As President-elect Donald Trump prepared for his second inauguration, European legacy media outlets painted a picture of foreboding and alarm. While many European politicians have opted for a more diplomatic approach, understanding the need to engage with the incoming U.S. president, the continent’s newspapers did not hold back in their coverage. From comparisons to autocratic leaders to predictions of a “vengeful” second term, the tone was overwhelmingly negative across much of Europe.
Incoming officials in President-elect Donald Trump’s administration are reportedly crafting a sanctions strategy aimed at expediting a resolution to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. According to Bloomberg, the plan includes options to pressure Moscow while managing global oil market stability amid existing sanctions on major producers like Russia, Iran, and Venezuela.
As President-elect Donald Trump prepares to assume office with intentions to end the Russia-Ukraine conflict, Biden administration officials caution against actions that could strengthen Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dismissed any notion of forgiving Russian President Vladimir Putin during a podcast interview with Lex Fridman, citing atrocities committed during Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Zelenskyy labeled Putin a child murderer and rejected the possibility of a peace deal involving forgiveness.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky commended President-elect Donald Trump’s strength and unpredictability, suggesting they could be pivotal in ending the ongoing Russian invasion of Ukraine. Zelensky made the remarks during a televised interview on Thursday, where he discussed the potential impact of Trump’s second presidency on the conflict.
Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev accused Russia of shooting down Azerbaijan Airlines Flight J2-8243, which crash-landed in Aktau, Kazakhstan, on Christmas Day. The incident claimed the lives of 38 passengers and crew out of the 67 onboard. Aliyev alleged that evidence points to Russian surface-to-air missiles as the cause, though he clarified there is no indication the attack was intentional.
Ahmad al-Sharaa, leader of the rebel group Hayat Tahrir Al-Sham, stated that producing a new constitution and holding elections in Syria could take several years. In an interview with Saudi Arabian outlet Al Arabiya on Sunday, al-Sharaa explained that drafting a new constitution or amending the current one would require significant time and expertise, possibly taking two to three years or longer.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky confirmed on Friday that several North Korean soldiers captured by Ukrainian forces in the Kursk region died from injuries sustained on the battlefield. Zelensky addressed the issue at a press conference, explaining that while Ukrainian forces successfully captured the soldiers of the Korean People's Army (KPA), they were severely wounded and could not be resuscitated.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday promised to ask former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad for help in locating missing American veteran and journalist Austin Tice.
