Ukraine

 NPR - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is in Brussels to discuss with European Union leaders his plan to end the war with Russia by the end of next year without giving up any territory. He is also urging Western allies to invite Ukraine to join NATO soon. However, some allies, including the U.S., are hesitant because they want to avoid provoking Russia.  Zelenskyy informed lawmakers that some Western allies have pressured him to negotiate with Russia on what he believes are unfair terms. NPR’s Joanna Kakissis says he also stated that Russia only wants Ukraine to surrender and that the only way to keep Ukraine safe is through an ironclad security guarantee, such as an invitation to join NATO. Zelenskyy's victory plan to end the war includes a key condition that the U.S. doesn't support: the lifting of restrictions on Ukraine to strike military targets deep inside Russia with advanced weapons supplied by the West. The U.S. argues that these actions would escalate the war — a sentiment echoed by the Kremlin