Zelenskyy meets with Erdogan, will see top U.S. military officials as push for peace intensifies

The U.N. General Assembly has called on all nations to respect the Olympic truce during the upcoming 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, following three violations by Russia. The appeal emphasizes the importance of maintaining peace and allowing athletes from all countries to participate without hindrance.

The U.K. has confirmed that it is monitoring the Russian spy ship Yantar, which is operating near British waters. The defense secretary has issued a warning to President Putin, indicating the U.K.'s readiness to respond to any potential threats in the region.

Saudi Arabia is releasing U.S. citizen Saad Almadi, who was jailed for five months due to social media posts critical of the royal family. His release follows a bilateral meeting between President Trump and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Washington, D.C. Almadi, 75, immigrated to the U.S. in 1976 and was arrested during a family visit in 2021.

Army Secretary Dan Driscoll arrived in Kyiv on a fact-finding mission as the U.S. pushes for new peace talks to end the Russia-Ukraine war. Driscoll is scheduled to meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during his visit.

President Trump emphasized the significance of the U.S.-Saudi Arabia partnership, describing it as one of the most consequential globally. He highlighted a $1 trillion investment in American projects, positioning himself as a notably Saudi-friendly president in recent history.

President Trump has proposed a plan to enhance semiconductor chip manufacturing in the United States, which includes the employment of foreign workers. These workers would be utilized primarily to train American workers for high-tech jobs in the industry.

President Trump's agreement to sell F-35 advanced fighter jets to Saudi Arabia could significantly shift the military balance in the Middle East. This deal raises concerns among Israeli and U.S. officials regarding the potential erosion of Israel's Qualitative Military Edge (QME) in the region.

Ukraine's military has launched four U.S.-made ATACMS missiles at the southern Russian city of Voronezh, according to the Kremlin. This action has drawn accusations from Russia that Ukraine is targeting civilian areas with the missiles, which were provided to Kyiv by the Biden administration in 2023 under specific usage restrictions.