The President's Daily Brief - December 31st, 2024: Russia Rejects Trump’s Peace Deal & Hamas Chief Assassination Details

Episode Date: December 31, 2024

In this episode of The President's Daily Brief: The Kremlin has reportedly shot down key parts of a peace deal proposed by Donald Trump and his incoming administration. We’ll break down the details. In Gaza, hopes for a ceasefire and hostage deal have seemingly collapsed. Plus, Israel, for the first time, admits its role in the assassination of Hamas chief Ismael Haniyeh. And in today’s Back of the Brief: The return of Little Rocket Man! North Korea’s Kim Jong Un has announced plans to adopt strict anti-U.S. measures ahead of Donald Trump’s inauguration. To listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of The President’s Daily Brief by visiting PDBPremium.com. Please remember to subscribe if you enjoyed this episode of The President's Daily Brief. YouTube: youtube.com/@presidentsdailybrief   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

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Second Half 2025. All rights reserved. It must provide a recent consumer mobile bill in the name of the person who gave me the deal. additional terms, conditions, and restrictions apply. It's Tuesday, 31 December, which, as you may have heard, is New Year's Eve. We're on the cusp of 2025. And what are the odds that the new year could be as wacky as 2024? Probably pretty good odds. Welcome to the President's Daily Brief.

I'm Mike Baker, your eyes and ears on the world stage. All right, let's get briefed. We'll start today with reports that the Kremlin has turned down critical parts of a peace deal pitched by Donald Trump and his incoming administration. We'll have those details. Later in the show, we'll shift our focus to Gaza, where hopes for a ceasefire and hostage deal have seemingly gone up in smoke again. Plus, we've got new details about the operation that took out Hamas chief Ishmael Hanyi as Israel, for the first time, admits its role in the assassination. And in today's back of the brief, oh, look,

We're wrapping up 2024, and it's the return of Little Rocket Man. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has announced plans to adopt strict anti-U.S. measures in the weeks leading up to Donald Trump's inauguration. But first, today's PDB spotlight. President-elect Trump has perhaps been dealt a setback regarding his hopes for a quick compromise with the Putin regime to end Russia's war on Ukraine. Russian foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, rejected proposals on Monday that have recently been floated by Trump and members of his national security team on how to achieve a lasting peace in Eastern Europe, saying the Kremlin was, quote, not satisfied with numerous elements of the president elects plans. That's according to a report from Newsweek. Oh, so the invading regime that's carried out a three-year war against a neighboring country and is currently losing upwards of $1,500. Russian soldiers a day in the conflict isn't satisfied. Well, that is a shame. As a reminder, Trump began outlining his plans for bringing the war in Ukraine to a quick conclusion in an

interview with Time magazine earlier this month. While there are apparently multiple ideas being floated by Trump's advisors at this time, they include proposals to block Ukraine from joining NATO for at least 20 years, temporarily seating portions of Ukrainian territory to Russia, and Russia and deploying a European-led coalition of ground troops in Ukraine to keep the peace. While no official proposals have been communicated to Moscow by Trump's transition team, Lavrov told reporters on Monday that the Kremlin doesn't like what they've heard so far. Again, what a shame. Lavrov said, quote, we're not happy, of course, with the proposals made by members of the Trump

team to postpone Ukraine's admission to Ukraine for 20 years and to station British and European peacekeeping forces in Ukraine, end quote. He claimed Trump's plan amounts to freezing hostilities along the current lines of engagement and transferring further responsibility for confronting Russia to the Europeans. Lavrov countered by calling for the incoming Trump administration to pursue, quote, reliable and legally binding agreements that would eliminate the root causes of the conflict and seal a mechanism precluding the possibility of their violation, end quote. Yeah, not quite sure what all that means.

Basically, Russia has no interest in participating in a more limited ceasefire that would allow Ukraine to eventually pursue NATO membership and potentially put them on a path towards regaining their lost territory. The remarks come in the wake of an end-of-year address given by Russian President Putin, who claimed he was ready to participate in possible peace talks with Trump once he returns to office. But Putin also said that any deal must be long-lasting and listed a litany of preconditions, including that any negotiations should be based on the failed Istanbul talks from 2022. As a reminder, those talks produced a draft treaty that would prohibit Ukraine from ever-joining NATO, borrow them from hosting foreign weapons, require sweeping reductions in their military forces, and have Kiev officially cede Crimea and parts of the Donbass region to Russia. Oh, and Putin also said he wants a pony.

At the time, Ukrainian officials rejected the one-sided proposal. There's a surprise. And President Zelensky continues to maintain his stance that NATO membership is the only viable path towards peace. He's shown an openness to aspects of Trump's proposals, including temporarily ceding Russian-occupied territories to Moscow, and hosting a European peacekeeping coalition, but only if Ukraine has given security guarantees from the NATO alliance. But Lavrov said Monday that Russia would never accept Ukraine's membership

into NATO even in return for territorial concessions. He also expressed doubts that Trump would be able to bridge the divide within the U.S. and among European allies regarding the war and successfully restored diplomatic relations between Russia and America. Lavrov said, quote, even if Trump tries to relaunch bilateral ties, he'll have to swim against the stream, considering the current bipartisan consensus on the policy of deterring Russia.

