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NATO defense minister signals ‘absolute distrust’ that Putin wants any peace deal ahead of Trump summit
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European leaders are waiting to see what results from the latest discussions between Russian President Vladimir Putin and President Donald Trump as the leaders convene in Alaska Friday.
«[There’s] absolute distrust in even the slightest idea that Putin wants peace because he keeps annihilating Ukraine,» Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene told Fox News Digital during her trip to Washington, D.C., to meet with Pentagon officials this week.
«Even now, when your president has clearly stated that he wants this war to end, and basically provides an opportunity for Putin to talk, still every single day and night, until those talks, he keeps bombing civilians,» she added. «He keeps annihilating Ukrainian land.»
President Donald Trump, left, and Russian President Vladimir Putin shake hands at the beginning of a meeting at the Presidential Palace in Helsinki, Finland, July 16, 2018. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais, File)
COULD TRUMP’S MEETING WITH PUTIN BE THE NEXT REAGAN-GORBACHEV MOMENT?
The United Nations on Wednesday confirmed that Russian attacks in Ukraine last month led to civilian casualty rates not seen since Putin first launched his invasion in 2022.
«For the second month in a row, the number of civilian casualties in Ukraine hits a new three-year high,» Danielle Bell, head of the U.N. human rights monitoring mission in Ukraine, said in a statement.
«Only the first three months after the Russian Federation launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine saw more killed and injured than in this past month.»
Friday’s meeting between Trump and Putin is significant because it is not only the first time Putin will return to the U.S. in a decade. It is the first time a U.S. leader has met with the Kremlin chief since he launched the invasion of Ukraine 3½ years ago.
But skepticism over whether the meeting will yield any results remains high, particularly after several seemingly positive calls between the pair earlier this year, which only amounted to a frustrated Trump and Putin’s continued bombardment of Ukraine.
A Ukrainian soldier walks with children passing destroyed cars due to the war against Russia, in Bucha, on the outskirts of Kyiv, Ukraine, April 4, 2022. (AP Photo/Rodrigo Abd)
«We in Europe, we know on our own skin that Russia, and Putin specifically, does deliver only violence,» the Lithuanian defense minister said. «They do break every deal they have ever made. They do keep that Imperial ambition of disrespecting international rules, disrespecting borders of independent nations.
«Therefore, what we believe is really important for President Trump to see for himself, is there even a tiniest wish for peace from Putin, or if there isn’t,» Sakaliene added. «And if there isn’t, I’m really quite sure that your president, as a person with vast experience of dealing with very different people, can make his own conclusions.»
WHAT WE KNOW ABOUT TRUMP’S MEETING WITH VLADIMIR PUTIN IN ALASKA
Trump has yet to detail how he will respond should his meeting with Putin prove fruitless in advancing a path toward a ceasefire, though he said Wednesday there would be «very severe consequences» if he determines Putin is not serious about peace.
The White House did not answer Fox News Digital’s questions about whether Trump is considering additional sanctions.
Trump promised to begin targeting Russia’s war chest beginning Aug 8. by slapping 100% tariffs on Moscow’s chief export, oil.
But only India was hit with additional economic repercussions after Washington escalated its tariff rate to 50%, which, though still one of the highest tariffs implemented on a U.S. trading partner, falls well short of the 100% tariff originally threatened.
Vehicles in flames at an oil depot after missiles struck the site in an area controlled by Russian-backed separatist forces in Makiivka, eastern Ukraine, May 4. (AP)
China, the other top importer of Russian oil, has skirted U.S. secondary tariffs after Beijing and Washington pushed the deadline to November as they continue to hash out trade agreements, meaning China is under a 30% tariff rate.
Security experts Fox News Digital has spoken with remain divided on how effective secondary tariffs will be in dissuading Putin’s war ambitions, which NATO allies have pose an existential threat to Europe.
Even amid the uncertainty, Sakaliene said she and other NATO allies remain hopeful that this meeting will bring prompt action in the pursuit of ending the war, whether through an actual peace settlement or increased action against Moscow by the U.S. alongside its European allies.
