US and Russian officials are set to meet in Miami this weekend for fresh discussions on President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the war in Ukraine, a White House official told AFP on Wednesday.

The meeting follows Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s remarks welcoming progress after two days of talks in Berlin between Kyiv and Trump’s envoys, even as he cautioned that Moscow was gearing up for a “new year of war.”

Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff and his son-in-law Jared Kushner are expected to represent the United States, while Russia’s delegation is likely to include Putin’s economic envoy Kirill Dmitriev, according to Politico.
The White House official declined to provide further details on the composition of the US and Russian teams.

The planned talks come amid a surge in international diplomatic efforts in recent weeks aimed at ending Russia’s nearly four-year invasion, following meetings in November at the Kremlin between Witkoff, Kushner and Putin, as well as discussions in Berlin involving Ukrainian and European leaders.

Despite these efforts, significant differences persist on all sides.
Ukraine and the United States say progress has been made on potential future security guarantees for Kyiv, but sharp disagreements remain over which territories Ukraine might be required to relinquish.

Putin, for his part, said on Wednesday that Moscow would “certainly” achieve its objectives in the conflict, including taking control of the territories it claims as its own.

The United States has authorised the sale of weapons valued at $11 billion to Taiwan, Taipei announced on Thursday, describing it as one of the largest arms packages ever approved for the island and drawing a furious response from China.

Although Washington has traditionally been Taiwan’s main arms supplier, comments previously made by US President Donald Trump had raised questions about his commitment to defending the democratic island.

Taiwan has steadily increased defence spending over the last decade as China has intensified military pressure, while the Trump administration has urged Taipei to take greater responsibility for its own security.

The newly announced arms sale, which still requires approval from the US Congress, would be the second since Trump returned to office in January, following a $330 million sale of spare parts in November.

Taiwan’s foreign ministry said the much larger package includes HIMARS rocket launchers, howitzers, anti-tank missiles, drones and other military hardware.

“This is the second arms sale to Taiwan announced during the Trump administration’s second term, once again demonstrating the US’s firm commitment to Taiwan’s security,” the foreign ministry said.

Beijing reacted sharply on Thursday, strongly condemning the announcement of the arms sale.

“China urges the United States to abide by the one-China principle… and immediately stop the dangerous actions of arming Taiwan,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun said at a press conference, warning that Beijing would take “resolute and forceful measures” to defend its territorial integrity.

China claims Taiwan as part of its territory under the one-China principle and has repeatedly threatened to use force to bring the self-governed island under its control.

The scale of the proposed deal is comparable to the $18 billion arms package approved under former US president George W. Bush in 2001, although that agreement was later reduced after commercial negotiations.

During his eight years in office, Bush ultimately approved $15.6 billion worth of weapons sales to Taiwan.

Under Trump’s first term, the United States authorised $10 billion in arms sales to Taiwan, including $8 billion for fighter jets.

Given the strong bipartisan consensus in Washington on supporting Taiwan’s defence, the latest package is expected to receive rapid approval from Congress.

While Taiwan operates its own defence industry, it would be significantly outmatched in any conflict with China and therefore continues to rely heavily on US weapons.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said the latest deal shows Washington’s continued support for helping Taipei “rapidly building robust deterrence capabilities.”

President Lai Ching-te’s administration has pledged to raise defence spending to more than three percent of GDP next year and to five percent by 2030, following pressure from the United States.

The government also plans to seek up to NT$1 trillion in special funding to strengthen air defence systems and boost ammunition production and storage capacity.

These defence spending plans must still secure approval from Taiwan’s opposition-controlled parliament before they can be implemented.

China routinely sends military aircraft and naval vessels around Taiwan, operations analysts describe as “grey-zone” tactics designed to intimidate without triggering open conflict.

Taiwan’s defence ministry said 40 Chinese military aircraft — including fighter jets, helicopters and drones — along with eight naval vessels were detected around the island during a 24-hour period ending early Thursday.

According to Taipei, China’s third and newest aircraft carrier, the Fujian, sailed through the Taiwan Strait on Tuesday.

The United States government has imposed partial travel restrictions on Nigerian nationals following a new presidential proclamation signed by U.S. President Donald J. Trump, as part of broader efforts to strengthen border controls and safeguard national security.

A fact sheet released by the White House and shared via its official X (formerly Twitter) account explained that the measure affects several countries identified as having gaps in identity management, information sharing, and security screening systems.

Nigeria was included on the list of countries facing partial restrictions, distinguishing it from others subjected to a full travel ban.

According to the White House, the decision followed a routine review of how countries comply with U.S. security and vetting standards. These assessments focus on the ability to verify travelers’ identities, share criminal and security-related data, and maintain reliable passport and civil documentation systems.

