> At a Glance
> – 35 officials-including 27 heads of state-will meet in Paris Tuesday to shape Ukraine’s post-war security
> – President Trump rules out Venezuelan elections within 30 days after U.S. forces captured Nicolás Maduro
> – U.N. chief warns the U.S. raid may have broken international law
> – Why it matters: The summit could lock in Europe’s long-term defense plans and set a precedent for future interventions
Tuesday’s gathering in Paris has ballooned into the largest Ukraine-focused diplomatic huddle since Russia’s invasion, with leaders arriving as global rules of engagement face fresh scrutiny.
Paris Talks Draw Record Crowd
Organizers expect 35 high-level attendees, among them 27 sitting presidents or prime ministers, to hammer out what security guarantees Kyiv might receive after any ceasefire. The session follows an emergency U.N. Security Council meeting sparked by Washington’s weekend capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro.
- Goal: Craft a unified security framework for Ukraine
- Format: Closed-door working groups, then a joint statement
- Backdrop: Rising concern over unilateral military actions
Maduro Pleads Not Guilty in U.S. Court
Deposed Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro appeared Monday in a U.S. courtroom for the first time since his arrest, entering a not-guilty plea to multiple federal charges. Hours later, President Trump told NBC the U.S. has “no plans” for new Venezuelan elections within the next month, signaling a longer occupation.
U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres warned:
> “I remain deeply concerned that rules of international law have not been respected.”
He added that such raids could “set a precedent” for future state-to-state relations.
Timeline of a Dramatic Weekend
| Event | Date | Actor |
|---|---|---|
| Maduro captured | Dec. 15 | U.S. forces |
| Court appearance | Dec. 16 | Nicolás Maduro |
| U.N. emergency session | Dec. 16 | Security Council |
| Paris summit | Dec. 17 | 35 world leaders |
Key Takeaways
- Europe’s biggest Ukraine security meeting convenes in Paris with record attendance
- Trump extends U.S. timeline in Venezuela, delaying elections
- U.N. chief questions legality of cross-border arrests
As leaders land in Paris, the dual dramas in Caracas and Kyiv highlight how quickly the global order can shift-and how alliances are racing to catch up.