Lithuanian Defense Minister Dovile Sakaliene, center, and U.S. officers attend a holy Mass for the four U.S. soldiers who went missing during exercises conducted by the United States at the Pabrade training ground at the Cathedral Basilica in Vilnius, Lithuania, March 30, 2025. (AP/Mindaugas Kulbis)
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«[I think that, for all of us, it’s going to be a difficult weekend,» the defense minister said. «But what really gives hope to us is that President Trump said very clearly that he is not going to be lenient if Putin continues this war.
«And if, after Friday, Putin continues to bomb Ukraine, then he’s going to react as we understand, really with the full force of justice.»
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INTERNACIONAL
Trump says ‘Triumphal Arch’ monument construction to begin within 2 months in DC: report
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President Donald Trump revealed Wednesday how soon an Arc de Triomphe-style monument will be constructed in the nation’s capital to commemorate America’s 250th anniversary in 2026.
Trump on Wednesday said the construction of the monument, nicknamed the «Arc de Trump,» will begin «sometime in the next two months,» according to a report from Politico.
«It hasn’t started yet. It starts sometime in the next two months. It’ll be great. Everyone loves it,» Trump reportedly told the outlet during a phone call from Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach, Fla. «They love the ballroom too. But they love the Triumphal Arch.»
The newest monument, which resembles Paris’ historic Arc de Triomphe, will be bankrolled privately, with funds left over from the new White House ballroom project, Fox News Digital previously reported.
TRUMP ADMIN FIGHTS IN COURT TO KEEP WHITE HOUSE EAST WING DEMOLITION, $300M BALLROOM BUILD ON TRACK
President Donald Trump holds a model of an arch during a ballroom fundraising dinner in the East Room of the White House on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The exact location of the new landmark has not yet been confirmed, though the report notes it may be situated near the Lincoln Monument.
Details about the amount of time it will take to build, the cost of construction, the funding amount and who is heading the project have not yet been released by the White House.
Trump signed Public Law 116-217 in December 2020 authorizing the Women’s Suffrage National Monument to be built on federal land in Washington, D.C., leading to the subsequent signing of the Women’s Suffrage National Monument Location Act during former President Joe Biden’s final week in office.
TRUMP PUSHES BACK AFTER MICHELLE OBAMA KNOCKS EAST WING RENOVATION, CALLING OLD ARRANGEMENT ‘A DISASTER’
A model of President Donald Trump’s proposed triumphal arch to commemorate the country’s 250th anniversary is seen on the Resolute Desk on Oct. 15, 2025. (Kevin Dietsch/Getty Images)
The Women’s Suffrage National Monument Foundation (WSNMF) announced Dec. 4 it received final and unanimous approval from the National Capital Planning Commission for a permanent two and a half acre site on the National Mall in Constitution Gardens, according to the foundation’s website.
Foundation leaders noted the women’s suffrage monument went through a «multi-step, rigorous review process,» including gaining approval from the National Capital Memorial Advisory Commission and the Commission of Fine Arts.
The foundation also completed a public comment period with the National Park Service as part of the public scoping process, according to its website.
TRUMP TAPS NEW ARCHITECT TO RESHAPE WHITE HOUSE AS $300M BALLROOM BUILD ACCELERATES
It is unclear if Trump’s newest proposed monument received similar approval.
The Women’s Suffrage National Monument will be located at the intersection of 19th St. and Constitution Avenue NW, and the next project phase will focus on creative development and design.
The new monument is rumored to be built on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. (Yasin Ozturk/Anadolu Agency)
«The enthusiasm behind this project has been inspiring,» WSNMF President and CEO Anna Laymon wrote in a Dec. 4 statement announcing final approval. «We are so grateful for the dedicated support from so many who made this possible, including President Trump; President Biden; our honorary chairs Mrs. Melania Trump, Dr. Jill Biden, Mrs. Michelle Obama, Mrs. Laura Bush, and Secretary Hillary Clinton; our bipartisan and bicameral Congressional sponsors, Senator Blackburn, Senator Baldwin, Congresswoman Lesko, Congressman Neguse and their dedicated staffs; our incredible Board of Directors; and all our partners and supporters.»
