Situation Reports

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky revealed that Kyiv was seeking a standalone security agreement from Western allies and "above all the U.S." to run parallel to any peace treaty, Bloomberg reported on Dec. 8.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that Kyiv will present a revised 20-point peace framework to U.S. officials on Dec. 9 following consultations with British, French and German leaders in London, United Kingdom, Reuters reported on Dec. 8.

China's Liaoning aircraft carrier sailed through the Miyako Strait near Japan's Okinawa islands from late Dec. 5 to Dec. 6 and conducted around 100 jet takeoff and landing drills on Dec. 6, spurring Japan to scramble jets from nearby Naha air base, Jiji Press reported on Dec. 7.

Honduran presidential candidate Rixi Moncada of the ruling Liberty and Refoundation Party, or Libre, announced that the party "does not recognize" the results of the Nov. 30 general election, whose final results still have not been announced but appear to have favored Moncada's rivals, DW reported on Dec. 7.

Australia imposed financial sanctions and a travel ban on Afghanistan's minister of virtue and vice, minister of higher education, minister of justice and chief justice for alleged complicity in oppressing women and girls as well as minority groups in Afghanistan, among other offenses, according to a statement Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade released on Dec. 6.

A source within the Sudanese Armed Forces, or SAF, claimed Sudan's SAF-backed government had frozen plans for Russia to establish a naval base at Port Sudan, Sudan Tribune reported on Dec. 6.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said, "At the direction of the president, AUKUS is full-steam ahead," Bloomberg reported on Dec. 8.

A senior Hamas official said the Palestinian militant group was ready to discuss "freezing or storing or laying down" weapons in order to advance the fragile ceasefire with Israel, and he also suggested a multi-year truce and said Hamas must maintain its "right to resist, AP reported on Dec. 7.

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's eldest son, Sen. Flavio Bolsonaro, announced on Dec. 5 that he would run for president in 2026, but two days later, he said he would be willing to back down from his presidential bid in exchange for his father's freedom, Folha de S.Paulo reported on Dec. 7.

The Thai and Cambodian militaries clashed in disputed territories across six provinces, leading to casualties on both sides, CNA reported on Dec. 8.