Axios

NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte on Thursday delivered dire warnings about Russian President Vladimir Putin and the growing threat of war that Europe faces from the Kremlin.

Why it matters: Rutte warned that Putin won't stop his aggression with Ukraine and could look to attack NATO countries within five years.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Thursday that the Trump administration hopes to reach a "full understanding" over its peace plan by Christmas, but critical gaps remain on the issues of territory and security guarantees.

Why it matters: Zelensky gave the most detailed picture yet of what has and has not been agreed with Washington. His comments come ahead of a planned meeting between senior officials from Ukraine, France, Germany and the U.K.

The Trump administration began accepting applications for the Trump Gold Card on Wednesday, offering a pay-to-play option for foreign nationals wanting to speed up their path to American residency.

The big picture: The program fast tracks immigration protocols for the very wealthy at the same time the administration is narrowing other paths to residency for refugees, asylum seekers, and low-income people.

The Trump administration is planning to appoint an American two-star general to command the International Stabilization Force (ISF) in Gaza, according to two U.S. officials and two Israeli officials.

Why it matters: The appointment will further increase the U.S. responsibility for securing and rebuilding Gaza, which is turning into the biggest U.S. political-civilian-military project in the Middle East in more than two decades.

Eastern Europe is emerging as a hot destination for Americans traveling abroad next year, per new Kayak data shared with Axios.

Why it matters: The post-COVID travel boom shows no signs of cooling, even as affordability is top-of-mind for many Americans.

The Trump administration announced plans Wednesday for a new militarized zone in California, along the U.S.–Mexico border.

The big picture: Some 760 acres of public land in San Diego and Imperial counties is being transferred to the Navy over a three-year period to "support ongoing border security operations" and national defense in the latest militarized zone, per a Department of the Interior statement.

Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado was cheered by a large crowd after she arrived in Oslo early Thursday, hours after her daughter accepted the Nobel Peace Prize in Norway's capital on her behalf.

Why it matters: It's the first public appearance in 11 months by the 58-year-old industrial engineer who's been under a travel ban for a decade and who has been in hiding since the ruling Maduro regime blocked her from running for president.

Iceland is refusing to take part in the 2026 Eurovision Song Contest — joining Ireland, the Netherlands, Slovenia and Spain in protesting Israel's participation in the European singing competition by boycotting the event.

Why it matters: Eurovision is beloved by many for celebrating cultures with kitsch acts and upbeat songs. Its official slogan is "United By Music," but the Icelandic National Broadcasting Corporation (RÚV) said in a statement that Israel's participation in the contest had "created disunity" among European Broadcasting Union members and the general public.

The House passed a sweeping defense policy bill Wednesday evening that authorizes a record $901 billion in annual military spending.

Why it matters: The National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is a traditionally bipartisan bill, but the 2026 legislation contains some pushback against the agenda of the Trump administration, which had earlier called for the measure to pass.

Ukraine gave the Trump administration on Wednesday its point-by-point response to the latest draft of the U.S. peace plan, Ukrainian and U.S. officials tell Axios.

Why it matters: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky faces growing pressure from the U.S. to swiftly accept Trump's 20-point peace plan, which includes major territorial losses and other concessions.

The Trump Administration dramatically escalated its standoff with Venezuela on Wednesday by seizing a large tanker loaded with crude oil bound for Cuba.

Why it matters: President Trump's pressure campaign on Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro has now struck at the heart of Venezuela's oil-based economy.

President Trump is granting China access to more of Nvidia's advanced AI chips, he announced this week, a partial win for Nvidia which has lobbied against U.S. export restrictions first put in place in late 2022.

The big picture: Nvidia warns that blocking its sales has accelerated China's domestic chipmaking push — creating new global rivals and threatening the U.S. lead in the AI race.

Here's what to know about the competition

Pope Leo XIV warned the Trump administration against what he described as an effort to "break apart" the alliance between the U.S. and Europe.

The big picture: The Chicago-born pontiff has not shied away from criticizing the administration in the past, notably on immigration.

President Trump held a call on Wednesday with the leaders of France, the U.K. and Germany to discuss efforts to reach a peace deal in Ukraine, according to a White House official.

Why it matters: The call took place amid growing tensions and distrust between the U.S. and European powers over how to end the Russia-Ukraine war and the Transatlantic relationship in general.

The Trump administration is engaged in open hostilities with the European Union, turning long-simmering feuds over free speech, Ukraine and mass migration into official U.S. policy.

Why it matters: The EU's $140 million fine of Elon Musk's X platform lit the fuse on a conflict the Trump administration was already primed for — and which it formalized in a new National Security Strategy that casts Europe as a geopolitical villain.

President Trump promised the most deportations in decades to reverse illegal immigration. But the system for legal immigration is also buckling under his pressure.

• In just the last few weeks, the Trump administration has threatened to expand the travel ban list, paused all asylum decisions and signaled it will reopen cases from the Biden administration.

Why it matters: Any of these changes in isolation would put strain on the system. Doing them all at once could overwhelm it.

FIFA president Gianni Infantino was reported to the soccer world governing body's ethics investigators over his public support for President Trump and a peace prize awarded to the U.S. leader, a human rights nonprofit announced Tuesday.

The big picture: Infantino has said he considers Trump "a close friend" and said at the 2026 soccer World Cup draw in D.C. last Friday he was awarding him the inaugural FIFA Peace Prize for his "unwavering commitment to advancing peace and unity."

Construction work at the White House for President Trump's $300 million ballroom is well underway — and all that's left of the site where the 123-year-old East Wing once stood is rubble, photos taken this week show.

The big picture: Trump said on Truth Social over the weekend that the ballroom would be "double the size" than was originally planned and the "column SPAN has been substantially increased for purposes of viewing," but the project was "under budget and ahead of schedule."

Americans overwhelmingly support keeping the Constitution's guarantee of birthright citizenship amid growing public resistance to President Trump's immigration crackdown, according to a new survey that also measures attitudes across religions.

Why it matters: The survey released Tuesday by the Public Religion Research Institute (PRRI) is the latest in a series of polls indicating the Trump administration's hardline immigration agenda is turning off many voters.