Tuesday morning news: December 23, 2025

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ZELENSKYY: [Speaking Ukrainian]

Ukraine latest » Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says initial drafts of U.S. proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv's demands.

ZELENSKYY: [Speaking Ukrainian]

He said Monday that—his words … "The basic block of all documents in my view is ready.

He added, “There are some things we are probably not ready for, and I’m sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either.”

Zelenskyy said U.S. diplomats would open talks with Russian officials and keep Kyiv in the loop.

But in the meantime, Russian attacks continue. Stephane Dujarric is spokesman for the UN secretary general.

DUJARRIC: Basic services. Disruptions were reported in, uh, over 270 towns and villages across the country. The region of Odessa was particularly hard hit. Uh, they, and they've been, uh, experiencing almost daily attacks.

Zelenskyy said it was worrisome that Russia has indicated that there will not be an agreement before Christmas because Russia normally steps up bombing in Ukraine around Christmas time.

Trump pauses offshore wind projects on East Coast » The Trump administration has paused work on five major offshore wind projects along the East Coast.

The Interior Department says the pause will allow federal agencies to review whether large wind turbines pose risks. could interfere with radar or military operations near coastal population centers.

And Interior Sec. Doug Burgum said, “Today’s action addresses emerging national” concerns security risks.” He added that the Department of War has flagged some very real concerns that the programs:

BERGUM: Create radar interference that creates, uh, genuine risk, uh, for the us particularly related to the, the where they are in proximity to our East Coast population centers.

Supporters of offshore wind argue that the projects already cleared years of federal and military review.

The Interior Department has announced no end date for the suspension.

Reaction to green card lottery pause » DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is pushing back against critics of the decision to pause the U.S. Diversity Visa Lottery program.

President Trump ordered the suspension after officials say a Portuguese national who entered the country under that program carried out multiple deadly shootings. Those included the recent mass shooting at Brown University.

But Noem says the program, as structured, does not make sense.

NOEM: We have tens of thousands of people that came in basically under a DEI program under the Department of Homeland Security where they were allowed to enter this country chosen by a lottery draw, and given the benefits of, of standing alongside American citizens.

The Trump administration says it needed to pause the program to examine procedures.

National Immigration Law Center President Kica Matos argues the move is "shamelessly exploiting a national tragedy."

Heritage walkout » The Heritage Foundation says just over a dozen staff members have departed amid internal turmoil over leadership and mission. WORLD’s Kristen Flavin has more.

KRISTEN FLAVIN: Spokesman Cody Sargent told WORLD Monday that 11 staff members quit.

And the conservative think tank fired two other senior staffers, with Heritage leaders saying they welcome debate, but insist loyalty to the organization’s mission is essential.

The shakeup follows criticism of Heritage president Kevin Roberts after he defended podcaster Tucker Carlson for hosting a controversial guest accused of antisemitism.

That dispute led Heritage’s antisemitism task force to resign last month … prior to the shakeup over this past week.

Meanwhile, the think tank founded by former Vice President Mike Pence, Advancing American Freedom, announced it has hired several former Heritage staffers.

For WORLD, I’m Kristen Flavin.

U.S. signs new health deals with 9 African countries » The United States has signed new health funding agreements with nine African countries in part of a shift in how Washington provides overseas aid.

The deals, reached with countries including Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda, require those governments to put more of their own money into health programs in exchange for U.S. support.

Nigerian Health Minister Muhammad Ali Pate Monday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding …

PATE: Between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the Government of the United States of America to deepen our cooperation in health, to strengthen health security and resilience.

The Trump administration says the new approach shifts away from open-ended foreign aid and instead ties funding to specific goals, budgets, and performance benchmarks, replacing many programs once run through USAID.

130 abducted Nigerian students/teachers freed » Meantime, Nigerian families are seeing the faces of the latest mass kidnapping victims for the first time in weeks.

Authorities say 130 schoolchildren and teachers abducted from a Catholic school in Niger state last month are now free after a military intelligence operation.

Gunmen stormed the school in a pre-dawn raid and dragged the victims away.

Some children appeared weak and shaken as they arrived at a government ceremony Monday.

Officials say the students will reunite with their families before Christmas.

I'm Kent Covington.

Straight ahead: a special report from Dearborn, Michigan. Plus, homemade gifts and Gen Z.

This is The World and Everything in It.

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