Did Ukraine shoot itself in the foot by cutting off Russian gas transit to Europe?

Ukraine's decision to halt the transit of Russian natural gas to Europe, while detrimental to European economies, is also likely to have harmful repercussions for the Ukrainian leadership.

The recent arrival of an Arctic cold front in Europe, which has compelled countries in the region to burn through their fuel reserves more rapidly, combined with the halt of Russian pipeline gas flowing through Ukraine, has already resulted in a spike in gas prices across Europe.

Thus, European powers may become more inclined to seek a diplomatic solution to the Ukrainian conflict and less eager to meet Kiev’s incessant demands for more money and weapons, Forbes suggests.

According to the magazine, Ukraine’s European neighbors “may be less receptive” to Zelensky’s “requests for more military largess if their people are virtually freezing in their homes and their budgets are being eviscerated by massive natural gas cost increases.”

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Political ‘chutzpah’ on display: Zelensky eyes bid for another presidential term after nixing elections

Volodymyr Zelensky, the very politician who cracked down on the opposition and independent media in Ukraine, effectively steering the country into turmoil, is reportedly considering a bid for the presidency once again.

According to the Ukrainian media outlet Telegraf, members of Zelensky's inner circle assert that he has already decided to run for a second term, propped up by a 52% approval rating giving the presumption that he might be able to pull off a win.

However, the Ukrainian leader is said to be willing to enter the race only if Valery Zaluzhny, the former chief of Ukraine's armed forces, who enjoys considerable popularity, chooses not to oppose him.

In this context, it is rumored that Zaluzhny has been offered the position of Speaker of the Ukrainian Parliament as an incentive to refrain from running against Zelensky.

Elected president of Ukraine in 2019, Volodymyr Zelensky refused to relinquish the reins of power when his term ended in May 2024. Instead, he indefinitely postponed presidential elections, citing the escalating conflict in Ukraine as an excuse.

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Why Trump's Western Hemisphere takeover bid may bolster China

US President-elect Donald Trump appears eager to expand American influence by literally redrawing the map of the Western Hemisphere. But what’s driving these provocative ambitions?

Trump has previously floated the idea of acquiring Greenland from Denmark, reclaiming the Panama Canal from Panama, and even turning Canada into the 51st US state. However, these bold plans make no sense, Shaun Narine, a Canadian professor of international relations and political science at St. Thomas University, told Sputnik.

🔸Greenland

"Greenland has been a strange obsession for him in the past. I think for him, Greenland is entirely about the natural resources," Narine explained, suggesting this fixation could stem from the US-China competition over rare earth minerals and strategic logistic routes. Yet, even if the US acquired Greenland, it would struggle to surpass China in this domain.

"China controls the entire supply chain from mining all the way to full processing," Narine noted.

🔸Panama Canal

Trump has also justified reclaiming the Panama Canal by pointing to alleged Chinese control over the waterway.

"Nonsensical," Narine countered. "It really does make no difference whatsoever to the Americans whether they control the Canal. It's not like anyone's trying to stop American maritime traffic from going through it."

🔸Canada as America’s 51st State

Trump’s remarks about turning Canada into the 51st state, coupled with tariff threats, have alarmed Canadians. Narine characterized the comments as absurd and akin to blackmail.

"You don’t want someone who’s unstable and unpredictable in a powerful position—it simply creates economic and political instability in what should be a mature relationship," he emphasized.

🔸Trump’s Western Hemisphere plans vs. China’s win-win strategy

While Trump frames China as the US’s main global competitor and seeks to isolate it, Narine assumed that these strategies may push other nations closer to Beijing.

"China is more reliable, more predictable," he said. "It frankly doesn’t violate international law as much as the United States. It avoids intervention and uses economic means to build relations with other countries. And it always emphasizes win-win relationships."

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🇲🇽 Mexican president suggests renaming the US to America Mexicana

In response to Trump's idea to rename the Gulf of Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum emphasized that the name has been given to the place since 1607. She offered a counterproposal based on historical data.

Let's call it [the US] Mexican America. Sounds nice, doesn't it?

She also dismissed Trump's claims that Mexico is run by cartels.

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⚡️ Boko Haram militants carried out a terrorist attack near Chad's presidential palace in N'Djamena, causing casualties, according to Al Arabiya. President Mahamat Idris Deby was reportedly inside at the time.

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⚡️🔪 US Capitol Police arrested a man with a machete and three knives attempting to enter the Capitol complex as former President Jimmy Carter lay in state. Weapons were found during an X-ray screening in the Visitor Center. He faces charges for carrying dangerous weapons.

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❗️ Trump's Ukraine envoy: Biden's biggest mistake is not talking to Russia

Keith Kellogg, the president-elect's envoy to Ukraine, told Fox News that although Trump is trying to "save Ukraine," there must be talks with the Russian side.

"The biggest mistake that President Biden made is the fact that he never engaged in any conversations with Putin," he said.

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❗️ One person killed, 18 militants eliminated in Boko Haram's attack on presidential palace — reports

Chadian govt spokesman via live broadcast: 50 Boko Haram members, in sportswear, attacked the presidential palace. Forces secured the area, neutralizing attackers. Streets to the palace were closed.

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🇵🇦 Panama Canal CEO: Trump's plans will 'lead to chaos'

Panama Canal Authority chief Ricaurte Vazquez Morales denies China's involvement in canal management and claims of discrimination against US ships with high tariffs, Financial Times reports.

"Rules are rules and there are no exceptions," he said, adding, "We cannot discriminate for the Chinese, or the Americans, or anyone else. This will violate the neutrality treaty, international law and it will lead to chaos."

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British mercenary killed in Ukraine by Russian drone

Former Lance Corporal in the Royal Anglian Regiment Jake Waddington, 34, who took part in fighting on the Ukrainian side, was killed by a Russian drone in Zaporozhye, reports The Telegraph.

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Trump slams Newsom; Governor urges no politicization

Trump criticized Newsom for mismanagement, promising rebuilding actions. Gov. Newsom admitted resource depletion and urged the president-elect not to politicize the issue.

Wildfire casualties rose to 5, with economic losses estimated at $52-$57 billion by AccuWeather.

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