Zelensky:

We are ready to work in any other meaningful formats that can yield results.

But the main thing to stop the bloodshed and achieve lasting peace is that we work in coordination together with all partners and that American leadership remains effective, strong, and brings peace that will last long and provide security to the people.

Trump:

Tremendous atrocities are taking place in Sudan. It has become the most violent place on Earth and, likewise, the single biggest Humanitarian Crisis. Food, doctors, and everything else are desperately needed.

Arab Leaders from all over the World, in particular the highly respected Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, who has just left the United States, have asked me to use the power and influence of the Presidency to bring an immediate halt to what is taking place in Sudan.

It is considered a Great Civilization and Culture, unfortunately gone bad, but one that can be fixed with the cooperation and coordination of Countries, including those in the Region of tremendous Wealth, who want this to happen.

We will work with Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, and other Middle Eastern partners to get these atrocities to end, while at the same time stabilizing Sudan.

A Ukrainian FPV drone pauses over a Russian soldier stuck in barbed wire.

He flips it off twice—so the drone advances.

U.S. Special Envoy for Ukraine Keith Kellogg plans to leave his post in January after his 360-day term ends.

Source: Reuters

NEW: Colombia says it would support a plan for Venezuela’s Maduro to step down and hand power to a transitional government that would organize new elections.

Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio said Maduro might agree if he’s guaranteed he won’t face prison.

The U.S. Justice Department will release its Jeffrey Epstein investigation files within 30 days, Attorney General Pam Bondi announced.

Q: Ahmed al-Sharaa came in, and Trump sprayed perfume all over him. Did he smell?

Karoline Leavitt: No. That happens all the time. Trump is just showing off.

A longtime FBI employee, David Maltinsky, is suing the FBI, Director Kash Patel, the DOJ, and Attorney General Pam Bondi, claiming he was fired for displaying a Pride flag at his former workstation.

He argues his dismissal—issued while he was training to become a special agent—violated his First Amendment and equal-protection rights.

Niger: EIGS militants stormed the Garbougna gendarmerie post on the Terra–Niamey axis, killing 17 soldiers in a coordinated assault.

Sudan: Army and joint forces hit UAE-backed RSF hard west of El-Obeid, inflicting heavy losses around Jebel Abu Sunun, El-Tine, El-Numeyr, Abu Qud and Abu Haraz.

Trump signed a bill forcing the DOJ to release its Jeffrey Epstein investigation files within 30 days.

President Trump and NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani will meet at the White House on Friday.

Trump has approved a 28-point peace plan aimed at ending the war between Russia and Ukraine.

The proposal was developed by top administration figures — including Steve Witkoff, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Jared Kushner — in discussions with Russian envoy Kirill Dmitriev, though Ukraine was not involved in shaping it.

U.S. officials say the plan focuses on security guarantees for both sides, but details remain undisclosed and still negotiable.

Source: NBC News

The U.S. has approved a $93 million sale to India of Javelin anti-tank missile systems and Excalibur guided artillery shells.

The deal includes up to 100 Javelin units and 216 Excalibur projectiles.

Source: Reuters

Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam says Lebanon is ready to negotiate with Israel and will seek US help to push Israel into talks.

Source: Bloomberg

Marco Rubio:

Ending a complex and deadly war such as the one in Ukraine requires an extensive exchange of serious and realistic ideas.

And achieving a durable peace will require both sides to agree to difficult but necessary concessions.

That is why we are and will continue to develop a list of potential ideas for ending this war based on input from both sides of this conflict.

Japan is preparing a ¥21.3 trillion ($135B) stimulus—the biggest since the pandemic—to ease the impact of persistent inflation.

The plan includes tax cuts, child payments, and gasoline tax reductions, plus major funding for price relief, consumption boosts, and economic security sectors.

Source: Reuters

Trump on Jimmy Kimmel:

Get the bum off the air!!!

Sudan: The Sovereignty Council said it is ready to work with the U.S. and Saudi Arabia to advance peace efforts in the country.