The President's Daily Brief November 26th, 2025: Trump Ready for Direct Talks With Maduro & Moscow Signals 'No Deal' On Ukraine
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Nov 26, 2025 President Trump is open to direct talks with Nicolás Maduro, despite U.S. sanctions labeling him a terrorist. A rare call from Xi Jinping leads to discussions on Taiwan and Ukraine, highlighting China's role in peace negotiations. Meanwhile, Russia is poised to reject a U.S. cease-fire proposal, indicating the Ukraine conflict may extend further. Tensions escalate as a Russian drone breaches NATO airspace, prompting a swift military response from Romania and Germany.
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Pressure Remains Part Of The Playbook
- U.S. maritime strikes and sanctions remain part of the pressure toolkit even as diplomacy surfaces to gain leverage in talks with Caracas.
- A slowdown in maritime operations would likely indicate the White House is quietly preparing formal negotiations.
Trump's Transactional Shift With Maduro
- President Trump signaled willingness to negotiate directly with Nicolás Maduro despite labeling him a terrorist, shifting from pressure to transactional diplomacy.
- Venezuela's chief leverage is heavy crude exports that could be redirected to U.S. refineries if sanctions are eased.
Xi's Rare Outreach To Shape Two Crises
- Xi Jinping personally called President Trump and began the discussion on Taiwan before Trump steered it toward Ukraine, an unusual high-level outreach from Beijing.
- Beijing wants to shape thinking on both Taiwan and any emerging Ukraine settlement, positioning itself as a diplomatic player.