AnewZ Morning Brief - 2 December, 2025

Start your day informed with AnewZ Morning Brief: here are the top news stories for the 2nd of December, covering the latest developments you need to know.

Zelenskyy demands binding security guarantees in Paris talks

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised that any peace settlement must include robust, legally binding security guarantees from Europe and the United States. He made the comment speaking alongside French President Emmanuel Macron on Monday in Paris. Zelenskyy argued that Russia must not be rewarded for its aggression, stressing that Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity remain non-negotiable despite pressure to make concessions.

The Ukrainian leader also highlighted the importance of European partners in post-war reconstruction and future security architecture. As U.S.-mediated discussions on a peace plan progress, Zelenskyy remains firm that any agreement must prevent future coercion by Moscow, noting that his delegation is currently reviewing proposals from American negotiators.

Macron heads to China amid rising European trade and security tensions

French President Emmanuel Macron is set to visit China this week for his fourth state visit, attempting to strike a delicate balance between maintaining economic ties and addressing growing security concerns. The trip comes as Europe faces intensified trade tensions with Beijing, particularly regarding cheap Chinese exports of steel and electric vehicles (EVs), alongside anxieties over China’s dominance in rare earth processing.

Macron will meet President Xi Jinping in Beijing and Chengdu, aiming to project a united European stance without triggering a full-blown trade war. He is expected to push for a rebalancing of trade and ensure European access to Chinese technology, whilst avoiding the diplomatic pitfalls of his 2023 visit, where his comments on Taiwan drew sharp criticism from allies.

White House defends legality of strike on Venezuelan smuggling vessel

The White House has defended a decision by a U.S. admiral to launch multiple strikes on a suspected Venezuelan drug-smuggling boat in September, asserting the operation was lawful self-defence authorised by Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The incident has drawn scrutiny following reports that a second strike was ordered specifically to eliminate survivors, a claim President Donald Trump has distanced himself from, stating he did not wish for a second attack.

Since September, the U.S. military has intensified operations in the Caribbean and Pacific, carrying out at least 19 strikes against suspected vessels and killing more than 70 people.

Russia claims capture of key Ukrainian towns as diplomatic efforts intensify

Moscow claimed on Monday that its forces had seized the strategic frontline towns of Pokrovsk and Vovchansk, with President Vladimir Putin stating that Russian troops are advancing in "practically all directions." The Russian Defence Ministry released footage purporting to show troops raising a flag in Pokrovsk, a crucial logistics hub, though Ukrainian officials have not confirmed the loss and report that heavy fighting continues in the sector.

The battlefield claims coincide with heightened diplomatic activity, as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visits Paris and Dublin to shore up European support. Simultaneously, U.S. envoy Steve Witkoff is due in Moscow to discuss Washington’s settlement proposal, as Kyiv seeks to position itself strongly ahead of potential peace negotiations.

West African leaders press Guinea-Bissau junta to restore order

Leaders from the West African bloc ECOWAS, led by Sierra Leone’s President Julius Maada Bio, have held tense talks with the military junta in Guinea-Bissau, demanding an immediate return to constitutional order. The delegation urged the officers, who seized power last week, to release the results of the disputed 23 November presidential election and allow the democratic process to reach its logical conclusion.

The military-installed interim president, Major-General Horta Inta-a, has defended the coup as a necessary measure to stop "narcotraffickers" from infiltrating the state, announcing a one-year transition period.

Erdoğan condemns attacks on commercial vessels in the Black Sea

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan has issued a stern warning following Ukrainian drone attacks on two sanctioned Russian oil tankers within Türkiye’s exclusive economic zone. Describing the strikes on the commercial vessels as "unacceptable," Erdoğan emphasised that the escalating war between Russia and Ukraine is now posing a direct threat to navigational safety and environmental security in the Black Sea.

The attacks, which targeted tankers Kairos and Virat as they headed to Novorossiysk, are part of Kyiv's strategy to pressure Moscow’s oil revenue. However, Ankara, which maintains a delicate diplomatic balance between the two warring nations, has warned that such actions risk a dangerous escalation in vital international shipping lanes.

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