TRUMP BREAKS GROUND ON MASSIVE WHITE HOUSE BALLROOM PROJECT WITH PRIVATE FUNDING FROM ‘PATRIOTS’
The most recent major monument built on the National Mall was the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial, which was completed in 2011.
The granite memorial was inspired by a line from King’s «I Have a Dream» speech, delivered nearby on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial during the «March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom» in 1963.
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The White House did not immediately respond to Fox News Digital’s request for comment.
Fox News Digital’s Amanda Macias contributed to this report.
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Russian President Vladimir Putin used his New Year’s address to deliver a blunt message to the West and to his own troops: Russia is not backing down in Ukraine.
As 2026 arrived in Russia’s far eastern regions, Putin vowed victory in the nearly four-year war, praising Russian soldiers and framing the conflict as a fight for the nation’s survival — even as the United States ramps up diplomatic efforts aimed at ending the bloodshed.
«We believe in you and our victory,» Putin said in remarks broadcast nationwide and released by the Kremlin on Wednesday. Addressing troops directly, he congratulated «all our soldiers and commanders» and pledged continued support for what Moscow calls its «special military operation.»
TRUMP TOUTS ‘TREMENDOUS PROGRESS’ BUT SAYS HE’LL MEET PUTIN AND ZELENSKYY ‘ONLY WHEN’ PEACE DEAL IS FINAL
Russian President Vladimir Putin delivers his New Year’s address from the Kremlin, vowing victory in the war in Ukraine. (East2West)
Putin cast the war as a struggle for Russia’s homeland, «truth and justice,» signaling determination to press ahead despite mounting losses and international pressure.
In a separate message, ex-President Dmitry Medvedev — Putin’s security council deputy — said of victory in Ukraine: «I sincerely believe that it is near.» Echoing Putin, he spoke of «our great and invincible Russia.»
The defiant tone comes as the war approaches grim milestones. On Jan. 12, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine will surpass the 1,418 days the Soviet Union fought Nazi Germany in Europe during World War II. On Feb. 24, the conflict will enter its fourth year. Western estimates place the number of killed and wounded at more than 1 million — a figure the Kremlin disputes.
TRUMP MEETS WITH ZELENSKYY; TALKS COULD UNLOCK FIRST ZELENSKYY-PUTIN CALL IN FIVE YEARS: SOURCE
The mother of a Russian soldier who was killed in a military action in Ukraine, kneels near a planted tree in memory of her son at the Alley of Heroes in Sevastopol, Crimea, Saturday, Feb. 25, 2023. (AP Photo)
Putin’s rhetoric stood in sharp contrast to renewed diplomatic activity led by Washington.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy met with U.S. President Donald Trump at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Sunday, as the White House explores possible paths to end Europe’s largest land war since World War II.
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U.S. President Donald Trump and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky shake hands at a news conference following a meeting at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago club on December 28, 2025 in Palm Beach, Florida. (Joe Raedle/Getty Images)
After the meeting, Trump said Ukraine and Russia were «closer than ever» to peace, while acknowledging that major obstacles — particularly territorial disputes — remain unresolved. Reuters separately reported that Trump and Zelenskyy discussed potential U.S. troop involvement as part of broader security guarantees, though no decisions were announced.
Reuters contributed to this report.
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Las acciones europeas concluyeron 2025 con un sólido desempeño, a pesar de un leve retroceso en la última jornada bursátil del año. El índice STOXX 600, principal referente paneuropeo, cedió un 0,1% el miércoles, situándose en 592,19 puntos. Este descenso no empañó el balance anual del índice, que acumuló una subida del 16,66%, resultado similar al incremento del 17% registrado por el S&P 500 de Wall Street. Entre los factores que impulsaron este crecimiento se destacan la caída de las tasas de interés, el incremento del gasto fiscal en Alemania y el movimiento de capitales desde las grandes tecnológicas estadounidenses hacia el mercado europeo.
