• In a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on Friday morning, Scholz made clear to Putin “that there must be a diplomatic solution as quickly as possible, which includes a withdrawal of Russian troops.”
• Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said that though Putin is open to negotiations, the demand that Moscow first withdraws its troops from Ukraine is not an option.
• Russia continues to attack Ukraine’s critical infrastructure, resulting in the loss of electricity for millions as cold winter weather rolls in.

Tagged: World War III