The United States is expected to host a meeting with Ukraine and EU leaders early in 2026. A coalition of Ukraine's allies will gather in Paris. But with no sign of the fighting slowing down, is peace anywhere near?

Kyiv

Talks led by the United States to end the conflict between Ukraine and Russia have extended into 2026, following nearly four years of war. Recent meetings, including one between Presidents Zelensky and Trump, have produced a 20-point peace plan with significant agreement, but major obstacles remain. 

Key challenges include internal political pressures in Ukraine, international demands for elections, and disagreements over territorial concessions. While the U.S. and Europe continue to support Ukraine, Russia's refusal to allow a ceasefire for elections and its insistence on veto power over security guarantees have hindered progress toward a comprehensive peace agreement.

U.S.-led talks on Russia's war in Ukraine continue into 2026

It's been a whirlwind year for Ukraine. Meeting after meeting to try to negotiate an end to nearly four years of war with Russia. At the most recent and longest meeting between Zelensky and Trump at Mar-a-Lago, both presidents struck an optimistic note. Our meeting was excellent and I do think we're getting a lot closer, maybe very close. We have great achievements, 20 point peace plan, 90 percent agreed. But has all of this created enough momentum to end the war in 2026? Let's look at three factors that really matter here. Domestic politics, international pressure, and the peace terms themselves. Let's start with politics here in Ukraine. As Zelensky heads Ukraine's peace efforts abroad, his government at home has been rocked by corruption scandals and accusations of illegitimacy by Russian President Vladimir Putin and even Donald Trump. The U.S. president has repeatedly called for elections in Ukraine. What is disturbing is to see that this demand for elections that Trump is voicing comes right from Putin's narrative. While martial law prohibits elections in Ukraine, President Zelensky recently said the parliament will look into preparing for elections the moment there's a ceasefire, even though the demand is likely not about democracy in Ukraine. Who will benefit if we have, you know, the fighting during elections? Who will benefit? Guys, it's clear. Don't forget that the real aim of Putin was to put here puppet regime in Kiev, to change the government in Kiev. Russians want to basically move the front line from Donbass to all over Ukraine to make sure there's an internal clash and Ukraine cannot build consensus. Russia has refused a ceasefire to allow elections or a referendum on the peace plan. Demanding elections and concessions from Kiev while denying it the ability to hold them ensures the war drags on well into 2026. Next, let's look at international pressure. Through 2025, Trump has kept up pressure on Ukraine to make concessions in order to end the war. I suspect that Trump will keep pressure on Ukraine because he fundamentally believes Russia is stronger. But even this might not last. Experts worry that the US could stop playing negotiator next year. There is risk of that, that America will turn away and blame similarly to like Russia does Europe and Ukraine for not being constructive. Experts say Washington's lack of pressure on Russia has also prolonged the war and is likely to continue to do so in 2026. This is a huge gift to Russians and they exploit it. They exploit it. So they encourage to continue instead of putting more pressure on Putin to stop the war, really to stop the war and make and actually make Putin agree to concessions. Trump is stimulating his further aggression. Despite their efforts, the Europeans have failed to produce peace. In 2026, they will continue to pay for Ukraine's weapons and hope the war doesn't spread to their territory. But they lost a lot of time. They didn't rebuild, restructured their war industry. They didn't restructure the army. So basically, when Putin is saying drones, is sending drones to Europe, you know, they don't know what to do. And lastly, let's look at the terms of the peace deal. Most crucially, territorial concessions. Ukraine currently still controls about 25% of the Donetsk region. And Russia wants it to permanently withdraw its troops from there. It's part of the Washington proposed peace deal. And according to polls, unacceptable to most Ukrainians. If we are talking about, okay, let's ceasefire, let's have ceasefire along the front line. This is actually huge and dramatic compromise from Ukrainian side. Because we understand that de facto, the occupied territories will remain under Russian control. And we know what will happen with Ukrainians in this territory. Everything Ukrainian would be crushed. There are fears too, that giving up Ukrainian territory won't placate Russia. If Ukrainians are retreating from those positions, Russians will occupy them and use it as a jumpstart, a new invasion. It's why Kiev and the Europeans have been pushing hard for security guarantees as part of any peace deal. Meaning the US and Europe would defend Ukraine if it came under attack by Russia again. But Russia wants to retain a veto on any guarantees, which would render them moot. All in all, an end to the war doesn't seem within close reach as we head into 2026. The main obstacle to peace remains Russia. I am predicting that in a way Russia is not willing to demilitarize and to change its aggressive posture vis-a-vis Europe especially. Basically, Putin at this point, he doesn't have enough incentives. Experts believe the only way Russia would agree to end the war quickly would be Ukraine's capitulation. But that end, they say, will not equate to a real peace. For more UN videos visit www.un.org

