palmyra 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Israeli Airstrike in Gaza Targets Senior Hamas Commander Amid Ceasefire Tensions 
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy has indicated a major shift in Ukraine’s long-standing foreign policy by offering to drop the country’s aspirations to join NATO, as part of renewed efforts to end the war with Russia. The proposal emerged during more than five hours of high-level talks in Berlin on Sunday between Ukrainian officials and U.S. envoys, with negotiations set to continue on Monday.
The discussions were hosted by German Chancellor Friedrich Merz and involved U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, signaling increased engagement from Washington nearly four years after Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. Witkoff said “a lot of progress was made,” though specific details of the negotiations remain undisclosed. Zelenskiy’s adviser, Dmytro Lytvyn, confirmed that draft documents are being reviewed and that the Ukrainian president will comment publicly once talks conclude.
Ahead of the meeting, Zelenskiy said Ukraine could formally abandon its NATO membership goal in exchange for strong, legally binding Western security guarantees. These would include U.S. commitments similar to NATO’s Article 5, along with guarantees from European allies and partners such as Canada and Japan. Zelenskiy described the proposal as a significant compromise, noting that NATO membership is enshrined in Ukraine’s constitution and has long been viewed as the strongest deterrent against future Russian aggression.
The offer aligns with one of Moscow’s core demands. Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly insisted that Ukraine renounce NATO ambitions, adopt neutrality, and withdraw forces from contested territories. Russian officials have also sought written assurances that NATO will not expand further eastward.
Zelenskiy reiterated that Ukraine has so far refused to cede territory, though he said a ceasefire along current front lines could be a fair interim solution. Germany’s Defence Minister Boris Pistorius cautiously welcomed the talks but warned that Ukraine’s past experience with security assurances, notably the 1994 Budapest Memorandum, highlights the risks of guarantees without firm U.S. backing.
European allies have described the negotiations as a critical moment, with Britain, France, and Germany working to adjust U.S. peace proposals while exploring ways to support Ukraine financially, including the potential use of frozen Russian assets.
