In partnership with

🇺🇦 Ukraine - 🇺🇸 United States - 🇷🇺 Russia • Europeans united behind Zelensky in the face of a US-Russian peace plan for Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has warned that his country faces a difficult choice after the presentation of a peace plan drawn up by the United States and Russia without consulting Kiev. The 28-point proposal, revealed by the White House and drafted without Ukraine's input, would require the cession of occupied territories to Russia, a massive reduction in the Ukrainian army, and the abandonment of NATO membership. In return, Russia could be reintegrated into the global economy if it agreed to comply with the terms of the agreement.

In an address to the nation a few hours ago, Zelensky emphasized the gravity of the moment, calling the situation one of the most difficult in Ukrainian history. He insisted on the need to maintain national dignity while striving to preserve the alliance with the United States, without giving Russia a pretext to accuse Kiev of refusing peace. The American proposal, still in the negotiation phase, leaves Europeans largely out of the discussions, causing concern in Berlin, Paris, and London.

During a joint meeting with Zelensky, European leaders reaffirmed their full support for Ukraine, reiterating that any decision affecting their interests or those of NATO must be made with their agreement. They insist that Ukraine's defense capabilities remain intact and that the country's sovereignty is not threatened by a forced compromise.

In the background, Russian military pressure is intensifying as winter approaches, exacerbating the energy crisis in Ukraine, against a backdrop of corruption scandals and growing human losses.

In Moscow, the Kremlin is urging Kiev to begin negotiations or face further territorial losses. Reuters has also reported that the Americans are threatening to cut off intelligence and weapons supplies to Kiev if peace negotiations do not progress. The New York Times

AD

Master ChatGPT for Work Success

ChatGPT is revolutionizing how we work, but most people barely scratch the surface. Subscribe to Mindstream for free and unlock 5 essential resources including templates, workflows, and expert strategies for 2025. Whether you're writing emails, analyzing data, or streamlining tasks, this bundle shows you exactly how to save hours every week.

IN SHORT
🇨🇩 Democratic Republic of Congo • In North Kivu province, at least 89 civilians, including at least 20 women and several children, were killed between November 13 and 19 in attacks carried out by rebels affiliated with the Islamic State, identified as members of the Allied Democratic Forces (ADF).

🇳🇪 Niger • An attack on a gendarmerie position in Tera, in the west of the country, killed around 20 gendarmes and wounded around 30 others this week. Among the victims was the captain who led the unit. The attack was claimed by the al-Qaeda-affiliated group Jnim.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇵🇸 Palestine • Two Palestinian teenagers, aged 16 and 18, died after being shot during a night raid by Israeli forces in Kfar Aqab, near Ramallah, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. According to Israeli police, the forces were responding to an immediate threat during an operation targeting “hostile elements.” Clashes, heavy gunfire, and attacks by settlers on Palestinian communities were also reported.

🇮🇱 Israel - 🇵🇸 Palestine • Since the October 10 “ceasefire,” at least 67 children have been killed by Israel and dozens more wounded in the Gaza Strip, according to UNICEF. That represents an average of two Palestinian children killed every day in just over a month.

🇿🇦 South Africa - 🇺🇸 United States • In Johannesburg, the G20 summit, which is focused on multilateralism, will allow South Africa to defend the continent's voice by highlighting energy transition and debt relief. Pretoria intends to act as Africa's mouthpiece in Washington, whose absence is notable after a diplomatic standoff. President Ramaphosa also hopes to turn this international meeting into a political success for his party, with a series of agreements already signed with the European Union and France.

🇪🇺 European Union - 🇸🇰 Slovakia • The European Commission is launching infringement proceedings against Slovakia following the adoption in September of constitutional amendments placing national law above European law and restricting the rights of same-sex couples. Bratislava has two months to respond, but Prime Minister Robert Fico has ruled out any changes. Hungary is also subject to similar proceedings, and Poland had already challenged the primacy of European law in 2021.

🇭🇺 Hungary • Viktor Orban has spoken of the need for an “American financial shield” to protect Hungary in the event of a speculative attack, surprising investors as the country's economy is performing strongly and there is no imminent crisis on the horizon. The move is seen as a political strategy ahead of the April 2026 elections, where Orban is trailing in the polls. The Hungarian currency, the forint, has risen sharply this year before suffering a brief fall following the surprise resignation of a central bank official.

🇯🇵 Japan • The governor of Niigata Prefecture has given his approval for the partial restart of the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear power plant, the largest in the world. This green light removes the main obstacle to the restart of the two largest reactors. The restart aims to strengthen energy security and reduce dependence on energy imports.

Eurovision - 🇮🇱 Israel • The European Broadcasting Union has announced new rules for Eurovision, including the return of professional juries in the semi-finals and a limit of 10 votes per person for the public, in order to strengthen neutrality and counter the politicization of the contest. These adjustments respond to threats of boycott by several countries if Israel remains in the competition, and the final list of participants will be known before the end of the year, while the decision on a possible exclusion of Israel will be made in early December.

🇬🇧 United Kingdom - 🇷🇺 Russia • Former far-right British MEP (Reform UK) Nathan Gill has been sentenced to 10 and a half years in prison in London for accepting bribes as part of a pro-Russian influence campaign in the European Parliament. Admitting to eight counts of corruption between 2018 and 2019, he defended Russian interests in exchange for payment, notably by relaying messages written by Kremlin insiders.