Belarus Frees Opposition Leaders Maria Kalesnikava and Viktar Babaryka in U.S.-Brokered Deal 
Tunisia Protests Grow as Opposition Unites Against President Kais Saied’s Rule 
Supporters Gather Ahead of Verdict in Jimmy Lai’s Landmark Hong Kong National Security Trial 
International Outcry Grows Over Re-Arrest of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi in Iran 
Thousands Protest in Brazil Against Efforts to Reduce Jair Bolsonaro’s Prison Sentence 
Russian Drone Attack Hits Turkish Cargo Ship Carrying Sunflower Oil to Egypt, Ukraine Says 
Bolivia Orders Pre-Trial Detention of Former President Luis Arce Over Embezzlement Probe 
Trump Signals Two Final Candidates for Fed Chair, Calls for Presidential Input on Interest Rates 
Belarus Frees 123 Political Prisoners in U.S.-Brokered Deal Over Sanctions 
Thailand Vows Continued Military Action Amid Cambodia Border Clash Despite Trump Ceasefire Claim 
U.S. Lifts Sanctions on Brazilian Supreme Court Justice Amid Shift in Brazil Relations 
Special Prosecutor Alleges Yoon Suk Yeol Sought North Korea Provocation to Justify Martial Law 
Colombia’s Clan del Golfo Peace Talks Signal Mandatory Prison Sentences for Top Leaders 
Ukraine’s NATO Concession Unlikely to Shift Peace Talks, Experts Say 
Global Leaders Condemn Deadly Antisemitic Shooting at Sydney’s Bondi Beach During Hanukkah 
California, 18 States Sue to Block Trump’s $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee 
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.
