US Pushes Ukraine-Russia Peace Talks Before Summer Amid Escalating Attacks 
New York Legalizes Medical Aid in Dying for Terminally Ill Patients 
Bosnian Serb Presidential Rerun Confirms Victory for Dodik Ally Amid Allegations of Irregularities 
Trump Lifts 25% Tariff on Indian Goods in Strategic U.S.–India Trade and Energy Deal 
U.S. Lawmakers to Review Unredacted Jeffrey Epstein DOJ Files Starting Monday 
Trump Slams Super Bowl Halftime Show Featuring Bad Bunny 
Japan Election 2026: Sanae Takaichi Poised for Landslide Win Despite Record Snowfall 
Taiwan Says Moving 40% of Semiconductor Production to the U.S. Is Impossible 
China Warns US Arms Sales to Taiwan Could Disrupt Trump’s Planned Visit 
Trump Says “Very Good Talks” Underway on Russia-Ukraine War as Peace Efforts Continue 
India–U.S. Interim Trade Pact Cuts Auto Tariffs but Leaves Tesla Out 
Ohio Man Indicted for Alleged Threat Against Vice President JD Vance, Faces Additional Federal Charges 
Anutin’s Bhumjaithai Party Wins Thai Election, Signals Shift Toward Political Stability 
Nicaragua Ends Visa-Free Entry for Cubans, Disrupting Key Migration Route to the U.S. 
Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi Secures Historic Election Win, Shaking Markets and Regional Politics 
China Overturns Death Sentence of Canadian Robert Schellenberg, Signaling Thaw in Canada-China Relations 
The recent buildup of Russian soldiers at the border it shares with Ukraine has led to fears of a possible invasion in the region. Top commanders have recently planned out a strategy to pull out British troops from Ukraine should Moscow decide to carry out an invasion.
The plan to draft an exit by the commanders follows comments by UK defense secretary Ben Wallace saying that it is “highly unlikely” that UK’s military forces will be fighting Russian troops in Ukraine. Army leaders are to conduct a review of Operation Orbital to make sure all UK personnel are safely evacuated should Moscow deploy more troops in the region.
People familiar with the matter revealed that most of the British troops are stationed at Yavoriv and this will drive to the Polish border. A small team of officers in Kyiv will also travel to the border, and a maritime training group in Odesa is currently in the UK for the Christmas season. Chief of Joint Operations Lt General Charlie Strickland will be the one deciding if evacuation is to be done.
British forces have been providing some training to the Ukrainian army as part of the international response to support Ukraine following the conflict in 2014 where Russia occupied Crimea. This led to Russian-backed states in the eastern part of Ukraine, such as the Luhansk People’s Republic.
The US has provided security assistance to Ukraine since 2015 and has continued to provide support to this day. The US under President Joe Biden has also considered imposing harsh sanctions on Russia should Moscow decide to invade.
Despite the planning of security talks between the US and Russia in January, Biden and Russian President Vladimir Putin will also be speaking this week. Both leaders are set to discuss the upcoming negotiations in January as well as the situation in Europe.
National Security Council spokesperson Emily Horne said that the US will continue to engage diplomatically with its European allies and partners to come to a coordinated approach to Russian military presence at the border it shares with Ukraine. The European Union diplomats were angered by the sudden January talks between the US and Russia, despite Washington assuring that they will be invited to the discussions.
