Venezuela

• The Venezuelan Embassy in Washington DC has followed up on the ouster of opposition figure Juan Guido, announcing that they will close the facility. AWC

Russia

• The State Department on Thursday rejected Russian President Vladimir Putin’s order for a unilateral ceasefire in Ukraine for Orthodox Christmas, which is celebrated on January 7, as a “cynical ploy.” Putin ordered the ceasefire to take effect at noon on Friday and last through Saturday after a request from Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church. AWC
• The US is going to send Ukraine Bradley Fighting Vehicles for the first time in a new weapons package worth nearly $3 billion, US officials told The Associated Press on Thursday. AWC
• The US on Friday pledged a new $3.075 billion weapons package for Ukraine that includes Bradley Fighting Vehicles for the first time, which Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky called an “awesome Christmas present” as it was announced on the eve of Orthodox Christmas. AWC
• Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson said Sunday that Turkey has made demands for Sweden that it cannot fulfill as part of Ankara’s conditions for the Nordic nation to join NATO. AWC
• Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan spoke with Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday and said Ankara was ready to mediate between Moscow and Kyiv to reach a “lasting peace” in Ukraine. AWC
• Ukraine on Saturday placed over 100 Russian artists and public figures on a sanctions list for their alleged support for the Russian invasion. AWC
• The ceasefire ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin for Orthodox Christmas did not hold, as heavy shelling was reported in eastern Ukraine on Friday and Saturday. AWC
• Russia on Sunday claimed its forces killed over 600 Ukrainian troops in missile strikes, while Kyiv denies that there were any casualties at all. AWC

Afghanistan 

• In the aftermath of the 2021 drone strike in Kabul that killed ten civilians, the Pentagon knew children were likely killed, but still touted the strike as a success. AWC

Somalia 

• US airstrikes in Somalia rose by 30% in 2022 as the Biden administration has escalated its involvement in the war against al-Shabaab, Military Times reported on Sunday. AWC