Russia-Ukraine Peace Talks, EU-China Summitry, and More

Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue in Istanbul, Turkey, officials from the European Union (EU) and China convene for a virtual trade summit, and Hungary holds closely watched general elections.

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Hosts
  • Robert McMahon
    Managing Editor
  • Matthias Matthijs
    Senior Fellow for Europe

Show Notes

Russia-Ukraine peace talks continue in Istanbul, Turkey, officials from the European Union (EU) and China convene for a virtual trade summit, and Hungary holds closely watched general elections.

 

Blogs Mentioned on the Podcast

 

Michelle Gavin, Africa in Transition, CFR.org

Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Israel and Hamas reach a cease-fire deal aimed at exchanging hostages and prisoners while seeking a longer-term pause in fighting; the incoming Donald Trump administration weighs ambitious moves on immigration; Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Russian President Vladimir Putin sign off on a twenty-year partnership agreement; and students in Serbia protest violations of civil rights.

United States

President-elect Donald Trump’s nominee for secretary of defense, Pete Hegseth, will appear before the Senate Armed Services Committee; the Supreme Court hears arguments over the Joe Biden administration’s imminent banning of TikTok; Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s resignation prompts questions on the future of U.S.-Canada trade relations; and Europe’s eastern states confront energy issues after Ukraine stops the flow of Russian gas through its territory.

Ukraine

In this special year-end episode, hosts Bob McMahon and Carla Anne Robbins sit down with the New York Times’ chief diplomatic correspondent in Europe Steven Erlanger to review the biggest stories of the past year and discuss developments to watch in 2025. They analyze the conflicts and political developments in the Middle East and Europe, President-elect Donald Trump’s picks for his national security team, the state of democracy worldwide, and more.

Top Stories on CFR

Donald Trump

President-elect Trump has promised to commence his new term with an expansive array of executive actions, some of which could have immediate effects on U.S. foreign policy.  

Foreign Policy

After the Israel-Hamas cease-fire announcement, Steven A. Cook, CFR’s Eni Enrico Mattei Senior Fellow for Middle East and Africa Studies, and I discuss its significance and implications.

Technology and Innovation

U.S. government officials should quickly declassify information about the national security threat posed by Chinese-owned TikTok or risk huge public backlash and a global loss of stature as a free speech champion.