We'll see what happens next, he said. If the Americans respect our interests, our dialogue will be gradually renewed. If not, everything will remain as it is, end quote. Meanwhile, President Biden is using his final days in office to boost financial and military aid to Ukraine, announcing on Monday another package of weapons transfers. This latest package is worth an estimated $2.5 billion and includes longer-term supplies of air defenses, thousands of artillery rounds,

thousands of rockets, and hundreds of armored vehicles. The Biden administration has now approved nearly $5 billion in aid for Ukraine since Trump's re-election in November, fearing that Trump may significantly reduce or cut off support once he takes office. Zelensky praised the move from the Biden administration and stressed the need for continued military support from Kiev's Western allies, saying, quote, every additional supply from our partners means more saved lives, end quote. All right. Coming up next, we'll head to Gaza, where a ceasefire and hostage deal appears to have collapsed. And Israel reveals its role in the assassination of Hamas leader Ishmael Hanya. I'll have those stories when we come back.

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It's built to help you find and own a home. With agents who close twice as many deals, when you find the one, you've got a real shot at getting it. Get started at Redfin.com. Own the dream. Welcome back to the PDB. Hopes for a ceasefire and hostage deal in Gaza have crumbled once again with Western officials warning that the conflict will likely drag on

at least until President-elect Trump returns to office later next month. As you may recall, just two weeks ago, many believed that a truce was imminent after Hamas reportedly yielded to some of Israel's key demands for a ceasefire, including agreeing to allow Israeli forces to remain in Gaza temporarily. But Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu reportedly told a group of ministers, on Sunday that negotiations with the Iranian-backed terror group were once again stuck after Hamas went back on their promises and hardened their stance, and that's according to a report from the Jerusalem Post. Sounds like Hamas' puppet masters in the Iranian regime aren't much interested in a ceasefire arrangement. The terror group, as reportedly, returned to demanding a

permanent end to the war as conditional for any deal, which would necessarily, including the withdrawal of Israeli forces. Netanyahu reportedly told his ministers that the situation was now, quote, less optimistic, adding that it appears the group, quote, does not want there to be a deal. Anonymous American and Israeli officials told the Times of Israel, the chances of mediators finding a way to bridge the divide before Trump's January 20th inauguration were now extremely low. It's not immediately clear what exactly would change regarding the stalled talks after

Trump gets sworn in, but the president-elect vowed earlier this month that there would be, quote, all hell to pay for Hamas if they do not free the remaining hostages by the time that he takes the oath of office. As a reminder, Israeli officials say there are 96 hostages remaining in Gaza, although at least 30 are thought to be deceased. But Hamas, reportedly, doesn't even know where all the hostages are located. They claim that they'll be at a better position to provide accurate, information on the hostages once there's a ceasefire. In the meantime, Israel is keeping Hamas on the back foot. The IDF launched a military raid on Friday at a major hotel in northern Gaza, where they carried out one of their largest single arrest operations since the war began. The hospital was described

as Hamas's last bastion in the north, doubling as a shelter for hundreds of terror operatives who were using it to hide from Israeli airstrikes. Hamas claimed. Hamas, that 50 were killed in the operation, including hospital staff, and surprisingly, some international media ran with the story without bothering to fact-check Hamas. Well, that is shocking. Usually, the international media does a terrific job of fact-checking before running with the story. A subsequent update from the IDF revealed that while 19 terror operatives were killed in the two-day raid, there were no known civilian casualties. The IDF actually managed to evacuate 600 civilians and another 95 patients, caregivers and medical personnel from the hospital during their

two-day operation. The IDF also arrested some 240 alleged terror operatives, including at least 15 who directly participated in the brutal 7 October attacks, along with several prominent commanders of Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic jihad. Some of the militants allegedly attempted to pose as medical staff to evade capture, while others tried to escape on stretchers and in ambulances. Notably, the director of the hospital was also detained on suspicion of leading a double life as an operative for Hamas. Inside the hospital, the IDF reportedly found stores of weapons, including grenades, handguns, ammunition, and other military equipment. The patients, meanwhile, were transferred to a nearby hospital where the IDF provided fuel, generators, and other

medical equipment. Officials with the IDF said while they're still conducting some limited operations near the hospital. They've successfully disrupted Hamas' efforts to regroup and will soon wind down their campaign in the area. But whether the loss of their last refuge in northern Gaza will encourage Hamas to come back to the negotiating table with concessions, well, that remains to be seen. And of course, depends on what the Iranian regime and the IRGC wants Hamas to do. Okay, sticking with Israel, I want to mention a story that we didn't cover over Christmas. For the first time,

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed last Monday the country's involvement in the July assassination of Hamas leader Ishmael Hanyeh in Tehran, Iran. Katz's remarks, delivered at a commemoration event for local security officers, broke months of speculations about Israel's role in the meticulously planned covert mission. The assassination, targeting Hanye,

who was the leader of Hamas' political wing, occurred during his visit to Tehran for the inauguration of Iranian President Musud Pasechkin. To avoid disrupting that event, Israeli operatives delayed the mission until after the inauguration. The operation's details, as reported by the New York Times, reveal the extent of Israeli intelligence capabilities. A bomb planted well in advance with precise knowledge of Hanyi's accommodations, the heavily secured regime-run guesthouse controlled by Iran's IRG. G.C. was remotely detonated in the early hours, killing him instantly. Compounding Katz's revelation, a General 12 report Thursday shed new light on the fragility of the operation's success.

