Top U.S. and Ukrainian officials say they made progress toward ending the Russia-Ukraine war during talks in Geneva. But there have been scant details after discussions of an American proposal to achieve peace that has sparked concerns among many of Washington’s European allies that the plan is too conciliatory to Moscow.
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Head of the Office of the President of Ukraine Andriy Yermak and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, right, talk to the press as their consultations continue at the U.S. Mission to International Organizations in Geneva, Switzerland, Sunday, Nov. 23, 2025. (Martial Trezzini/Keystone via AP) |
Progress but no specifics on ending Russia-Ukraine war |
Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Sunday that high-stakes Geneva talks were “very worthwhile,” and the head of the Ukrainian delegation has also touted "very good progress,” but there have been few details on what was discussed.
The 28-point blueprint drawn up by the U.S. to end the nearly four-year war has sparked alarm in Kyiv and European capitals. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has said his country could face a stark choice between standing up for its sovereign rights and preserving the American support it needs. The proposal acquiesces to many Russian demands that Zelenskyy has repeatedly rejected, including giving up large pieces of territory.
A bipartisan group of U.S. senators said Rubio told them Saturday the plan had originated with Russia and was actually a “wish list” for Moscow, rather than a serious push for peace. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said he’d spoken to Trump and made clear there were some portions on which key European nations could agree but others they could not. Read more.
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Of note:
Trump has set a Thursday deadline for Ukraine to respond to the plan but suggested it could slide with proof of real progress. Rubio has downplayed that deadline, saying officials want to see fighting stop as soon as possible, and that officials could keep negotiating Monday – and beyond. |
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Maduro-tied Cartel de los Soles to be labeled a terror organization |
The Trump administration on Monday is set to ramp up pressure on Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro by designating the Cartel de los Soles as a foreign terrorist organization. But the entity that the U.S. government alleges is led by Maduro is not a cartel per se.
The designation is the latest measure in the Trump administration's escalating campaign to combat drug trafficking into the U.S. In previewing the step about a week ago, Rubio accused Cartel de los Soles, or Cartel of the Suns, of being “responsible for terrorist violence” in the Western Hemisphere.
The move comes as Trump evaluates whether to take military action against Venezuela, which he hasn't ruled out, despite bringing up the possibility of talks with Maduro. Land strikes or other actions would be a major expansion of the monthslong operation that has included a massive military buildup in the Caribbean Sea and striking boats accused of trafficking drugs, killing more than 80 people. Read more.
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Of note:
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said last week that the upcoming designation of Cartel de los Soles will provide a “whole bunch of new options to the United States” for dealing with Maduro. But Hegseth, in an interview with conservative news outlet OAN, did not provide details on what those options are and declined to say whether the U.S. military planned to strike land targets inside Venezuela. |
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Big changes to elections security agency lead to midterm worries |
The Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency has warned state and local election officials about potential threats from foreign governments, showed officials how to protect polling places and gamed out responses for the unexpected. But the agency was largely absent for this month’s elections in several states, and shifting priorities, staffing reductions and budget cuts have sparked concerns about how engaged CISA will be in next year’s midterms.
CISA was formed under the first Trump administration to safeguard the nation's critical infrastructure, from dams and power plants to election systems, but it’s been undergoing a major transformation in Trump’s second term. The Republican administration in March cut $10 million from two cybersecurity initiatives, CISA still lacks an official director, and public records suggest roughly 1,000 CISA employees have lost their jobs in recent years.
In February, the bipartisan National Association of Secretaries of State asked Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem – whose department oversees the agency – to preserve CISA’s core election functions. Noem replied that “funding, products, services, and positions” were under review and that services would remain available, but association officials say they’ve received no update. Read more.
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Of note:
California election security officials said CISA has previously played a “critical role" but provided little help for the state's Nov. 4 special election, when voters approved a redrawn congressional redistricting map. In Pennsylvania, which held a nationally watched retention election for three state Supreme Court justices this year, the Department of State said it relied more on its own partners to ensure elections were secure. |
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President Donald Trump talks to reporters as he departs from the South Lawn of the White House, Saturday, Nov. 22, 2025, in Washington, en route to Joint Base Andrews. (AP Photo/Jose Luis Magana) |
- The president is expected to sign an executive order on Monday and the White House Christmas tree will arrive in the nation's capital.
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