President Trump hosted Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at his Mar-a-Lago residence in Palm Beach, Florida, on Sunday to discuss a plan to end the war with Russia. The big development is that the United States offered a security guarantee of up to 15 years at the end of the war.. Trump told reporters: “I believe we have the elements of a deal that is good for Ukraine, good for everyone,” and added: “And I’m also calling Putin back after the meeting.” Trump praised the 20-point plan, saying there was “a great economic benefit” for Ukraine. President Trump also said that Zelensky and Putin were ready to end the war. Obviously, If Ukraine and Russia agree to a ceasefire, the stock market should see a recovery as some uncertainty is lifted.
Russia has extended its ban on gasoline exports until February to save fuel for domestic supplies. The ban also covers diesel, marine fuel and other refined products that have been disrupted by the fighting with Ukraine. If Russia is incentivized to end fighting with Ukraine, its domestic energy infrastructure will likely be significant.. Ultimately both sides lose in wars, so let’s hope this becomes more and more obvious to Russia and Ukraine.
Europe remains furious at having been largely excluded from peace negotiationseven though Trump and Zelensky called European leaders after their meeting at Mar-a-Lago. Further adding to tensions, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio banned five European Union (EU) officials from traveling to the United States over their censorship efforts. For example, Thierry Breton, the former European commissioner in charge of digital policy, was banned. Breton was one of the architects of the famous Digital Service Act which infuriated many technology companies. Rubio and the Trump administration are working to end censorship, particularly when it comes to American technology companies.
There is no doubt that the Trump administration is working to somewhat separate itself from the EU.since the shared Western values that once made the United States…
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