An unexpected technical glitch in the guesthouse's air conditioning system prompted Charnier to temporarily leave his room, raising fears among Israeli operatives that he might relocate to a different site. This would, of course, have rendered the mission impossible, and Hanyi would have inadvertently prevented his death. Ultimately, repairs to the system by guesthouse staff, how helpful of them, lure Hanyi back to his quarters, sealing his fate. Cats used the commemoration event to contextualize the assassination within Israel's broader regional strategy, comparing the operation to strikes targeting other militant leaders, such as Yaya Sinwar and Chesbolaz Hassan Nasrallah, Katz declared, quote,

we will strike the Houthi's strategic infrastructure and decapitate its leaders, just as we did to Chenei, Sinwar, and Nasrallah, in Tehran, Gaza, and Lebanon, end quote. Now, as we've covered on the PDB, the death of Chenei forced a rapid restructuring of Hamas' leadership. Yaya Sinor, previously the military chief, briefly assumed the political, mantle before his own demise during a surge in Israeli counterterrorism operations in Gaza this past October. Additionally, Iran's proxy Chasbullah in Lebanon saw its leader Hassan Lassarala killed in a September Israeli air strike. Katz's comments also come during intensifying hostilities between Israel and the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen, a conflict underscoring the ongoing shadow war between

Jerusalem and Tehran. All right. Coming up in the back of the brief, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is reportedly crafting plans to complicate life for Donald Trump as the U.S. President-elect prepares to take office. I'll be right back. Some follow the noise. Bloomberg follows the money, because behind every headline is a bottom line. Whether it's the funds-fueling AI or crypto's trillion dollar swings. There's a money side to every story. And when you see the money side, you understand what others miss. Get the money side of the story. Subscribe now at Bloomberg.com. This is Euphoria Calvin Klein, the new elixir collection featuring three perfume intense scents, inspired by a unique orchid accord paired with vanilla, each with its own distinct attitude,

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alliance as a, quote, nuclear military block for aggression, underscoring his regime's view of Washington's policies as inherently hostile. According to the state-run Korean Central News Agency, Kim outlined a series of measures aimed at bolstering North Korea's defense posture, including advancements in military technology and morale building within the armed forces. Hmm. I don't think that sending thousands of his troops to Ukraine to serve as cannon fodder for Putin is going to do much for the morale. The regime leader stops short of elaborating specific details about the promised anti-U.S. policy. Kim's latest rhetoric against the U.S. unfolds against a backdrop of escalating military and diplomatic tensions. As we've been tracking

on the PDB, North Korea has tightened its alignment with Russia, supplying Moscow, of course, with troops and conventional weapons for its campaign in Ukraine. This still blossoming romance between Kim and Putin raises alarms, of course, that Russia is reciprocating with advanced military technology, potentially bolstering North Korea's nuclear arsenal. The timing of Kim's statements coincides with a difficult diplomatic landscape, of course. Since the collapse of nuclear talks in 2019, relations between Washington and Pyongyang have worsened, with North Korea ramping up missile tests and the U.S., South Korea and Japan, intensifying joint military exercises that Pyongyang denounces as invasion rehearsals. Further complicating matters, Russia and China consistently blocked U.S.-led

efforts to tighten U.N. sanctions on North Korea, providing Pyongyang. with opportunities to circumvent those sanctions. And as Trump prepares to return to the White House, the question is, well, can his previous rapport with Kim Jong-un lead to a revival of diplomacy of sorts? Trump's first-term summit with Kim temporarily eased the tense exchanges that had characterized their relationship, but the talks, of course, ultimately collapsed over disagreements on denuclearization. And that, my friends, is the President's Daily Brief for Tuesday, 31 December. If you have any questions or comments, please reach out to me at PDB at thefirsttv.com.

And here's a thought. As 2025 sits there lurking in the wings, well, do me a favor and send along your New Year's resolutions. Send them to PDB at thefirsttv.com. We'll put together one of our Ask Me Anything episodes and highlight the top resolutions from the PDB community. No doubt, I suspect one of the most popular resolutions for the coming year will be to subscribe to our YouTube channel at President's Daily Brief. It's just a thought.

And of course, to listen to the show ad-free, become a premium member of the President's Daily Brief by visiting PDB premium.com. It's that simple. I'm Mike Baker. I'll be back later today with the PDB afternoon bulletin. Until then, stay informed. Stay safe. Stay cool.

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