Wednesday briefing: ​​Does the new ​U​S plan put ​Ukraine and ​Russia on the path to peace​?

The European Commission is advancing a plan to utilize frozen Russian assets to support Ukraine amid ongoing conflict, as President Ursula von der Leyen addresses the media following a commission meeting. This initiative aims to provide financial assistance to Ukraine's efforts against Russia, despite the Kremlin's assertion that President Putin did not reject a U.S. peace plan but found certain aspects unacceptable.

Moscow is demanding that Kyiv accept its annexation of occupied territories as a condition for peace, following unproductive talks between Russian and U.S. envoys. The areas in question include strategic locations such as Sevastopol and Donetsk, highlighting the ongoing territorial disputes central to the conflict.

US private payrolls unexpectedly declined by 32,000 jobs in November, following an upwardly revised increase of 47,000 jobs in October, according to the ADP employment report. This decline contrasts with economists' expectations of a 10,000 job increase for November, highlighting a potential slowdown in the job market.

A Russian court has sentenced US citizen Robert Gilman to an additional two years in prison, following his initial incarceration in 2022 for a drunken assault on a police officer. This development was reported by state media on Wednesday.

Francis Fukuyama, a prominent political scientist and author of 'The End of History and The Last Man', expressed his disappointment regarding the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President, labeling it as the most surprising and disappointing event in decades. Fukuyama criticized Trump for exhibiting authoritarian tendencies and for attempting to negotiate a controversial deal with Russia concerning Ukraine.

Colombia's President Gustavo Petro has issued a warning to U.S. President Donald Trump, cautioning against military threats aimed at Colombia in response to drug trafficking. This statement follows Trump's suggestion that military strikes could target countries producing narcotics, specifically mentioning Colombia and Venezuela during a cabinet meeting.

US President Donald Trump made controversial remarks during a cabinet meeting, stating he does not want Somali immigrants in the country. This statement coincided with reports of federal raids targeting the Somali community in Minneapolis, raising concerns about the potential wrongful detention of US-born citizens.

Venezuelan expert Christopher Sabatini stated that President Nicolas Maduro's primary concern is his survival amid escalating pressure from the United States, particularly from President Donald Trump, who has intensified threats and offered safe passage for Maduro to leave the country. This situation reflects the ongoing turmoil in Venezuela as the government faces increasing external and internal challenges.