Russia's defense ministry released video footage on Wednesday (December 31) of what it said was a downed drone at a briefing intended to show Ukraine tried this week to attack a presidential residence and challenge Kyiv's denials that such an attack took place.

Moscow

Russia releases video footage to challenge Kyiv over alleged attack

Severe humanitarian needs in Gaza are worsening as dozens of aid groups are forced to halt operations under new Israeli restrictions.
Up to 48 organizations have stopped work, leaving fewer clinics, food distributions and shelters for civilians.

Jerusalem

Middle East Conflict

Israel to block dozens of aid groups working in war-battered Gaza

The world has begun saying goodbye to 2025, with South Pacific nations first to welcome 2026.

Council of the City of Sydney

Fireworks light up the globe as nations ring in 2026

CNN, citing sources, reported that the CIA had carried out a drone strike earlier this month on a port facility on the coast of Venezuela. U.S. President Donald Trump said the U.S. struck a facility where boats accused of carrying drugs "load up."

Caracas

Trump says U.S. strike hit dock in Venezuela

President Trump says the U.S. "knocked out" a "big facility" last week linked to alleged drug boat operations. Unlike previous operations at sea, this strike occurred on Venezuelan territory, though the president did not disclose specific details about the timing, location, or the party responsible for the attack.

Washington

Trump says U.S. launched strike on boat dock inside Venezuela

Tatiana Schlossberg, the granddaughter of President John F. Kennedy and an environmental journalist, has died at the age of 35 following a battle with cancer, the JFK Library Foundation announced Tuesday.

New York

Tatiana Schlossberg, JFK's granddaughter, dies at 35

The United Arab Emirates says it's withdrawing its remaining forces from Yemen. The move comes after Saudi Arabia bombed a port in Yemen, saying it targeted an arms shipment intended for a UAE-backed separatist force.

Al Mukalla

Saudi Arabia bombs port in Yemen

In an overnight strike, the Saudi military hit a Yemeni port saying they were neutralising a weapons shipments arriving from UAE. The UAE has denied the shipment contained weapons and claimed the vehicles were not intended for any groups. Both countries have supported the fighting sides in the over-decade long war in Yemen, but this strike has turned this rivalry into an open dispute.

The UAE denies shipping weapons to Yemen after overnight Saudi strike

The Kremlin said Tuesday it would toughen its negotiating position in talks on ending the war in Ukraine after accusing Kyiv of attacking a Russian presidential residence — an allegation that Kyiv said was baseless and intended to prolong the conflict.

Russia will toughen negotiating stance on war in Ukraine

China fired rockets into waters off northern and southern Taiwan on Tuesday (December 30) and deployed new amphibious assault ships alongside bomber aircraft and destroyers on the second day of its most extensive war games.

Taipei City

China fires rockets towards Taiwan in war games simulating blockade

President Donald Trump on Monday confirmed an alleged drug-related site was targeted during a recent strike, saying, "they load the boats up with drugs, so we hit all the boats and now we hit the area." Trump did not say when the strike happened or exactly where.

U.S. strike hits Venezuelan port facility

The search for Malaysia Airlines flight 370 that went missing in 2014 with 239 people on board is expected to resume Tuesday (December 30). The Malaysian government and a private marine robotics company say they will use advances in technology to aid in the search.