El sector bancario y el de defensa encabezaron las ganancias en la región. Las entidades de crédito impulsaron el avance del STOXX 600, logrando un ascenso del 67% en 2025, lo que representa su mejor resultado desde 1997. Esta mejora se atribuye a un aumento en las operaciones, un marco regulador más favorable y la estabilidad relativa de la economía europea. Por su parte, los valores de defensa marcaron máximos históricos durante el año y cerraron con un crecimiento del 56,5%, respaldados por los compromisos de incremento en el gasto militar en varios países de la región, a pesar de una corrección a la baja desde octubre.
A lo largo de 2025, los inversores optaron por diversificar sus carteras fuera de Estados Unidos, buscando oportunidades en Europa ante la incertidumbre comercial procedente de la administración estadounidense y los datos económicos poco concluyentes. No obstante, en la última jornada del año, la mayoría de los sectores cerraron en negativo. El subíndice minorista fue uno de los más afectados, con una caída del 0,3%.
La actividad en los mercados fue moderada en la víspera de las celebraciones de Año Nuevo. Las bolsas de Alemania, Italia y Suiza permanecieron cerradas, mientras que los mercados de Francia, España y el Reino Unido operaron con horarios reducidos. Pese a la tendencia general al alza, el índice IBEX de Madrid sobresalió al registrar un incremento cercano al 50% en 2025, superando ampliamente el desempeño de sus homólogos europeos.
El euro cerró este miércoles el año 2025 con una revalorización anual del 14% frente al dólar, impulsada en gran medida por el debilitamiento del “billete verde”. Esta tendencia plantea desafíos para las exportaciones de la zona euro, que desde el 1 de enero incorporará a un nuevo miembro: Bulgaria.
La cotización de la moneda única inició el año con una marcada debilidad, llegando el 2 de enero a 1,027 dólares, un valor que no se registraba desde noviembre de 2022. Este descenso se atribuyó a la diferente evolución económica entre Estados Unidos y la zona euro. Al cierre de 2024, el PIB estadounidense habría crecido un 2,8 %, mientras que la expansión en el denominado “Viejo Continente” fue del 0,7 %.
El retorno de Donald Trump a la presidencia de Estados Unidos el 20 de enero marcó un punto de inflexión para el euro, que comenzó a apreciarse frente al dólar hasta alcanzar este miércoles los 1,1732 dólares hacia las 16.00 GMT. El máximo anual se registró el 1 de julio, cuando la divisa europea llegó a cotizar a 1,1807 dólares, un nivel que no se veía desde 2021.
Este repunte coincidió con una fase de acercamiento comercial entre Washington y Bruselas, tras la imposición de gravámenes a productos importados por parte de la administración Trump. Aquellas negociaciones derivaron en un acuerdo marco entre Estados Unidos y la Unión Europea (UE), mediante el cual Washington se comprometió a aplicar un arancel promedio del 15 % a la mayoría de los bienes europeos, mientras que Bruselas acordó eliminar aranceles para productos estadounidenses. “El resultado negociado evita una escalada perjudicial y sienta las bases para continuar el diálogo y desarrollar las relaciones transatlánticas”, señalaron ambas partes en su comunicado conjunto del 21 de agosto.
Desde entonces, el euro se ha mantenido en una franja comprendida entre 1,159 y 1,173 dólares, impulsada principalmente por la debilidad de la economía estadounidense. Según explicó Hubertus Bardt, economista del Instituto para la Economía Alemana (IW), a la agencia EFE, este comportamiento responde “fundamentalmente a las actuales debilidades de la economía estadounidense”. Bardt atribuyó el debilitamiento del dólar a “una situación económica fragilizada” en Estados Unidos y a la “presión sobre la Reserva Federal” ejercida por Trump “para que baje los tipos de interés”.
(Con información de Reuters y EFE)
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