Putin:

The United States is not discussing a peace plan for Ukraine directly with Russia because Kyiv is against it.

Putin:

Moscow has a copy of Trump’s settlement plan.

Putin:

Russia is ready for negotiations, but it is satisfied with a repeat of the fall of Kupyansk in other sectors of the front.

Putin:

We are ready for peaceful negotiations, but this requires a substantive discussion of all the details of the proposed plan.

Starmer stumbles in South Africa.

Trump’s team, via envoy Steve Witkoff, floated a plan to use Europe’s frozen Russian assets for a U.S.-led Ukraine reconstruction scheme — with America taking 50% of the profits.

European diplomats are furious, warning the proposal could blow up delicate EU talks to use the €140B in frozen Russian assets to fund a loan for Ukraine.

Officials called the plan “scandalous,” “classic Trump,” and even said “Witkoff needs a psychiatrist.”

Source: POLITICO

NEW: The FAA issued a new warning for all flights near or into Venezuela, citing worsening security conditions, increased Venezuelan military activity, and rising GPS (GNSS) interference that has already affected some aircraft.

Trump on Zohran Mamdani:

I think you will have a really great Mayor.

The better he does, happier I am.

We will be helping him.

Trump on Zohran Mamdani:

I think he's gonna surprise some conservative people.

Reporter to Mamdani: Are you affirming that you think President Trump is a fascist?

Trump: That's okay. You can just say yes. I don't mind.

Trump on Zelensky:

He'll have to like the deal.

And if he doesn't like, they should just keep fighting.

Reporter: The suggestion you made was that if Zelensky doesn't accept the deal, the US will pull back its support for Ukraine.

Trump: At some point he's gonna have to accept something. You remember right in the Oval Office I said, "You don't have the cards."

Reporter: Would you feel comfortable living in New York City under a Mamdani administration?

Trump: Yeah, I would.

Trump on Zohran Mamdani:

I expect to be helping him, not hurting him.

Reporter: Elise Stefanik has campaigned on calling Mamdani a jihadist. Do you think you’re standing next to a jihadist?

Trump: No...

Trump on Truth Social:

It was a Great Honor meeting Zohran Mamdani, the new Mayor of New York City!

Meanwhile, in Venezuela, Maduro is having the time of his life.

Trump:

I am, as President of the United States, hereby terminating, effective immediately, the Temporary Protected Status (TPS Program) for Somalis in Minnesota.

Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene announced she will resign from Congress on Jan. 5.

Pardoned January 6 rioter Jake Lang led an anti-Muslim hate march in Dearborn, Michigan, where he taunted locals with racist stunts and threatened to burn the Quran.

A counterprotester slipped into the crowd and punched him in the face.

JD Vance comments on the Ukraine-Russia war.