WORLD Radio News - WORLD Radio News: 12-23-25 (2/3)

Episode Date: December 23, 2025

The latest headlines in three minutes from WORLD updated three times throughout the day.Sign-up for the daily Sift email at thesift.org.Support sound journalism, grounded in facts and Biblical truth at wng.org/donate.

With World Radio News, I'm Kent Covington. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky says initial drafts of U.S. proposals for a peace deal between Ukraine and Russia meet many of Kyiv's demands. He said Monday that his words, the basic block of all documents, in my view, is ready. He added, quote, there are some things we probably are not ready for, and I'm sure there are things the Russians are not ready for either. Zelensky said U.S. diplomats would open talks with Russian officials and keep Kiev in the loop. But in the meantime, Russian attacks continue. Stefan Dejarek is spokesman for the U.N. Secretary General. Basic services disruptions were reported in over 270 towns and villages across the country. The region of Odessa was particularly hard hit, and they've

been experiencing almost daily attacks. Zelensky said it is worrisome that Russia has indicated there will not be an agreement before Christmas because Russia normally steps up bombing in Ukraine around Christmas time. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a car bomb has killed a senior Russian military officer. World's Kristen Flavin has warned. Fifty-six-year-old Lieutenant General Finil Sarvarov oversaw training for Russia's general staff. He was killed when an explosive device detonated beneath his car as he left a parking area. Russian authorities have opened an investigation. They're already suggesting that Ukrainian intelligence was involved. Russia has blamed a series of other apparent assassinations on Ukraine. Kiv has not commented on Sarvaraov's death. For World, I'm

Kristen Flavin. The United States has signed new health funding agreements with nine African countries and part of a shift in how Washington provides overseas aid. The deals reached with countries including Nigeria, Kenya, and Rwanda require those governments to put more of their own money into health programs in exchange for U.S. support. Nigerian health minister Mohamed Ali Pate Monday announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding. Between the Federal Republic of Nigeria and the government of the United States of America to deepen our cooperation in health, to standing health security and resilience. The Trump administration says the new approach shifts away from open-ended foreign aid

and instead ties funding to specific goals, budgets, and performance benchmarks, replacing many of the programs once run through USAID. Critics of the change note that the agreements generally provide less U.S. funding than in past years. Still, several countries say the deal offers stability after recent aid cuts and will help sustain programs fighting HIV, malaria, and other diseases. For World Radio, I'm Kent Covington. For more sound journalism grounded in facts and biblical truth, visit worldradiot.News. Additional support comes from MediShare, where today the $100 application fee will be waived for a limited time.

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