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On December 21, the Communist Party of Cuba issued a statement on its official website on the 20th, condemning the US government's escalation of aggression against Venezuela in the strongest terms and accusing the US of its recent actions in Venezuela of being a deliberately planned and dangerous act.

SpaceX: Public safety is always our top priority during flight tests. We will continue to ensure that public safety is maximized.

On December 21, six sources familiar with U.S. intelligence said that a U.S. intelligence report continues to warn that Russian President Vladimir Putin has not abandoned his goal of occupying the whole of Ukraine and reclaiming the European parts of the former Soviet Union. This report contrasts sharply with the account given by U.S. President Donald Trump and his Ukrainian peace negotiators, who claim Putin wants to end the conflict. According to one of the sources, the latest report was dated late September. This intelligence also contradicts Putin's denial of posing a threat to Europe. According to the sources, this intelligence is largely consistent with the views of European leaders and intelligence agencies that Putin covets the entire territory of Ukraine and former Soviet states, including some NATO member states.

December 21 - According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck off the eastern coast of Aomori Prefecture, Japan, at approximately 10:29 a.m. local time on December 21. The maximum tremor was felt as a 4, and the epicenter was 50 kilometers deep.

On December 21, the United States intercepted another oil tanker off the coast of Venezuela, which the Venezuelan government called an act of piracy. Jeremy Paner, a partner at the Washington-based law firm Hughes Hubbard and a former investigator with the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), said the ship was not subject to U.S. sanctions. “The seizure of a vessel not sanctioned by the United States marks a further increase in pressure on Venezuela by Trump,” Paner said. “This also contradicts Trump’s statements that the U.S. will blockade all sanctioned oil tankers.”

On December 21, Venezuelan Vice President and Oil Minister Rodríguez condemned the United States for "theft and hijacking" of private vessels carrying Venezuelan oil in international waters on December 20. In a government statement released via social media, Rodríguez stated that this serious act of "piracy" violated international law. He asserted that the colonial model the US government attempted to impose on Venezuela would ultimately fail, and that the Venezuelan government would appeal to the UN Security Council and other multilateral organizations for appropriate action.

On December 21, the World Trade Organization (WTO) released its "World Trade Report 2025" on December 20, local time. The report indicates that, with supporting policies in place, artificial intelligence (AI) is expected to increase cross-border trade in goods and services by 34% to 37% and global GDP growth by 12% to 13% by 2040 by improving productivity and reducing trade costs. The report emphasizes the need to bridge the digital infrastructure gap, strengthen skills training, and maintain an open and predictable trading environment to ensure more inclusive growth.

According to Business Insider, Apple has advised some employees with visas not to travel outside the United States due to embassy delays.

Russian Presidential Special Representative Dmitriev: Russia and the United States are having "constructive" discussions, which will continue in Miami on Sunday.

On the 20th local time, talks regarding the Ukraine issue continued, with Russian Presidential Special Representative Dmitriev arriving at a golf club in Miami, USA. Reports indicate that reconciliation talks on the Ukraine issue will be held there. Earlier reports suggested that US and Russian representatives would meet this weekend in Miami, a city in the southern United States, to push forward the US-proposed Russia-Ukraine "peace plan." The Russian delegation will reportedly include Presidential Special Representative Dmitriev, while the US delegation will consist of President Trump's special envoy Witkov and his son-in-law Kushner. The US will brief the Russian side on the recent results of negotiations between the US and Ukraine in Berlin, Germany.

Iraqi National Oil Corporation: The oil export agreement between Baghdad and Erbil will continue without any problems.

December 20th - Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that the United States has proposed holding talks with representatives of Ukraine and Russia in Florida as the Trump administration pushes for a peace agreement. Zelenskyy told reporters in Kyiv on Saturday that whether the trilateral talks will take place depends on the US-Ukraine negotiations that begin on Friday. He said that if the negotiations are successful, a European delegation currently in Florida might join the talks.

Ukrainian President Zelensky: Russia is trying to restrict Ukraine's access to the sea.

Ukrainian President Zelensky: The EU's decision on providing funds to Ukraine has strengthened Ukraine's negotiating position.

Ukrainian President Zelensky: Ukraine is cooperating with the United States to reach a stable peace agreement, not an agreement on "territorial and resource division".

Ukrainian President Zelensky: Elections can only be held when security is guaranteed.

Ukrainian President Zelensky: Elections cannot be held in Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine.

Ukrainian President Zelensky: Russian President Putin has no right to decide how Ukraine's elections should be held.

December 20 - According to the Japan Meteorological Agency, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake struck off the southeast coast of the Nemuro Peninsula in Japan at approximately 21:33 local time on December 20. The maximum tremor was felt as a 3, and the epicenter was very shallow.

A Ukrainian presidential aide said that Ukraine and Portugal have reached an agreement on the joint production of Ukrainian maritime drones.