Kuala Lumpur

Search resumes for Malaysia Airlines flight that disappeared in 2014

The two countries have agreed to hold fire, freeze troop movements and allow civilians to return home under a new agreement.

Krong Poi Pet

Thailand-Cambodia ceasefire holds as 72-hour observation period ends

Head of Yemen's presidential council, which is supported by Saudi Arabia, says UAE-backed forces in the country should leave within 24 hours.

Yemen’s presidential council cancels UAE defence deal

U.S. President Donald Trump said the United States could support another major strike on Iran were it to resume rebuilding its ballistic missile or nuclear weapons programs and warned Hamas of severe consequences if it does not disarm.

Florida

Trump warns Iran of possible strike, urges Hamas to disarm

U.S. hit an area in Venezuela where boats are loaded with drugs, Trump says, as Pentagon carries out another deadly strike in the Pacific. This claim follows a series of U.S. strikes on boats in the Eastern Pacific, raising the total number of known strikes to 31 and resulting in over 100 deaths.

Trump claims attack on a dock in Venezuela, strikes kill two in Pacific

The Taiwanese government says it has placed its forces on alert as China intensifies its military presence in the Indo-Pacific Ocean and launches air, navy and rocket drills around the island.

Taiwan's forces on alert as China launches military drills

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is denying Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov’s claim that Ukraine tried to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia.

Ukraine Invasion

Zelenskyy denies Russian claim that Ukraine targeted Putin’s residence

President Trump said after a meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Hamas must disarm soon or "there will be hell to pay." He said the next phase of the Gaza peace plan could move forward quickly if Hamas disarms.

Trump warns "hell to pay" if Hamas doesn't disarm

CBC’s Kris Reyes highlights the biggest AI advancements in 2025 along with the continued calls to establish clear boundaries in an effort to prevent misuse.

DeepSeek and the biggest AI advancements in 2025

Russia accused Ukraine on Monday (December 29) of trying to attack President Vladimir Putin's residence in northern Russia, although it provided no evidence to back up an assertion that Kyiv dismissed as baseless and designed to undermine peace negotiations.

Russia claims Ukraine tried to attack Putin residence

Two helicopters collided above Hammonton, New Jersey, and one person has died, officials say. CBS News' Elaine Quijano reports.

Hammonton

Helicopters collide in New Jersey

U.S. President Donald Trump is meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Florida on Monday (December 29) as questions linger about the future of the U.S.-backed ceasefire in Gaza.

Palm Beach

Trump and Netanyahu meet in Florida to discuss Gaza ceasefire

British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua was involved in a road accident on Monday in Makun, Ogun State, south-west Nigeria.

Makun

British boxer Anthony Joshua survives car crash that killed two others

In a new show of force, China has mobilized its navy, air force, and ground troops to simulate a blockade of the self-ruled island's key ports. The military drill comes on the heels of an $11bn US arms sale to Taipei.

China stages new military exercises around Taiwan

U.S. President Donald Trump said he believes both Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir Putin truly want peace as he and Zelenskyy met in Florida. Some experts say Trump is 'delusional' if he truly thinks Putin wants peace.

Trump-Zelenskyy meeting ends with optimism but no deal

Although the U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine have been "100% agreed," they have a short expiration date, the Ukrainian president explained after revealing more details following his meeting with Trump on Sunday.

U.S. security guarantees for Ukraine set for 15 years, Zelenskyy says

China's military moved army, naval, air force and artillery units around Taiwan on December 29 for its "Justice Mission 2025" drills, as the island vowed to defend democracy and mobilized troops to rehearse repelling a potential Chinese attack.

China launches 'Justice Mission 2025' war games around Taiwan

President Trump spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin by phone before meeting with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Florida on Sunday. Trump said he thinks both men are ready for peace.

Trump meets with Zelenskyy, insists Putin is ready for peace

Far-right politics have pushed further into the mainstream across much of Europe. Populist parties, even in opposition, are shaping national debates on migration and the economy. The trend reflects growing voter frustration over living costs, borders and political trust.

Breakdown