International

Zelensky believes that “success is possible” in US-led peace negotiations

The President of Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelensky, believes that “success is possible” in the peace negotiations promoted by the United States after the meetings he has held on the margins of the Munich Security Conference with the team of US President Donald Trump.

“We have started working with President Trump’s team and we already feel that success is possible,” he wrote on his social networks from Munich, where last night he concluded two marathon days of interventions before European and American leaders and an intense agenda of meetings with different politicians and, above all, from the United States, such as the vice president, JD Vance, the Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and the envoy for the war in Ukraine, Keith Kellog.

Zelenski indicated that the United States is now seen in the world as a force that can not only stop the war, but also help ensure the reliability of peace after a ceasefire.

In Munich, Zelenski and JD Vance agreed to work for a lasting peace while the European leaders watched the meeting from the margins and with some concern how the Old Continent was excluded from the US plans, both at the negotiating table and from the previous consultations.

Kellog said the day before in a parallel event to the Security Conference that Europe will not be able to participate directly in peace negotiations, but it can propose ideas and suggestions.

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Of course, Zelenski stressed that Europe must clearly have a voice, writing that “real peace is possible” even if there will be different attempts by Putin to “deceive everyone and prolong the war.”

“We must achieve it (peace): Ukraine, the United States and Europe. This is our common security,” he emphasized.

He also said that he expects a soon visit from Kellogg to Ukraine to continue studying the situation and find ways for President Trump to adopt “firm and truly pacifying decisions.”

The head of state of Ukraine explained that the two teams are working “with great detail and care on a special agreement” between Kiev and Washington “that will definitively strengthen the United States and Ukraine,” although he did not reveal what agreement it is.

The US Treasury Secretary, Scott Bessent, delivered on the 12th in Kiev to Zelenski a draft of an agreement to guarantee the continuity of US aid to Kiev in exchange for access to critical rare earth minerals owned by Ukraine for an amount of 500 billion euros.

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Zelenski, who also met with US senators and members of the North American country’s House of Representatives in Munich, explained last night that Kiev is not yet ready to sign this agreement.

“I have not allowed the ministers to sign the agreement because, in my opinion, it is not prepared to protect us, our interests,” he told the media in Munich, according to the Kyiv Independent newspaper.

International

Florida judge sets 2027 trial in Trump’s $10 billion lawsuit against BBC

A federal judge in Florida has scheduled February 2027 for the trial in the lawsuit filed by U.S. President Donald Trump against the BBC, in which he is seeking $10 billion in damages for defamation.

Trump accuses the British broadcaster of airing a misleading edit of a speech he delivered on January 6, 2021, which, he says, made it appear that he explicitly urged his supporters to attack the U.S. Capitol in Washington.

The president filed the suit in December in federal court in Florida, alleging defamation and violations of a law governing business practices when the program was broadcast ahead of the 2024 election.

Trump is seeking $5 billion in damages for each of the two claims.

Lawyers for the BBC unsuccessfully asked the court to dismiss the case, arguing that Trump had not suffered a “legally recognizable harm,” since the investigative program Panorama, which included the edited footage, aired outside the United States.

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International

Head-of-state diplomacy key to guiding China–U.S. ties, Beijing says

Head-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable strategic guiding role in China–United States relations, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said on Thursday during a regular press briefing, when asked about high-level exchanges between the two sides.

Lin added that in a recent phone call, U.S. President Donald Trump once again expressed his intention to visit China in April, while Chinese President Xi Jinping reiterated his invitation.

Both sides remain in communication regarding the matter, the spokesperson said.

Lin noted that the essence of China–U.S. economic and trade ties lies in mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

“Both parties should work together to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, injecting greater certainty and stability into China–U.S. economic and trade cooperation, as well as into the global economy,” he said.

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International

Trump administration to end special immigration operation in Minnesota

The administration of Donald Trump is bringing to a close its special operation targeting illegal immigration in the northern state of Minnesota, border czar Tom Homan announced Thursday, following weeks of unrest and the fatal shootings of two activists by federal agents.

Thousands of federal officers had been deployed to Minnesota in December to carry out large-scale raids against undocumented immigrants.

The operations triggered strong reactions from residents and advocacy groups, leading to daily confrontations and the deaths of two people who were shot by federal agents.

“I proposed, and President Trump agreed, that this special operation should end in Minnesota,” Homan said during a press conference in the state capital, Minneapolis.

“A significant drawdown began this week and will continue into next week,” he added.

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Homan indicated that similar enforcement efforts could be launched in other cities.

“Next week we will redeploy the agents currently here back to their home stations or to other parts of the country where they are needed. But we will continue to enforce immigration laws,” he said.