Under the new proclamation, Nigerians will still qualify for specific categories of U.S. visas. However, additional scrutiny and limitations will apply, particularly for certain non-immigrant and immigrant visa classes. Exemptions remain in place for lawful permanent residents, existing visa holders, diplomats, and cases where entry is considered to be in the national interest of the United States.

“The United States must ensure that individuals seeking entry do not pose a threat to national security or public safety,” the White House stated, adding that the restrictions are subject to review if affected countries address the identified shortcomings.

While countries including Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, South Sudan, and Syria were placed under full entry restrictions, Nigeria’s classification under partial limitations reflects heightened security concerns rather than a complete suspension of travel.

The announcement has generated anxiety among Nigerian travelers, students, and members of the business community, especially those with pending visa applications. Analysts suggest the development could lead to renewed diplomatic discussions between Abuja and Washington, as Nigeria works to resolve the concerns raised by U.S. authorities.

As of the time of reporting, the Federal Government of Nigeria has not issued an official response.

The new restrictions are expected to take effect in the coming months, with the U.S. government advising affected travelers to consult American embassies and consulates for the latest guidance.

In a major escalation of border security policy, President Donald Trump announced on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, a significant expansion of travel restrictions affecting 24 additional countries and the Palestinian Authority.

Citing “severe deficiencies in screening and vetting,” the administration has now brought the total number of nations under U.S. travel restrictions to 39.

The new proclamation, set to take effect on January 1, 2026, follows a period of heightened tension after the November shooting of two National Guard soldiers in Washington, D.C.

The Latest Report

According to the White House, the decision was taken to prevent the entry of foreign nationals “about whom the United States lacks sufficient reliable information.”

Officials said many of the affected countries still lack effective central authorities for issuing passports or maintain civil documentation systems that are considered unreliable for proper vetting.

The latest expansion was driven by recent security incidents and intelligence assessments. In late November, a 29-year-old Afghan national allegedly shot two National Guard soldiers near the White House in Washington, D.C.

The suspect had reportedly been granted asylum earlier in the year, prompting a comprehensive review of immigration statuses linked to several countries described as “countries of concern.”

In addition, renewed attacks in Syria played a key role in the policy shift. The killing of two U.S. soldiers and a civilian interpreter by ISIS-linked militants, despite ongoing diplomatic outreach to Syria’s new leadership, accelerated Syria’s placement under the strictest category of the ban.

U.S. officials also pointed to high visa overstay rates, terrorism-related activity, and weak information-sharing frameworks as major factors behind the inclusion of several countries, including Nigeria.

The government said a 60-day window granted in August 2025 for affected countries to improve vetting and security cooperation had expired without sufficient progress.

List of New Countries and Restriction Levels

The proclamation groups the newly added jurisdictions into two main categories: Full Suspension and Partial Suspension.

Full Suspension (7 Countries and the Palestinian Authority)

These jurisdictions face a near-total ban on the entry of most immigrants and non-immigrants into the United States.

Africa: Burkina Faso, Mali, Niger, Sierra Leone, South Sudan

Asia: Laos, Syria

Middle East: Individuals traveling on Palestinian Authority-issued travel documents

Partial Suspension (16 Countries)
These countries face restrictions on specific visa categories, mainly tourist, business, student, and exchange visas (B-1, B-2, F, M, and J).

The measures are largely tied to security assessments and visa overstay data.

Africa: Nigeria, Angola, Benin, Côte d’Ivoire, Gabon, The Gambia, Malawi, Mauritania, Senegal, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Caribbean and Oceania: Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Tonga

Asia: Turkmenistan (restrictions apply to immigrant visas only, as non-immigrant bans were lifted following what the U.S. described as “significant progress”)

Nigeria’s inclusion was linked to ongoing security challenges posed by terrorist groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS affiliates, as well as concerns over visa compliance.

Exceptions and Reactions

Despite the broad scope of the restrictions, the proclamation outlines limited exemptions. •Lawful Permanent Residents
•Accredited diplomats
•Professional athletes and their support staff on a case-by-case basis
•Individuals holding valid U.S. visas issued before the ban takes effect may still be allowed entry.

Critics of the policy argue that the sweeping nature of the ban could disrupt international engagements, hinder educational and business exchanges, and separate families.

However, U.S. officials have defended the move as a “common sense” response to unresolved security gaps.

The December expansion follows an earlier travel ban introduced in June 2025, which initially covered 12 countries.

The latest decision signals a broader and more aggressive approach, with a strong focus on African and Muslim-majority nations, as the administration prioritises border security and immigration control.